Narrowing Michigan's Transfer Portal DL Options

Submitted by Mercury Hayes on December 28th, 2019 at 10:04 AM

In a recent thread, a certain "connected" posted indicated Michigan is looking at defensive line prospects from UCF, Stanford (x2) and one from an SEC school. I reviewed the 24/7 transfer portal for 2020 to get more details about available players from those schools. I am assuming all players we are looking for would be the graduate transfer/immediate eligibility type, however that was not explicitly said. The way DT recruiting has gone, I also assume most targets are going to be DTs and I suppose some could be general transfers with a sit out year to be eligible in 2021.

Stanford:

  • Michael Williams, DT, 6-1, 305 pound 4-star with 100% of Crystal Balls to SMU currently. From Ft. Worth Texas and was the 33 ranked DT in the 2016 class. 
  • Had one sack and 12 TFLs in 9-games this season and another sack in 2018
  • Immediate eligibility

Also Stanford:

  • Jovan Swann, DT, 6-2, 270 pound 3-star from Greenwood, Indiana. The 46th ranked DT from the 2016 class.
  • 21 TFLs and four sacks in 2019. 4.5 sacks in 2018
  • Immediate eligibility

Also Stanford (what is you doin' Stanford?)

  • Bo Peek, 6-3, 290 pounds (that's good!), 3-star from Tampa, Florida. Was the 51st ranked DT in the 2015 class
  • No available stats on ESPN
  • Did not play in 3-seasons for Stanford and may be safe to say he might not be the target, or maybe he is a depth body if Michigan has an open scholarship
  • Immediate eligibility

 

UCF

  • Isaac Walker, DT, 6-4, 350 pound (yes please), 3-star from Gainesville, Florida. Came to college as an offensive guard according to some sites, and a DT according to others.
  • Redshirted in 2018 and I cannot find any stats on him for 2019
  • Not sure that he would be eligible in 2020, but would have two years of eligibility after

 

Others?

Reviewing SEC players there are kids from Alabama and Auburn who have already committed to other schools, there is also a DT from Arkansas who clocks in around 261 pounds. Understanding the size of Kemp, Dwumfour and even Bench Mason (who is likely done with defense), I'm not sure this size is the direction Michigan would go. There is also:

  • Josiah Sa'o, DT 6-2, 285 pound 3-star from Vanderbilt (via San Diego, CA)
  • Only one tackle last year. And maybe not the guy.

Also

  • Eddie Zinn-Turner, DT, 6-1, 300 pound not-rated dude from Vanderbilt, (via Malvern, Ohio)
  • Played 2016-2018 at Marist, redshirted in 2016. Transfered to Vanderbilt but did not play in 2019. Appears to have one year left but can players double transfer grad style? Double-secret grad transfer?

 

Conclusion:

I have no idea what direction this will go and will allow someone smarter than me to predict in the comments while others neg me to Bolivia. But if I had to guess, Michigan can either go two ways: sign a 300 pounder to plug the DT hole - or sign a more talented DT who is undersized to let Michigan get the best talent available. 

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Gentleman Squirrels

December 28th, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^

I think Williams and Swann should be our top targets. Immediate help with experience. They’re not going to be world beaters but they should make an impact with our current DTs getting more experience and getting more strength in the weight room.

Besides them, Walker and Michael Thompson would be good bodies to add for the future. We have a lot of SDE types that need to bulk up to DT. But until then, getting big bodies will help transition that gap.

I hope we see more of Jeter, Hinton, and Smith next year. Also fingers crossed that Paea finally shows something late in his career similar to what Lawrence Marshall did.

Joined: 06/03/2014

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WolvinLA2

December 28th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^

I don't think he means slide inside full time, I think he means on certain sets, similar to what we did this year having 3 DEs out there at a time (or 4 at times, I believe).  

And although I agree that Hutch is an NFL talent at some point, he has A LOT of work to do to be a 1st rounder, especially in on year from now.  I don't know that he's one of the 5 best DE returning to college next year.  He wasn't even the 5th best DE in the Big Ten this year I don't think.

Joined: 11/13/2009

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Ezekiels Creatures

December 28th, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^

Because of his speed, I think the plan has always been to move Aidan Hutchinson to DT. But he still isn't as big as he eventually be. And he is not likely to be put at Nose, which is the real need. Kemp and Dwumfour are coming back, which, because of their size, doesn't solve the NT need either.

Michael Williams would address the problem, now. And apparently Michigan will be stepping up going after him right after Bowl Season ends. There's other available players of his size, or bigger. But none are any where near playing ready as he is.

 

Joined: 03/14/2019

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Frank Chuck

December 28th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^

The fascination with 300+ DT size is kind of mind-boggling. People are grasping at straws for why Don Brown's defense is getting destroyed by Ohio State. They seem to think that size alone will help solve many problems.

- Georgia has recruited super well the past few seasons under Kirby Smart. Despite Georgia having blue chip talent, size, and experience at every position group, LSU put up 481 yards of offense and 37 points in the SEC Championship Game. And LSU could have put up 50+ if the Tigers had truly wanted. The final score was not indicative of how comprehensive a beatdown that was.

- Alabama has recruited at an unprecedented level for a decade now. Despite Saban's army of 5 stars at seemingly every position (including many who will be drafted high and play on Sundays), Alabama got lit up in its own stadium for 46 points and 551 yards by a revamped LSU offense. (And no, Saban didn't forget how to coach defense. He's the same coach who shut out Bill Belichick's and Tom Brady's Patriots 21-0 in 2006.)

There's many more instances of this in the past few seasons.

How many more instances do we need of elite teams putting up eye-popping, video game numbers on offense before people realize that complementary football is on its death bed amongst the truly dominant elites of college football?

The notion that anyone will *consistently* hold these high-powered offenses led by future NFL QBs to 24-10 games is silly at this point. If we're going to win, we'll have to win shootouts. (Yes, I know LSU won 23-20 against Auburn at home. There will always be a game or two where an elite offense will have to grind it out. It happens to even all-time teams. See 2001 Miami, which had double digit future all-pros, needing an absurd Ed Reed defensive play to keep its national championship aspirations alive against Boston College.)

Communist Football won by a country mile.

Joined: 05/01/2015

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Stringer Bell

December 28th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^

I mean, it's fair to say that our defense won't shut OSU down.  But the past 2 games it hasn't even given us any semblance of a chance to win.  Last year it was back breaking big play after big play and we simply couldn't keep up.  And OSU's offense was fairly one dimensional last year, with Dobbins being half the player he is this year and Haskins not being any sort of threat to run.

This year, we got the combo of clock-bleeding efficiency in the run game supplemented by big plays in the passing game.  Once again our defense gave us no chance.

Joined: 11/06/2014

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Kevin13

December 28th, 2019 at 11:18 AM ^

You need talent all around to win an NC. If you don’t think teams like Alabama LSU and OSU aren’t loaded on defense your kidding yourself. These teams can shut down most anyone and also score with anyone. Our problem isn’t size it’s the talent gap between them and us. People are hoping for size to stuff some power running games 

Joined: 01/26/2016

MGoPoints: 16040

JFW

December 28th, 2019 at 12:38 PM ^

There does seem to be a huge difference. Is it truly schematic (O schemes better than D and you might beat them with better scheme)? Is it that the more talented kids want to play on offense? Or are the rules set up that way to favor offense?

I’m reminded in the 90’s how the zone blitz seemed to shut down NFL offenses and games were won 10-7; but the NFL “fixed” it by changing the rules so O tackles could line up a yard back to neutralize blitzing OLB’s like Paup and Swilling, among other things. Suddenly offenses looked great again. 

i honestly miss big defensive games, with killer sacks and pass break ups; tfl’s, etc. I’d love to see more balance.

Joined: 10/20/2010

MGoPoints: 15285

FatGuyTouchdown

December 28th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^

Michigan's best defense in this decade didn't have a single 300 pound DT. That team held a top 15 Wisconsin to 71 yards on 28 carries and 7 points. They held a Saquon Barkely led B1G Champion Penn State to 28 carries for 70 yards. Barkley didnt eclipse 60 yards. They held a playoff bound Ohio State team to 10 points in regulation and 3.3 ypc and under 300 yards in regulation. 

Big defensive tackles won't solve shit. Khaleke Hudson's inability to fill correctly hurt big time. Mike Dwumfour not being particularly better than mediocre also hurts. They don't need heavy DTs, they need good DTs. Theres a really big difference

Joined: 09/07/2014

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MGoStrength

December 28th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^

I think we are a little obsessed with the number 300.  Always take the best player.  Good coaches will scheme to fit players' ability.

Joined: 07/29/2010

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