Harbaugh: "up to 10 freshman" on the two deep
So that's newsy. And I'd say very good news actually, for depth and overall talent. I don't track such things, but I'd say that's a lot of freshmen making a two deep for any team. Says a lot about this year's recruiting.
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2016/08/jim_harbaugh_at_least…
August 28th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
Bodes well for next year.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^
Much needed for next year. We are one excellent season away from sending half our team to the NFL. Which makes me both happy and sad...
August 28th, 2016 at 5:27 PM ^
What's the Jr and sophomore class numbers? Seems like the sophomore class is small....
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August 28th, 2016 at 8:28 PM ^
it is
August 28th, 2016 at 11:19 PM ^
We only took 14 in '15 and two guys (Brian Cole and Andrew David) are already gone with one more in limbo (Shelton Johnson)
August 28th, 2016 at 5:28 PM ^
The freshmen WRs have been told that none of them will redshirt per Scout ($).
- Crawford
- McDoom
- N. Johnson
- Bush
- Hudson
- Bredeson
- Evans
- Gary
- Long
- Hill
?
August 28th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^
Nordin pretty much on the 2 deep by default. I'd also be surprised if Mbem-Bosse didn't play this year, but I suppose with Wroblewski, Elysse doesn't have to be on the 2 deep, per se.
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August 28th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
Thanks for that info, based WD.
Worth noting he mentioned 10 he felt sure about. I guess that potentially still leaves the door open for some other(s).
August 28th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
Onwenu almost certainly is going to get some time on the OL as a backup, I would think.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:42 PM ^
They are also having him back-up Pluto as the solar system's 9th planet.
(And before any wisenheimer chimes in, I know Pluto was officially downgraded, but I refuse to accept its demotion...)
August 28th, 2016 at 5:52 PM ^
I'll allow it for the purposes of this joke. +1
August 28th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
#rememberpluto #forevernumber9
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August 28th, 2016 at 8:52 PM ^
Pluto being downgraded is a common misconception. The solar system has more than 9 planets, and Pluto is one of them. It's in a category called "dwarf planets," as are the other planets like it.
August 28th, 2016 at 10:07 PM ^
Pluto used to be a real planet, now its Peter Dinklage. Poor thing...
(Not that being Peter Dinklage would be all bad, mind you...)
August 28th, 2016 at 9:00 PM ^
#freepluto
August 28th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
I would assume that whomever is not named the starter at LT (Brederson/Newsome) becomes your 6th OL - but Onwenu certainly has a shot to be in the 2-deep based on the positive things we've heard thus far.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
David Dawson is likely the Next Guard Up at both right and left guard, Onwenu fits in the two deep at the other slot.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
Often the two deep has the same player at a couple spots. Bredeson and Dawson and maybe others could definitely be at guard ahead of Onwenu at this point.
August 28th, 2016 at 8:02 PM ^
I question whether Dawson is ahead of Onwenu, but even if he is, looking at next year it seems likely that Onwenu will be starting so its better to get him some experience. Burning his redshirt isn't much of a concern looking at the guys already committed for next year along with the hope that Slaton will join the class.
August 28th, 2016 at 9:08 PM ^
I question whether Onwenu stays at Guard. At first i was very surprised to see him practicing on defense, but then I saw next years Nose and DTackle rotation would be Hurst (if he doesn't declare,) Mone, Dwumfor, and .....that's it. Next year we return 3 interior linemen, possibly 2, when we usually rotate 4-6 in every game.
Conversely on offense, excluding Onwenu, we'll return 9 linemen, plus look to bring in more than 5 additional freshmen.
I bet we seem him on offense in short yardage packages, but on defense a lot, and I bet he starts on defense next year.
August 28th, 2016 at 10:09 PM ^
I won't take that bet. I think with the Solomon decommitt, Onwenu was just ticketed to the DL for next year...
August 29th, 2016 at 12:30 AM ^
We're all guessing at this point since we don't know how the class will finish. There are as many holes on the OL next year as on the DL. Daryl Funk is one of the most destructive forces ever seen in Ann Arbor. He crippled the development of Dawson and Kugler. Nothing I have read suggests that either is close to being ready to start for Michigan. The current OL commits have a lot of potential but the consensus is that none of them should be starting next year. Cole, Newsome and Bredeson will be starters. JBB, Ulizio and Runyon need experience before they will be ready. Onwenu seems to be ready this year. This is why we still need more OL commits in this class. Finishing with Isaiah Wilson, Slaton and Cesar Ruiz is important for depth, and possibly for a couple of starters next year. (Wilson and Slaton might be able to start freeing up Onwenu for the DL.
On DL, there are also holes in the 2 deep but at least we can be confident of the starters. Also, we are still in it for Jay Tufele, the #3 composite DT to 247. (Solomon is #5). The coaches may also decide that Gary should move inside given Winovich, Marshall, Kemp and Johnson are available at end.
My guess at this point is that Onwenu will get experience this year and start at OG next year and go in for goal line stands on D this year and next.
August 29th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^
Sure there are potential holes on offense as far as talent is concerned, but they have bodies. enough for a 3 deep next year at positions that typically have zero rotation. I think he's a lock to end up on defense because if he doesn't then we have 2 or 3 bodies where we rotate as many as 6 in a game. The coaches likely aren't looking to have a repeat of last year where Mone got injured, then Glasgow got injured too, and the wheels fell off.
August 29th, 2016 at 9:50 AM ^
We have the 3 you named at tackle plus Gary plus (hopefully) Tufele. Hudson is projected to move there eventually. At DE, even if you move Hudson you have Winovich, Marshall, Kemp and Johnson plus the freshmen. That's a lot of bodies (and a lot of inexperience). Typically, it is easier for a freshman to start at DT than on the OL.
Getting Tufele will make it less likely that Onwenu plays DT on a regular basis. Getting Slaton will make it more likely, I suppose.
So much hope this time of year.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
Apparently they are giving strong consideration to starting Bredeson on the interior. I think one of the seniors is going to lose his spot to him and become the 6th O lineman. In other words there seems to be a strong possibility that Newsome and Bredeson are both starting this year.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^
onwenu gets snaps in short yardage situations this year...on defense.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:36 PM ^
I think one of Hill or Long red shirts. Hill seems like he needs to add some height
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August 28th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
I would say that neither red shirts simply due to the number of guys in the secondary that will be gone in 2017. Gotta get those boys some experience.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
Long is not redshirting.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
Long might be the 2nd best CB right now - certainly in coverage. He is physically ready, mentally very close and could be the 1st guy for nickel & dime if they bring in a DB given JPs versatility.
Hill is still only ~170 lbs but very talented. He won't redshirt purely to rep for next year.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^
Considering our extreme lack of experience at the position starting next year, I think both Hill and Long will both play a considerable amount this year.
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August 28th, 2016 at 7:38 PM ^
What's Hill's weight? Seems pretty small to see the field this season..
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August 28th, 2016 at 7:00 PM ^
...but Charles had pretty good coverage skills which allowed him to get on the field early. So he's a definite play. And as others have said, these guys need to get experience for 2017. So I expect lots of reps for those guys early on, even if we're blowing teams out by 30.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:29 PM ^
I'm amazed that none of the true freshman WRs are redshirting; we've heard a lot from Brian & co. how WR is one of the toughest positions to make an immediate positive impact. After Perry's growing pains last year, this year's crop must be frickin amazing!
August 28th, 2016 at 7:38 PM ^
might have something to do with who they think they can get in the 2017 class
August 28th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^
Losing Darboh and Chesson next year probably is a major factor in getting people in-game reps before next year when this group will be called upon.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:56 PM ^
Not sure why they missed him. No way he redshirts.
August 28th, 2016 at 8:15 PM ^
So its confirmed he's primarily offense?
August 28th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
10 freshman WRs, and none of them are redshirting? That seems...strange.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:28 PM ^
In 4 years we may be talking about this recruiting class as the greatest and most important in Michigan history. For real.
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August 28th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^
More to come.
August 28th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
I agree that Harbaugh wil continue to recruit some of the best classes ever seen at Michigan. But I also think that there are a bunch of potentially transcendent players in the freshman class. Gary; obviously... But guys like Bredeson, Asiasi, Peters, Long, HIll, Onwenu, Hudson, and McDoom ALL have the potential to be multi-year All B1G. Even Nordin has NFL all over him if he pans out.
WIll Jim recruit more highly rated classes in the future? Almost certainly. However we may look back on his first full class and remember how these guys not only brought Michigan back; but got them over the top.
August 28th, 2016 at 8:24 PM ^
Exactly
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August 28th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
Hyperbole is literally the worst thing in the universe...
August 28th, 2016 at 6:06 PM ^
What you did there....I see it.
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August 28th, 2016 at 5:58 PM ^
It'll take a lot to beat the ''95 class.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:04 PM ^
Hope so, because that means they win a title.
We need some more guys recruited this year to get there.
August 28th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
I LOVE statements like this. I think for it to be true we'd need one of the RBs to really be a homerun.
It would be cool if someone really broke our best classes down. I think the 98 class is our best by recruiting profile. As far as wins I know its none from the last decade. Seems like one of the regular nerdier posters on here could really come up with something.
August 28th, 2016 at 8:34 PM ^
Eh idk if we need one of these RB's to be a home run, at least not as our main back (I could see Chris Evans being a big deal but as a do it all Reggie Bush type --> style comparison not production comparison).
But I also don't think this class has to produce a heisman just to beat the 95 class. If we win a title in the next four years (which I am of the mind set that we will), this class will fill that roster. Given the amount of players from this class that will see PT this year many members will have the chance to be some of the most productive at their position for Michigan. Any player who plays a lot as a freshman has a good start on finishing top 10 in some record category. Playing as a freshman for a Jim harbaugh team also figures to be a good harbinger for getting drafted. If 60-75% of this 30 man class gets drafted, puts up historically significant statistics, and delivers 1 NC and more than 1 conference title I think it would easily put them in contention for the best recruiting class ever at Michigan. Then you add in the factor that it was Jim's first class which is so important in returning is to an elite program, and I think you have a winning pitch.
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