panic and run around in circles
your dt recruiting panic wasn't premature afterall
michael dwumfour
departures
[Patrick Barron]

Exit: Michael Dwumfour Comment Count

Seth January 14th, 2020 at 6:06 PM

Well this sucks for the team that's been fretting about defensive tackles and natural interior pass rush since Mo Hurst was unleashed on the NFL.

Dwumfour caused a medium panic when he was spotted at the Detroit Lions game instead of bowl practices a few weeks ago, until it was announced he didn't travel with the team for a medical issue. Those medical issues held back a breakout that was always just around the corner, never more so than the 2018 offseason when more "Mo Hurst but big" hype was emanating from Schembechler Hall than even we could disbelieve. A potential breakout that season and this one were derailed by a nagging plantar fascia issue that apparently bothered him all 2018. Tweaking that held him out of the Peach Bowl, the entire 2019 offseason, and the beginning portion of this year. When Dwumfour returned for Big Ten play, he was decent against Iowa and still mistake-prone against Illinois. Late in the season Michigan went to more three-man lines or, when that wasn't an option, freshman Chris Hinton.

At his commitment in 2016 Dwumfour was unfairly considered a carrot for luring best bud Rashan Gary. In truth the defensive tackle depth chart after Hurst's graduation was reason enough to flip Dwumfour from a Penn State verbal. Like Hurst, Dwumfour was a quick first step they hoped to grow into a penetrating nightmare. We got glimpses, but the injuries kept their DT a development project even through this, his redshirt junior season. The hope for next year, as it has been every year since 2018, was that Dwumfour could remain healthy long enough to pick up the finer points of run defense. The first step was as advertised, and there were moments here and there that certainly made you wonder what he might look like as a senior:

Michigan is out that opportunity, and running short on chances to rebuild a DT depth chart like the Glasgow/Hurst/Godin group that Harbaugh enjoyed his first two seasons here. While the Wolverines bring back Kemp and Hinton, that's an undersized warrior and a true sophomore for a position where talent, experience, and depth all directly correlate to team production (see: LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, and the two times Harbaugh teams fared well against Urban Meyer). Well-regarded freshman Mazi Smith, who redshirted, is the only other guy on the roster next year expected to able to take on a larger role. Rising junior Donovan Jeter disappeared from the rotation after a miserable debut, Phil Paea never even cracked that rotation, and if the 2020 class produces any DTs they're all a good few years of training table away. With Kemp and Dwumfour injured, Michigan started walk-on/converted OL Jess Speight in the Citrus Bowl. Various developmental SDE types down the roster like Julius Welschof and Michael Morris might also have grown into DTs since last we checked in.

If doing so didn't already precipitate Dwumfour's decision, Michigan is almost certain to hit the grad transfer market. Grad transfer Michael Williams, a 6'2"/290 nose type who's fleeing Stanford after a season of six TFLs and a sack, had Rice, Vandy, and SMU appear to be the competition. Teammate Jovan Swann (7 TFLs) is also in the portal. Via 24/7's Brice Marich, Michigan is pursuing those two as well as Uche type Quincy Roche from Temple.

Comments

cornman

January 14th, 2020 at 6:53 PM ^

Reading between the lines, it seems like he wasn't offered a fifth year.

 

Neither or those Stanford guys look very good; I'd much rather develop Smith and Hinton than take one of them.  Quincy Roche would be a welcome addition, though.  

Joined: 12/17/2018

MGoPoints: 639

cornman

January 14th, 2020 at 10:11 PM ^

You can only put 11 guys on the field, and the Stanford guys are probably not going to transfer here to ride the bench.  If they're on the field in games and getting first team reps in practice, that means the younger guys are not.

 

I'd rather see the younger guys get that valuable experience since they have more upside and will be with the team for at least a year longer than a grad transfer.

Joined: 12/17/2018

MGoPoints: 639

WorldwideTJRob

January 14th, 2020 at 7:09 PM ^

They would be depth, just incase someone is injured or to spell some of the guys we have on the roster. Kemp was decent this year, Hinton got some snaps and we haven’t seen Mazi Smith. So adding anyone to the rotation will be beneficial. Both guys would only be here for a season and it’s not like we have true Freshman who they would be stealing snaps from.

Joined: 07/05/2010

MGoPoints: 31122

Kevin13

January 14th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^

I think your right. He’s been passed up by the Freshman and let’s be honest he was never that stellar. Would still like to have had him back for depth but willing to bet we will find someone in portal that will actually be an upgrade 

He probably saw his playing time dwindling even more if he was even asked back and decided to go somewhere he could play next year 

Joined: 01/26/2016

MGoPoints: 16040

TheTruth41

January 15th, 2020 at 8:56 AM ^

He may have been a shoe-in to start but given his injury record, starting, let alone playing all season, was far from uncertain.  He may also have been passed by younger guys that have steadily improved over the season simply because they were playing and getting reps.  He had probably just made up his mind before the bowl game to transfer or was given a handshake by the coaches or both.  Just throwing out there "maybe some off-field issues..." is a bit disingenuous and unfair if you can't back it up with examples.

The coaches know what their upside with him on the team and healthy would be.  That ceiling is higher than anyone else they could bring in through the portal.  They also know the chances of him making it through an entire Big Ten season unscathed are relatively low.  They may rather take their chances with a guy or two with a lower ceiling but doesn't have the injury problems with the thinking they'll have them the entire year.  Taking two to replace one you can mitigate what you lost in the one through the talents of the two.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 3180

Mongo

January 15th, 2020 at 7:47 AM ^

Brown is going all-in on the 3-5-3 ... just look at last year's sets and the recruiting classes loaded with DEs, LBs, Hybrid LB/S and true cover CBs.  The DT position is one guy in a 3 man front.  The DT rotation is 2 guys.  That will be Kemp and Hinton.  Mazi is likely the NT that comes in for the 4-3 sets (short yardage, goal line, run stuffer) and provides depth with Speight who seems to have passed Dwumfour on the depth chart.  In a 3-5-3 scheme, Mike was well down the depth chart.  That foot injury really derailed his career.  

Edit - forgot Jeter (easy to do) who is in the mix as depth ... likely as good as a 5th year Stanford cast-off.

Joined: 06/25/2016

MGoPoints: 9585

BayWolves

January 16th, 2020 at 1:43 PM ^

Brown is going all in on the 3-5-3 and that's fine if we're trying to beat Indiana but the shit ain't working against top tier teams.  We badly need some beastly DTs. No matter what Don Brown does with the 3-5-3, elite teams are blowing our doors off as we get no pressure on opposing QBs at all.

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 11056

wolverine1987

January 15th, 2020 at 11:40 AM ^

There's no way they wouldn't offer him a fifth year, that would be 100% stupid given the depth chart.

And since this is his decision--why? This makes two d-line guys with Solomon who would have been starters who chose to leave instead. The vast majority of transfers are for playing time, then after that there was personal issues but often the personal issues are early in the career. this is a mystery

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 18065

CaliforniaNobody

January 14th, 2020 at 7:08 PM ^

Pretty questionable decision as its unlikely he finds somewhere with a better mix of opportunity and the right situation. Better chance he goes somewhere smaller and still doesn't play and now his NFL shot is completely gone. Wish him luck regardless.

Joined: 12/18/2014

MGoPoints: 14239

SoccerDancer

January 14th, 2020 at 8:06 PM ^

If for no other reason than depth, this is a drag. BUT it may very plausibly be that the coaching staff has essentially provided a firm handshake or given a clear message playing time is likely limited. Given either of these, it's really had to know the true inside story. Kind of like a marriage, you can never really know what transpires. My guess is he transfers somewhere smaller and is 'Big Mike on Campus' and gets full time snaps. Best of luck to him.  As for us? Hope that transfer portal coughs up some good options.

Joined: 04/08/2013

MGoPoints: 368

WestQuad

January 14th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^

We have zero recruits listed as DTs in the 2020 class.   Are we treating Spindler like Shane Morris and not recruiting any DTs in the class in front or behind him?

Joined: 07/22/2011

MGoPoints: 31167

treetown

January 14th, 2020 at 10:23 PM ^

What was once a rarity, then an occasional oddity, has or will become the new normal. Each year, the very best players or players who believe that the time is right, will opt to explore the pro market. Others chafing for playing time will look to move on. 

Joined: 11/10/2010

MGoPoints: 6339

Alumnus93

January 14th, 2020 at 10:29 PM ^

What is Paea's story?  Did they recruit him in hoping he would grow, or was a project to develop his skills?   Seems odd that immediately he hopped to the other side of line and back.  

Joined: 09/10/2009

MGoPoints: 9684

Hensons Mobile…

January 14th, 2020 at 11:12 PM ^

I've been told to panic. I've been told we didn't need him. I've been told we didn't want him. I've been told it was his decision. I've been told it was the team's decision.

We don't know shit.

Joined: 09/12/2019

MGoPoints: 49473

MGoBlue96

January 15th, 2020 at 12:00 AM ^

Bizarre, I really don't understand this decision on either side, if it was Dwumfour deciding to go or the coaches not giving him a fifth year. Either one makes little sense for me for a guy who was almost assured to be in the top 4 in the depth chart next year and would have a punchers chance at starting if his run defense improved.  Even if Smith and Hinton are good players next year that still leaves them one or two injuries away from disaster  at DT. Hate to say it but all signs are pointing towards another 9-3 type year next year.

Joined: 12/26/2010

MGoPoints: 26099

Durham Blue

January 15th, 2020 at 12:05 AM ^

I wish he said "be that as it may" instead of "with that being said".  Would've been so mobster.

Be that as it may, seems big DT's are allergic to Michigan football.

Joined: 10/09/2008

MGoPoints: 30024

ak47

January 15th, 2020 at 9:10 AM ^

As long as we get two grad transfers this isn’t a huge deal. He was always more hype than production. Which is why he is grad transferring and not going to the nfl 

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

CFraser

January 15th, 2020 at 10:36 AM ^

Last year he was noticeably better than others (a FB converted to DT and undersized guys) and helped significantly when healthy.  

I'm assuming a firm handshake may have been involved which is surprising considering the gaping need and poor performance in the inside gaps (see UW game). 

I guess they like the younger guys (Hinton, Smith, Welschof) and assume Morris will be a planetary object soon.  They must also have some type of transfer drug-deal in the works. It's the only thing that makes any sense here.

Thanks to Mike for his service and good luck.

Joined: 08/15/2017

MGoPoints: 6262

CoverZero

January 15th, 2020 at 2:10 PM ^

Its sad to see Michigan football on the decline.  There are simply far too many holes on the 2020 roster for this team to have less than 3-4 losses, including OSU.  This will be Harbaugh's last year in Ann Arbor, as evident by his not having a contract extension.  Perhaps Gattis will take over as HC for 2021.  The program needs an infusion of youthful perspective, aggressiveness and planning for it to somehow climb back to the "elite" status of the late 90s

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571

DualThreat

January 15th, 2020 at 2:17 PM ^

We're looking for a grad transfer DT you say?

I know of one that just came available!  Goes by M. Dwumfour.

>sigh<

Joined: 05/04/2012

MGoPoints: 781