DT's and Corners available in the Transfer Portal
I went to the transfer portal on 247 out of curiousity to see if any DT's or corners we might be interested in were available.
There were a couple DT's from Stanford, so don't think academics would be an issue. One is Michael Williams (4* recruit weighing 300+ pounds). Michael Thompson from Oklahoma is 291 pounds and apparently has no neck - good sign of an immovable object in the middle.
At corner there's Scooby Carter from Bama, Ken Montgomery from Maryland, and Devon Graves from NC State...all 6ft or taller.
Interested to see if we go after any of these transfers or others to add some depth, specifically to our DT and CB positions.
https://247sports.com/Season/2020-Football/TransferPortal/
December 10th, 2019 at 5:52 PM ^
Do you think the NCAA will grant our waivers?
December 10th, 2019 at 5:54 PM ^
No especially after harbaugh tried to stop all of them last year.
/s
December 11th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
Hudson and Sims I believe were the ones that didn't get approved last year. Several others did, Solomon among them whom the defense really could have used. Harbaugh wasn't blocking them. He just said he wasn't going to lie for athletes when Hudson said he left over depression and wanted to be closer to home, then transferred to UC 3 hours away from home when A2 was an hour away.
December 11th, 2019 at 11:46 AM ^
Issa joke dood
December 11th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
Hudson and Sims I believe were the ones that didn't get approved last year. Several others did, Solomon among them whom the defense really could have used. Harbaugh wasn't blocking them. He just said he wasn't going to lie for athletes when Hudson said he left over depression and wanted to be closer to home, then transferred to UC 3 hours away from home when A2 was an hour away.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:44 PM ^
Perhaps
December 10th, 2019 at 7:23 PM ^
maybe if the bama transfers heard racial slurs at a Rocket City Trash Pandas game.
s/
December 10th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
I like the thought, but 'adding depth' means reducing scholarship offers. Grad transfers also use up a 'ship! The other thought is that grad transfers are largely transferring because they aren't playing where they're at. Maybe the guys from Stanford and Bama are worth kicking the tires on? Probably - and I'd be surprised if we don't sniff around.
The question about taking a 1-year rental is what you think about the depth at that position. How much do JH and DB like Hinton/Smith, and the guys behind them? I don't know...
But this is interesting information, and I'm sure everyone here will be watching for news either way!
EDIT: Blah!!! Transfer Portal, so not necessarily grad transfers. Very different! Still will be interesting to see what happens...
December 10th, 2019 at 6:38 PM ^
Williams is a grad transfer. Couldn’t get accepted into grad school at Stanford.
December 10th, 2019 at 5:56 PM ^
Is Mason out of eligibility already? He'd be a perfect combo DT/CB in Brown's defense.
December 10th, 2019 at 5:59 PM ^
To say nothing of long snapper.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:44 PM ^
And beer vendor. He could be like Mr. Sneelock in If I Ran the Circus.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:03 PM ^
we got a herd of DT's and CB's. heck, we're givin' 'em away! come on down and bring the kids and get a free balloon and some pop corn. you can pick out your favorite transfer in the comfort of our air conditioned show room!
December 10th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Michael Thompson sounds familiar. Was Michigan in the final group for him?
December 10th, 2019 at 7:17 PM ^
I don’t think we were in his final group but we were definitely in on him. He was a St Louis kid that liked Michigan but there was no natural connection between he and the program.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^
We recruited Thompson and Williams out of high school. We were closer on Thompson than Williams.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:08 PM ^
I'm not sure you want Michael Thompson. He got moved to the Oline because according to the coaches that was his best chance at seeing the field. That is especially worrisome considering OU had maybe the worst defense in the country last year, and this year they will be graduating 3 DT regulars.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:24 PM ^
1 of each would be nice for next yr as an insurance policy especially if DGW doesn’t choose the good guys.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
I just want St Juste to transfer back.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:47 PM ^
And Aubrey.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
A grad transfer DT from Stanford, who started for two seasons sounds perfect. He'll get past admissions and is looking for a better team that needs him. Much better than taking a playing time transfer.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
How concerned should we be that he only has two sacks in his entire college career? That's not a lot of production for a guy who has started the last 25 games.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:16 PM ^
Hold your gap, take on doubles, eat space. Let the others get the sacks.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:21 PM ^
Not everything shows up on a stat sheet. A lot of people knock Gary for a lack of production, but he was able to free guys like Winovich and Bush to tee off on the QB. Value that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:58 PM ^
D-tackles don't need to be sack guys. How many TFLs?! Even if that number isn't high, as noted above, this position doesn't need to load the stat sheet to be good.
December 10th, 2019 at 10:32 PM ^
Its two more than Carlo Kemp.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:47 PM ^
Justin Rogers is a 4* 310lb DT committed to Kentucky. I thought he was more of a Guard. He is supposedly taking a 2nd look at MSU to be closer to home. I wonder why we are not after him.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^
We were never in on him to begin with. Either he isn't high on our team's board, or there is something there that is scaring coaches away from him (grades, attitude, whatever).
Moral of the story, he may or may not be good.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:17 PM ^
Michigan was most certainly interested in him. That interest was not reciprocated.
December 10th, 2019 at 6:57 PM ^
Maybe he and his family told UM not to bother? I have to assume that has to happen with some kids and schools, right? Maybe they don’t like a coach or school because they grew up cheering for a rival or saw how another player’s situation was handled that they didn’t like? Just spitballing here...
December 10th, 2019 at 7:23 PM ^
It's kind of an open secret that he has academic issues.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:16 PM ^
December 10th, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
"Scooby sacks"
December 10th, 2019 at 7:18 PM ^
It would be beneficial to narrow that list down to starters at P5 schools and all-conference type players at G5 schools (a la Mike Danna) instead of looking at the position in general.
If your options are Alabama’s 4th corner and Maryland’s 3rd corner, you’re probably better off sticking with what you’ve got. Same with DT.
Ambry Thomas and Vincent Gray are at the least a competent starting pair at CB. DJ Turner was someone who received some chatter in spring and fall camp, so you’d think with an off-season that he’d at least be a viable 3rd corner, if not pushing Gray for starting snaps.
At DT you have Dwumfour, still holding out hope for Kemp. Then you have Hinton and Smith who started getting some snaps by the end of the year, and again with an off-season those are guys you’d expect to be viable backups at worst, if not capable starters.
Personally I don’t see the dire need to hit the transfer market unless there’s a starter from a P5 school in play. I don’t see either position being one where we’re in desperate need of bodies moving forward.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:18 PM ^
I think your DT thing is backward. Kemp was better this season than Dwumfour.
December 12th, 2019 at 5:55 PM ^
I meant as far as returning players. You have Dwumfour returning, holding out hope for Kemp to return.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:30 PM ^
I'm just about with you on the DTs. Hinton and Dwumfour as starters with Mazi Smith backing up seems fine. Hinton seemed to be playable by the end of the year. Playable DT as a freshman tends to equate to a future very good player. Dwumfour seemed to hold up ok against the run by the end of the year, and he's always been good at rushing the passer. Given his ranking, there is a good chance that Smith is at least ready as a back-up. On top of that, Weischof is at DT, got a little next year style hype in the fall and could help with depth. Also possible Jeter will be playable at DT with 1 more year in the weight room.
What I'd really like at DT is a Bryan Mone type to hold against the run. Hopefully Hinton has some of this by next year.
CB is probably ok for next year (safeties seem to be more important to Don Brown anyway), but if we don't get DGW, I'm not feeling good about 2021 DBs.
December 10th, 2019 at 9:38 PM ^
I dont know why you wouldnt look at grad transfers. At worst they suck and dont play. At best, they help you with a position in need.
December 10th, 2019 at 9:45 PM ^
Alabama's CB is expected to return. Football wise, a true freshman 5* would be a good add.
The CB from Maryland has been in the transfer portal since August. Before sitting out this season, he redshirted in 2018 as a true freshman. They don't get many 4 stars. It's not a normal situation.
December 11th, 2019 at 9:19 AM ^
Our second leading tackler among DL (Dwumfour and Mason tied) had 9 tackles. For the season.
December 15th, 2019 at 6:53 AM ^
Vincent Gray looks like Brandon Watson Jr. To me. He better improve fast that or Jalen Perry...Somebody, why throw at Ambry when Gray is pretty awful at playing the ball.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:41 PM ^
It's Free Agent season but not sure we can outbid other schools - especially OSU and SEC schools
December 10th, 2019 at 11:19 PM ^
True but I doubt those schools are in dire need of transfers.
December 10th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^
Like zoinks!!! Scooby snacks!!
December 10th, 2019 at 9:16 PM ^
Of course I didn't see this thread and literally JUST did this research on my own. Here's what I came up with...
WR (if we lose both Collins AND DPJ): Theo Howard, UCLA...Ben Skowrownek, Northwestern
DE/Pass Rush (trying to replace Uche and Danna): Isaiah Chambers, Houston
DT: Michael Thompson, Oklahoma...Brant Lawless-Sherrill, UNC...Michael Williams, Stanford
CB: Jamyest Williams, South Carolina...Scooby Carter, Alabama
December 15th, 2019 at 6:56 AM ^
Don't really need recievers. I suppose in case someone got hurt, but Michigan actually will be just fine even if DPJ and Collins leave. They could go with 4 4-star recievers out there with Henning, or if Sainristril lives up to the hype this offseason.
December 10th, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^
According to 247 the coaches are keeping tabs on Michael Williams and Javon Swann. Would be happy with either/both.
December 11th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
On the premise of depth, I hope they land a transfer or a couple. Esp at DT. Not overly concerned for this year should Kemp or Dwumfor be eligible and return for a 5th yr, but 2021 and beyond looks bleak regarding depth.
December 11th, 2019 at 4:36 PM ^
Grab all DT's now!!!