SIAP I have a question, Is Donovan Jeter participating in spring practice?

He's not on the roster, so, probably not.

Jeter is not participating in spring practice. His career at Michigan is over.

So starting DTs are Smith and...

Jenkins? Welschof?

Going to need the sophomores to step up quickly for depth.

Regarding Welschof, there's some talk that he's getting a look at defensive end, where Hutchinson lined up.

Cue up the "But can they play DT" refrain. 

Weird off season so far and it's not even March.

Somewhat unrelated -  I don't think i was aware that Mason Graham walked in the door at almost 300 lbs. I'm excited to see that kid get a crack at some minutes here and there next year. Only Mazi and Ike Iwunnah are bigger. He was a monster in high school at that weight.

Really hope Benny takes that next step and we can be looking at him as a future NFL-er after this season.

People always bring up Benny, but dont forget about Rooks. Both of which were highly regarded coming out of HS. 

RE: Weird off season... Oh I don't know

- Maybe our HC intent on taking an NFL position through the month of January

- Our Broyles Award winning OC bouncing out the door when the cupboards are stocked for another, wait for it,...OC position?

- NIL and it's Dallas-style rules that nobody really knows about. 

- Kids with potentially starting spots transferring or no longer with the team.

Not saying its all bad but there's been a ton of things going on with the program since the loss to UGA on NYE. I also don't mind your neg, OP but please don't act like this off season has been normal in the slightest. 

Don’t overlook the coaching upgrade that is Mike Elston. I’m thankful for Nua’s service here but UM got a big big upgrade in the coaching and recruiting department.

From a Wolverine Digest quote right after his departure that sums up Nua well, "There's a lot to like about Nua. The big fella has a great disposition about him when it comes to being for his players but also tough when necessary, he played defensive line in the NFL and he's really good for the culture of a locker room. The fact that he has Polynesian roots is also valuable when recruiting players with a similar background. Overall, he seems to check a lot of boxes, but you could make an argument that he's been pretty average at U-M."

But Elston is a huge upgrade.  Nua was a player's coach, so it's not surprising that we're losing a couple of older guys as a result. 

Amazing that Jeter has been around so long that he was recruited by Mattison.  Best of luck, Derek!

LloydCarr - "Don’t overlook the coaching upgrade that is Mike Elston. ..."

Right?  I think that will be similar to the upgrade seen at OC right now, with Olawatimi (sp?).  I'm kinda' surprised by all the comments about him that show surprise that he's such an upgrade over Vastardis.  I mean, Vastardis played great - way better than anyway thought he'd ever be!  But he was still a 5th year walk-on that only got on the field in year 5.  Olawatimi, as a Rimington Award finalist, was widely considered one of the best 3 OC's in all of college football last year.  More people should have seen that upgrade in play coming from a mile away...

I'm betting the Elston DL is going to show an improvement similar to what Mattison's first DL with Hoke showed (2011 vs 2010).  Maybe not world-beaters, but the improvement across the line will be noticeable.

@ Blau - who are the projected starters that transferred away this season?  Maybe I am having a brain freeze or something but I can't think of who you are referring to.

Hutch, Ojabo, Hawkins, Hill, Ross, Hinton and Gray are all going into the draft. The other 4 starters from last year are back (Mazi, Junior, DJ and Rod Moore) and the favored contenders for the 7 draft hopefuls are all back:

- Braiden, Jaylen and Mike for the DEs

- Julius W / Kris J / Mason Graham / Rayshaun for Hinton

- NHG for Ross

- Lots of safety possibilities for Hill and Hawkins

- Will Johnson / Gemon Green for Gray

- Almost everyone is back on offense (with plenty of obvious candidates for the departing seniors)

Who am I missing?

I figured he would’ve had the inside track to starters snaps opposite Mazi this season.  

I definitely believe Elston is an upgrade over Nua, but Ryan Osborne is a loss.

Also, I don't think Oluwatimi is going to be a huge upgrade over Vastardis. I think that's some off-season overhype.

Or, to paraphrase Tolstoy: all normal off-seasons are alike; each weird off-season is weird in its own way.

What happened?

This offseason isn't strange, but notable.  We are the best spot weve been in since mid Carr years.  Jim fixed it and now we have two stud QBs too.

I always thought that Welshof probably didn't have great speed but had the physique and probably agility for DE. Just was too new to have the needed instincts. I figured they could get him ready by his 5th year. It didn't make sense that they were trying to make him in a DT. 

Our DL depth is better than many realize.  Here's a ridiculously early stab at the 2-deep:

DE Upshaw/McGregor

DL Smith/Rooks or Graham

DL Jenkins/Benny

DE Morris/Welschof or Moore

Watch out for frosh Derrick Moore.  I'm predicting he'll be the biggest surprise and break-out player in 2022.

Reports now that Donovan Jeter has returned to the team and is practicing with them.