2022 Class
While we revel in the turnaround of an entire program orchestrated by those upperclassmen, let's not discount that recruiting class and especially how important the run at the end for that class was:
Will Johnson
Keon Sabb (who was terrific after that first missed tackle last night)
Derrick Moore
Tyler Morris
Mason Graham
Colston Loveland
Kenneth Grant (that sack of Penix - wow)
Alex Orji
All these sophomores/redshirt freshman had big moments in this run and I think there are some additional guys on the depth chart we see get run next season.
January 9th, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
That list is pretty amazing. I had not connected all of them. Would love for Clemons/Walker and Rolder/Jones one from each step up and out into the light next year. Very solid core to build around.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Yup
And while OSU is trying to buy a super team rn (both HS recruits and transfers), UM is already loaded on the lines next year.
Defense could be just as nasty.
And if JJ and Donovan comes back - watch out. Edwards obviously had a tough year, but will always be a remarkable home run hitter, and Mullings is Haskins 2.0.
It's fun watching OSU dropping millions of dollars (supposedly $1mm+ for the Ole Miss RB) to try to replicate what UM has done organically.
I'm all for paying the players, and much more than they make now, but watching OSU do it out of desperation and to mercenary players is just the chef's kiss.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:02 PM ^
We also need to get some talent from the portal for next year. Probably could use another lineman or two and definitely at least one corner. I’d like to have another wide receiver as well. We also need JJ, Barner, at least two-three current linemen, Rod Moore, Colson all to stay
January 9th, 2024 at 1:40 PM ^
I think oline will be good. Several guys who have been here for years. It's kind of like Wisconsin used to be. Recruit ok but not have to play until year 3 or 4 or 5. Lots of time with Moore and coach herb.
Miles Hinton still has 5 star talent just need more coaching. Trente Jones has eligibility left. Crippen has been here for a few years now. El hadi, Persi, they have plenty of guys that can play.
I think biggest thing is JJ and Jesse Minter. If they're both here for 2024 they can run it back.
January 9th, 2024 at 10:38 AM ^
Outside of that first missed tackle, I've been really impressed with Saab. I thought Penix would try and pick on him, but he held his own! Go Blue!
January 9th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^
Keon Sabb is a future star
January 9th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
Sabb showed us why Clemson wanted him so bad last night. Dude is gonna be a big problem for offenses next year.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
It'll be interesting to see what Moore and Paige wind up doing.
I'm too nervous to start a thread discussing guys who have decisions (I know it's too soon for most of the board)...but I'm genuinely interested to see how this all plays put.
It had a 'The Last Dance' feel, and these seasons are soooo long that guys will naturally have the "I've accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish" feeling in the next 48-72 hours.
It was nice to hear Harbaugh say that he was pushing spring camp back a month...give the guys time to recharge, mentally more than anything.
HOWEVER, we have a TON of mid round draft picks on this team. How many of those guys are going to want to run it back to see if they can improve their draft stock?
I know, I know...another day.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
Fuck it. I can't help myself.
Tuttle already said he's coming back if he gets his 6th year (if not, he's coming back to coach...presumably as a GA).
- McCarthy
- Edwards
- Wilson
- Barner
- Nugent (he said last week that he's leaning on going pro, but the collective could give him more to think about)
- Jones
- McGregor (see Nugent, leaning on going...collective could make it interesting)
- Colson
- Harrell
- Moore
- Paige
There are more that technically have eligibility left, but they're obviously leaving or they've already announced (Barnhart). Or I'm still in a fog after last night.
I'll keep the discussion to myself until you all are ready. 😏
January 9th, 2024 at 12:44 PM ^
- McCarthy - 50/50 to return. He accomplished what he wanted to at Michigan and would still be a 1st round pick, but definitely won't be top 5. He could come back and play himself into the top QB taken next year. This year it's definitely Williams and then Maye. He was leaning towards coming back before the championship. Maybe a so-so outing helps him come back to try and repeat and carry the offense.
- Edwards - Likely returning at this point. Especially if JJ returns.
- Wilson - Likely gone.
- Barner - Does he have eligibility? I think there's a solid chance he's back. If not the depth behind him and Loveland is really, really good.
- Nugent - Likely going pro
- Jones - Likely returning
- McGregor - This one is definitely interesting to me. I think the collective could help him stay. Right now he's not a for sure NFL guy, he'd have to earn a spot. It'll likely be the same next year too and he could earn some good money at Michigan.
- Colson - Likely going pro
- Harrell - Likely gone
- Moore - Derrick? Definitely sticking around
- Paige - 50/50. I think there's a chance they convince him to stay
I think Michigan winning a championship actually helps push some guys to go. They'll feel they have accomplished their college goals. If JJ returns and he can convince 2/3 of the 50/50 guys look out. Michigan loses a decent amount of the starters going into a brutal 2024 schedule, but the way they rotate a lot of guys have experience. Some guys like Sabb/Berry/Hausmann/transfer LB from Maryland/Mullings are ready to step up and be the guy.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:53 PM ^
Moore is Rod Moore, not Derrick Moore, who isn't eligible for the NFL Draft. He's a sophomore.
January 9th, 2024 at 4:37 PM ^
Sorry yeah I got confused and was like he definitely can't go. On the flip side Rod is most likely gone.
January 9th, 2024 at 3:04 PM ^
I'll look at it another way...rather than get into stay or go, what about, potential to improve draft stock?
- McCarthy - Medium to High (I think he's going in the first round if he goes, but he could go from late first round to #1 overall in 2025...that's something to consider and a lot of money)
- Edwards - High
- Wilson - Low
- Barner - Low
- Nugent - Low
- Jones - Low
- McGregor - Low to Medium (I think he could have a breakout year at the national level, but it's more likely that he's maxed out and it's just a matter of production versus actually getting better)
- Colson - Medium (I think he kind of "is what he is," but if he could put it all together into an All-American...he's got first round type talent/measurables. But we've been saying that for 3 years now.)
- Harrell - Low
- Moore - Medium
- Paige - Low
In my mind, a lot of these guys are close to their potential when it comes to draft stock. And now they're national champions...so it's going to be interesting to see who wants to run it back.
It's kind of weird, the two guys most likely (IMO) to improve their draft stock are JJ and Donovan. The Don could return and be featured and easily jump 2+ rounds.
January 9th, 2024 at 10:57 AM ^
There's more guys coming up in that class too. Jimmy Rolder, Zeke Berry, Marlin Klein, Amarion Walker, Darrius Clemons are all dudes that I think will grow into strong contributors. Awesome and underrated class
January 9th, 2024 at 11:12 AM ^
Walker and Hill starting next year and then the season after are going to be really hard to throw on. Their size will be a problem for most schools. Especially since they'll both get another year learning with Will Johnson. Michigan also has a stable of tight ends now that by the time they see the field they'll have a few years in. I imagine Michigan is going to be sending tight ends to the NFL at the same rate Iowa has been very soon.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
Mike missed stuff, Rod missed stuff, Will missed stuff but they were outliers because, guess what, UW is damn good and well coached.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
We have some huge Hits in the 2022 class. No chance we win the title without them this year, and they are a big reason we are still projected in the top 4 next year. The 2024 M defense will be extremely salty.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
Let's not forget Cam Goode, and then Zeke Berry on special teams.
Zeke should be starting next year.
Hope Jimmy Rolder can develop behind the transfer LBs. We need someone to step up at LB.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:27 AM ^
I'm so old fashioned I didn't even think about the transfer - Goode (and, of course, Olu was that year as well).
January 9th, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
The 2022 class was ranked number 12 on the composite. Let's discuss the 2023 class that was ranked lower as well real quick. They were ranked number 17 in the composite and a lot of people say it'll be hard to win championships with that level of class. I would say Semaj Morgan has already outplayed his ranking. He was a 3 star ranked as an 89. I know he had a little trouble near the end of the year, but he's clearly a playmaker the staff trusts and now he's already been in some big moments. Ben Hall was ranked as an 86 and Hart says he'll start contributing pretty heavily starting next year. He isn't a home run hitter, but Michigan signed Cabana for that. I would say Hall and Morgan are already easily outplaying their rankings and should have been solid 4 stars.
I think when it's all said and done with the development of this class they'll end more like a top ten class. They signed 4 guys who were pretty highly ranked, including a very good defensive end in the making, a safety that will be able to rotate in and develop behind Sabb and Berry and Hill at CB. Hill wasn't a top 10 guy like Johnson, but by the time he sees the field he won't be much of a step down from the results we have seen on the field from Johnson so far. I truly believe he'll end up as a lockdown corner in college.
The cool thing is a lot of these guys starting next year as redshirt freshman/sophomores will get to rotate in some and develop. By the time they're needed to be playmakers they'll have a few years of development. 5 stars are great to have but a freshman 5 star vs a 3 year guy who redshirted as a freshman and rotated in for a season or two is just about equal in my mind. If Michigan needed a guy right away they might be in trouble, but they've got depth now that will allow these guys to develop. Plus they'll make some addition through the portal like Stewart and Wallace this season in places where they have holes.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:23 AM ^
Lots of the classes that finish higher in the rankings just get atomized by the portal anyway. Probably better to sign the #17 class and hang onto substantially all of it, rather than sign the #5 class and lose half of it to the portal within within 1-2 seasons.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Exactly. This and the 2024 class or classes they will build depth but also still have some playmakers. A lot will redshirt and wait their turn and they'll see the field once they're redshirt sophomores or older while other teams repeatedly lose freshman and sophomore to the portal. A redshirt sophomore/junior that has been in the same scheme numerous years usually is more beneficial than a one year rental in multiple places on rosters. Transfers can definitely help, but building rosters out of numerous transfers that you need to immediately contribute is a hard way to win.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:13 AM ^
Cannot believe we get Graham, Moore and Grant back for another year on our D-Line. These guys are beasts!!!
January 9th, 2024 at 11:51 AM ^
And Benny!
January 9th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
It's incredible.
Not sure if it's more talent identification, development, or both.
Will Johnson was basically a "can't miss recruit" if one ever exists, but the rest really blossomed into elite players.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KoiXLUolA
Watch the slow motion replay of Will’s int. The WR strips his arm with force and he still somehow gets his hands back.
Just extraordinary.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:21 PM ^
We just need to figure out the QB position and we can be right back at the top.
Both lines will be a strength which is where you start.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
JJ is possibly returning. We'll see what happens when the dust settles from the emotions of the championship. Solid chance Orji starts next season and looks like a sophomore Vince Young. The offense would be built around the run game again and a lot of tight ends.
January 9th, 2024 at 3:35 PM ^
Man I am not sold on Orji winning the Big Ten.
JJ is interesting because he loves Michigan and Harbaugh (does Harbaugh leave?). He also will get a ton of NIL
The draft is QB heavy so he could play his way into more money next year…but what else do you have to prove when you have climbed the mountain.