ESPN’s Top 100 Players Heading into the Year
ESPN put out there top 100 players list heading into the season.
Michigan isn’t mentioned until Blake Corum at 79 and DJ Turner at 86. I understand we’ve lost a lot of high end talent but the DizRezpekt is still unnerving to me. At any rate can’t wait for the season to start.
August 17th, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
Not sure that's disrespect. Having 2 of the top 100 players out of 130 teams seems pretty solid
August 17th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
I understand your general point, but it's more likely that the list represents around 30 teams. UM isn't competing with the bottom 65% of the CFB. OSU has 3 in the top 7.
The list doesn't mean much, but if it means anything it's pretty disrespectful/ignorant of UM's talent.
EDIT (from my post below): Bama & GA 8 and 7 respectively. Clemson also 7. OSU & USC 5. Notre Dame 4 (of top-37). TXA&M, OK 3. UM, MSU, MN, WI & Iowa all with 2. PSU 1. I could have miscounted some, but I don't think so.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
TraVeyon Henderson at #7 is absurd. He averaged 6.8 yd/carry in a high octane spread-to-pass offense. Corum averaged 6.6 in a smash-mouth offense. Corum, as back #2 would have had more than Henderson's 1200 yds had he not been injured. Not even mentioning other talented backs. Henderson has a ton to prove before being declared the 2nd best back in America.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
Also, they're apparently replacing one of their turnstiles at tackle with a guy who's already among the best tackles, even though he didn't play tackle last year, because a human turnstile won the job over him.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
YES! That's what i saw. they sing praises of Paris, yet... he didnt play over that clown show line they had last year?
That said, who do we think is in that top 100? I think Andrel Anthony or Erick All could play their way in, but our offense doesn't put up stats that show people what our guys can do.. and with all the weapons, its diluted a bit.
Who else needs to be on the list?
August 17th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
All is awesome and Anthony has big play ability.
Donovan Edwards will be a Heisman finalist.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:10 AM ^
Get that man the ball.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
For that to happen, i think corum needs to be injured. I dont see how there's any less of a 50/50 split for him through the season. Even if edwards has 1000 yards rushing and 400 receiving and 10 TDs, i dont see it...and that appears like best case scenario.
All and Anthony are great. but again... quantity of opportunities will be limited for all our weapons.
Can edwards get 3 sacks on Stroud in november? If so, he's got my vote!
August 17th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
You forgot about Edwards' passing yards.
August 17th, 2022 at 1:13 PM ^
can we try to get 1000 rushing, 1000 receiving, and 1000 passing in the same year?
August 17th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
How about our new Center? Or any other returning lineman. They've already proven more than any OSU lineman.
August 17th, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
This...Olu was a Rimington Finalist...that's a pretty good starting point.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
I feel like I can remember watching OSU games featuring Elliott or Dobbins and thinking "ahhh shit, this dude is awesome (in the worst way possible)", but when I watch Henderson he seems...eh, kinda lacking a certain something? Just not as dynamic for whatever reason, lack of vision or shiftiness maybe?
August 17th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
I agree, he doesn't have quite the explosion that Dobbins had, and vision may be an issue. Def good, but #7? I don't even think he's top 100 based on what he's done.
August 17th, 2022 at 12:33 PM ^
Dobbins scared me every time he touched the ball.
Corum looked very similar when healthy. Edwards is probably the best slot back in the nation already.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
OTOH Corum was sharing carries with Haskins last season whereas Henderson was #1 all the way.
Corum had 144/575 carries or 25% of carries. Haskins had 270/575 or 47% of carries.
Henderson had 183/423 or 43% of carries.
Corum is viewed as the "change of pace back" last season, so they're wondering how he will hold up as the #1 guy. I have no problem with the current placement on a preseason list. I think it will look much different with Corum higher on the list after the season ends.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:28 AM ^
I actually thought Corum was the overall better back until he got injured last year. He essentially missed three games and was clearly not 100% for OSU and Iowa.
August 17th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^
TBH, I'd expect Miyan Williams's role to increase this year as well. Last year, Master Teague III accounted for 66 carries in Ohio State's offense. Teague's skillset more closely resemble Williams' power-running style than Henderson's.
It for sure won't be 50/50, but a 60/40 split between the two backs won't surprise me at all.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
74 yards on 17 carries is only 4.3 yd/carry....
August 17th, 2022 at 2:10 PM ^
couldn't agree more !
August 17th, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
Corum didn't get short yardage carries though, and those will bring down your average, so not getting them will inflate your average. Pretty sure Henderson was more of an every down back.
Still, I agree that Henderson is way too high.
August 17th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
Surprised OSU has only 5. ESPN is risking a ratings loss in Ohio for that
August 17th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
Michigan State's QB and a WR I've never heard of are both ahead of any Michigan players
August 17th, 2022 at 12:49 PM ^
Not necessarily for a team that's ranked in the top 10.
But agree that this version of Michigan has a lot of really solid players yet few clearly elite players. Mazi Smith certainly could be elite. Same with Junior Colson. Maybe Zak Zinter. They have the tools. JJ could eventually but if he hasn't taken a clear lead for QB, he's probably not elite yet. Corum is probably an elite RB but it's not a high enough leverage position to be super high impact (so yes, Henderson is ranked way too high IMO).
There are no Michigan players being regularly mocked in the first two rounds of the draft so it's not like this is a uniquely disrespectful ranking. Someone will probably break out but knowing who is the hard part.
August 17th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Let me guess: Alabama and Georgia have 40 of the top 100?
August 17th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
8 and 7 respectively. Clemson also 7. OSU & USC 5. Notre Dame 4 (of top-37). TXA&M, OK 3. UM, MSU, MN, WI & Iowa all with 2. PSU 1. I could have miscounted some, but I don't think so.
August 17th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
Mazi about to make a statement.....
and Barrett, what about Barrett?
August 17th, 2022 at 9:49 AM ^
There are a number of young men that will paint this list maize blue by the end of the year
August 17th, 2022 at 10:07 AM ^
maybe you haven't heard. besides football, barrett is the US ambassador to the UN, commander of SINPAC (or whatever alphabet soup they go by) and opening centers across ohio to convert buckeyes to humans. some folks get wowed by all of that, and don't pay attention to his work at all 22 positions on the field, along with his special teams duties.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
and he's quite useful at eliminating potential terrorists a mile or more away
August 17th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
duh. i mean, he can throw a football at least twice that distance and when it hits, stuff breaks, even armored stuff.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
We can only hope coach puts him in the 4th quarter.......
August 17th, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^
He’s classified as a player-coach-administrator-donor hybrid. Too versatile for such lists
August 17th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
...it will be poetry to out ears and poetic justice to this list.
August 17th, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
Seriously no Mazi…..anger the beast at your own peril.
August 17th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
ESPN doesn't know shit about shit
August 17th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
That actually might be the one thing they do know about
August 17th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
Based on the composition of the top ten, whomever made the list might actually be a Columbus Cooler Pooper.
August 17th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
ESPN knows shit.
August 17th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
and dicks.
August 17th, 2022 at 9:10 PM ^
Haha, a penis with glasses.😵
August 17th, 2022 at 9:53 AM ^
Edwards and JJ will be in the top 100 come December
August 17th, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
Last year, ESPN ranked one Michigan player in the top 100- Hutchinson was #53.
Also, they had Ohio State with 5 in the top 100.
Could someone remind me how all of that turned out again?
August 17th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
I forgot… Did Michigan play the Bucks in 2021? Last I recall. Day said he was going to hang a hundred on a team. I just can’t recall who he was talking about.
I do think, if memory serves me correctly, that Day was interviewed on a baseball field, which I found interesting. And, Day was standing on the bag at third base.
August 17th, 2022 at 11:00 AM ^
a memory aid for you:
August 17th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
They obviously missed on Michigan badly, but Ohio State definitely had at least 5. OSU had 3 players drafted in the Top 100 of the NFL draft, and that doesn't include Stroud, JSN or Trayvion Henderson.
That said, I'm interested to see where Mazi, Mike Morris, Donovon Edwards end up on this list by the end of this year.
August 17th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
As it turns out, top 100 players become pretty average when there's a tiny bit of snow
August 17th, 2022 at 11:34 AM ^
some may find this picture more recognizable of #26....
August 17th, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
he was bowing before greatness.....