Portal In: Drake Nugent
Michigan has landed its second transfer of the day, and its second Stanford OL transfer in as many days:
Time to Work #GoBlue @Coach_SMoore @UMichFootball @CoachJim4UM pic.twitter.com/xsIcK30Tjt
— Drake Nugent (@drakenugent9) December 18, 2022
Nugent was a Who Dat prospect back in the class of 2019, outside the top 1000 in the composite, hailing from Littleton, CO. He committed to Stanford and then spent his first two seasons on the bench, receiving a formal redshirt in 2019 and then getting the COVID-shirt in 2020. Nugent ascended to the starting job in 2021 and has now completed his second season as the starting C for the Cardinal. Though PFF's OL grades have *flaws*, they are unequivocal about Nugent being a very good football player: he was given a 77.5 grade last season (25th among centers nationally) and 80.2 this year (8th among centers nationally). Crucially, both the pass block and run block grades were excellent for Nugent this past season, and Nugent's 80.2 PFF grade was just a smidge lower than Oluwatimi's 80.8.
In bringing in Nugent, you have to think Michigan is expecting him to be the starter at C. They won't coronate him publicly and of course the existing options on the depth chart will get their shot, but Nugent's track record of success suggests that he will be the favorite to start at center for Michigan in 2023. The question then turns to what will happen to Michigan's young centers, Greg Crippen and Raheem Anderson. You have to assume one will stay to duke it out with Nugent and then possibly get the job in 2024, but the likelihood that both stay after signing Nugent does not appear to be high to your author. The other takeaway is that it feels like Michigan will be expecting at least one of the guards (likely Zinter) to be off to the NFL.
Here's some footage of Stanford's OL from 2021, with both Nugent at C and Hinton at RT:
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December 18th, 2022 at 6:30 PM ^
This really cool and all, but at what point do we start getting worried about current good players bailing because they’re being recruited been
December 18th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
Have we not been worried about that always anyways? Not due to incoming transfers, but older and existing players have always looked over their shoulder.
Case in point, Cade. I don't think any of our backups transferring out is going to be as detrimental to the team's future as Cade, though in his case we all probably spent ~10 weeks preparing for the announcement.
December 18th, 2022 at 8:57 PM ^
Cade was beatennout by last years talent. I think it is legitimate to worry about overrecruiting transfers if it means we develop the current back ups less.
Not saying we are to that point, but you have to have that player development.
December 18th, 2022 at 6:36 PM ^
I’ll trust the coaches judgement. The best players will play.
December 19th, 2022 at 3:09 PM ^
yep. meritocracy'd. put 'em on the field, let 'em fight it out!
December 18th, 2022 at 6:59 PM ^
R E L A X !
December 18th, 2022 at 7:30 PM ^
Honestly, if people leave because they can't stand the competition, then let them leave.
And if they make lame snide comments on the way out, so be it.
December 19th, 2022 at 12:42 AM ^
This exactly. If someone bails because they are intimidated or don't want to compete, that's fine. This is the major consequence of reloading and not rebuilding. Player A is good, and may develop into an excellent contributor. Player B is already very good and may develop into elite. I'm going with Player B, even if he is a transfer.
We have to be as good as we can be, across the board, to compete at an elite level. Stack talent, and compete for starters' minutes. This makes your team better.
The only concern I would have is promising a transfer a starting slot. Yuck.
December 18th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
I mean who would be seriously worried about at this point? Crippen? Maybe one of Trente Jones or Barnhart? That seems about it
December 19th, 2022 at 8:00 AM ^
If you've had 3 or 4 years in the system and someone transferring in from another school is likely to take your spot in the depth chart.... maybe you shouldn't have had that spot....
This is the new world in college football. Either you continue to recruit the best players (from high school AND the portal) or you get left behind by the schools that do.
December 19th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
Same thing I am worried about, I thought we were building up O-Line depth SPECIFICALLY to avoid having to do this. These guys may be good players, but it feels like we're robbing Peter to pay Paul right now.
There are a lot of guys on the O-Line who have been waiting their turn for years now, feels kinda crappy to recruit over them like this.
December 18th, 2022 at 6:32 PM ^
I wonder what this says about the staffs perception of Crippen. Obviously with Olu, if you have a shot to pull in a Rimington guy, you take the Rimington guy. Taking Nugent is different
December 18th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
Maybe, but his pff grade is impressive. If your into that thing. Then again playing in the pac isn’t exactly a murders row for lineman, but Stanford has continued on the foundation that Harbaugh built.
December 18th, 2022 at 6:45 PM ^
Nugent was on a preseason Rimington and Outland watch list. He also made All Pac12 honorable mention this year. The guy can play, always need depth on the line(s).
December 18th, 2022 at 6:59 PM ^
Bringing in a battle tested grown man for the o line is never a bad thing. High school recruits take a few years. With our coaching, I’m all for this strategy every season.
December 19th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
I hadn't seen that before. Good find
December 18th, 2022 at 7:20 PM ^
Nugent is/was a rimington candidate
December 18th, 2022 at 6:42 PM ^
Where are we at on the cumulative rankings now???
December 18th, 2022 at 6:45 PM ^
Number 1 on transfers, number 20 on recruiting. Number 16 combined on 247
December 18th, 2022 at 6:52 PM ^
#15. I don’t think Nugent was included in the calc just a few mins ago
https://247sports.com/Season/2023-Football/OverallTeamRankings/
December 18th, 2022 at 6:44 PM ^
With NIL and portal transfers, it is a new world. We don’t need a dozen transfers each year, but 4-7 studs that could start immediately is the right move imo. We should only take depth players when a position is scary thin
It would be nice to catch up on NIL as well, but I take this as progress.
December 18th, 2022 at 7:36 PM ^
Some of these transfer may suggest some NIL legitimacy as well. Stewart chose us over USC and LSU, for example, which in the current climate would suggest some degree of NIL existence (though I suppose he simply could have chose us for coaching).
December 18th, 2022 at 6:47 PM ^
Can you trade these players for future draft picks? Im not sure we need 3 deep at center. I guess if this guy is hands down the best you go with that but of all the position 3 deep at center seems hmm. I trust the coaches for sure but when we say all your Oline are belong to us we dont mean 15 deep do we?
December 18th, 2022 at 9:21 PM ^
Who is to say that Crippen or Anderson won't play at guard ? This might be the case for one of them.
December 19th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Ill need to freshen up my use of the /s
Obviously "future draft picks" didnt make it obvious enough.
December 18th, 2022 at 6:52 PM ^
Though PFF's OL grades have *flaws*, they are unequivocal about Nugent being a very good football player
So a Michigan State lineman, then. Guess I can’t get too worked up about that.
/s
December 18th, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
For all the worry warts. First of all getting this type of starter/depth is never a bad thing
also if BOTH guards go pro. There is a chance that Crippen, nugent or Anderson may end up a guard and not transferring
and it that scares you. We won’t have the Joe Moore line every season (spoiler alert)
December 18th, 2022 at 7:26 PM ^
What is happening?
This transfer portal success is as unexpected as it is awesome.
This is a nice way to shore up this (only "pretty good") recruiting cycle.
December 18th, 2022 at 7:26 PM ^
Guessing they have a good idea who is going. I’d say Keegan for sure. Would kind of be surprised if Barnhart and Zinter both came back. If I was Crippen I’d be a little pissed about getting recruited over but Harbaugh is pretty up front about it.
With the potential of 16 games you are going to need depth. We played a lot of guys this year,
Still wondering who is going to play LT?
December 18th, 2022 at 7:58 PM ^
Interesting clip...mostly watched Hinton-lots of potential. I think with The Michigan OL coaching he will ascend to a very high level.
December 18th, 2022 at 8:08 PM ^
Iron sharpening iron.
December 18th, 2022 at 8:28 PM ^
because NUGENT is METAL amirite
December 18th, 2022 at 8:09 PM ^
I always wonder how/when this gets communicated to the current players. I'm in no way against transfers (thanks Olu!!), I just have an old school "Michigan Man" thing abt me that enjoys seeing someone put time into being a MICHIGAN football player finally get their shot on the field.
December 18th, 2022 at 8:51 PM ^
Big'un from Littleton, AMIRITE???
I'll show myself out.
December 18th, 2022 at 9:03 PM ^
No fear. The kids wanted the ability to transfer. When they are given that ability, why should the coaches worry?
stack o/d lineman until you can’t anymore. It’s all good
December 18th, 2022 at 10:04 PM ^
Stanford has officially joined the B1G as The Wolverines farm team.
December 19th, 2022 at 1:05 AM ^
better than being Iowa, The Wolverines' Reject Team
December 18th, 2022 at 10:31 PM ^
As I understand football—and I"m a major expert—it helps to have a center.
December 19th, 2022 at 1:06 AM ^
no you're thinking of basketball
December 19th, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
O-Line U!
December 19th, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
I take this as a sign David Shaw and Jim Harbaugh still have a good relationship. I wonder if he's on the short list for joining the coaching staff this offseason.
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