Unsung Heroes of 2022

The Ghost of Kiev

Isaiah Gash low-key had the most important play of the year with his fourth-down catch against Illinois.

Jake Moody. we don't win against Illinois with a lesser kicker. MSU and Iowa are less blowouty. We don't score on our opening drive in the game.

Gemon Green. Yes he was hurt in November, but having 3 solid CBs - with DJ the headline star and WJ the clear emerging star - having Gemon Green not be a weakness is huge. Guy just shows up, improves, and is a solid cornerback on a top 5 defense on a top 5 team. Probably outplayed all of OSU's DBs.

Cornelius Johnson got accolades in the game - but again, came down clutch in the Illinois win. Kept showing up before he got his.

Ronnie Bell has been solid all year. He's not spectacular, but has been the leading receiver in 3 of his seasons here, and flashed spectacular in 2021.

Honestly the entire defense - we don't have any first round talents for the next draft, and lost 3 this offseason, but somehow look even better. Just a group of solid players. They've all had some accolades but all are somewhat unsung because they just all play solid, if unspectacular.

Great topic, OP

Mike Sainristil blossoming into a integral part of the defense was unsung to me.  Who ever would have expected a small slot receiver to change positions to defense and make such an impact!  Having him back in 2023 is huge. 

Jake Moody for sure for me.  There is a lot to be said for having a kicker you have real confidence in.  He doesnt have the biggest leg but for the offense to get the ball in his range and know they will get points out of a drive is such an underrated aspect.  It can be a real gut punch to put together a nice drive only to miss a FG and get nothing out of it.  Moody certainly came in handy v MSU and Illinois.  I dont think it can be overstated just how important it is to have that spot nailed down.

The Minnesota Vikings for not hiring Harbaugh.

Kris Jenkins!!! I think we criminally under-discuss how important he has been to Michigan's success this year.  So dependable.  Such a force.  So important in setting up the rest of the team for success.  I shudder to think what this year looks like without him.  

Shout-out to the scout team. There are a ton of guys on this roster that will likely never see the field but show up to help the team get better. This is BY FAR the most consistently prepared Michigan team I've watched since becoming a true fan in the mid 2000s and I'm sure the efforts of those who simulate our opponents in practice are an integral part of that. Special shout-outs to Zach Peterson, Jesse Madden, and Joel Metzger who won scout team POY at the awards banquet this year. 

Wait, is Mike Sainristil not your #1 simply because he is a "sung" hero, rather than an unsung one. Because, I believe he didn't even make Honorable Mention All-B1G.  So I'd say that outside our fanbase and Joel Klatt, he is Michigan's unsung hero.  

However, if you wanted to eliminate him, I would say that Mason Graham is the unsung hero.  Much needed depth at tackle allowing starters to rest with essentially no drop-off.  

I was super impressed with Jaylen Harrell in that game.  Didn’t get enough credit for his efforts that game.

Jaylen Harrell, Makari Paige, Gio El-Hadi, Max Bredeson

Volodymyr Zelenskyy - Any man that stands toe to toe to Putin's aggression is okay in my book.  Yeah, he's getting a LOT of help in the form of weapons and intell, but the actual fight is all Ukranian and it's all led by a former comedian and actor.

Edit:  LOL - I missed the boat!  Tried to write this at work, but got pulled away by actual 'work' halfway through, then just rushed it...  Neg away if you must...

Feels like it would take me less time to write "secondary" than try to figure out "2ndary"

Sherrone Morre.  

Yeah, I know, he is not unsung, but have you seen that OL he has built?!?  

Brian Hartline for practicing 365 days in the dark which apparently doesn't translate well to a football game played during the day.

Sherrone Moore - Back to Back Joe Moore awards and I will remind everyone we had about 10 yards rushing at halftime of The Game... Whatever adjustments or tells they saw were huge in the second half. 

Jessee Minter - Coordinating a defense that lost three stars: Hutch, Ojabo and Dax to the year they had is unbelievable. His halftime adjustments were almost spot on all season. I always evaluate the Dcord after those uncomfortable drives where you are like my gosh can't we do dot dot dot.... Then on the next drive you see Dot dot dot. He was AWESOME all year! 

Many candidates but our former recruiting ace Chris Partridge still deserves a lot of credit for players he landed.  Makari Page, RJ Moten, DJ Turner and Michael Barrett were all major contributors on defense along with depth pieces in Q. Johnson and Jalen Perry.  And he brought in a starting tackle in Trente Jones. 

The medical team that configured Edward's thumb spica splint for his scaphoid fracture or ulnar collateral ligament injury to his thumb or whatever he's fighting.  We absolutely don't win in Columbus without the Don.  Sure hope he is close to full health for that hand for the playoffs!

Unsung heroes let's see there is the Tunnel, the Washtenaw judicial system, the B10 suspending  the Tunnel8, Sir Robin's reaction, The Angry Elf's reaction, Horseshit's wonderment, PBJ as a weapon, Frames Jancklin, doodling, Brad Robbins mustache and his gentle cradling of Jake Moody's balls.

Nailed it.

Barnhart subbed in for Jones with minimal drop off (el-Hadi as well). Schoonmaker was big time all year when pressed into increased roll. Jenkins on defense is totally unheralded in mainstream eyes. Moore is largely unheralded nationally too. That being said, my pick is Barrett, who in my eyes is a great story and likely to be a rare story moving forward given most would have transferred. The guy stuck around with no role for him with a new system/coach and waited and was ready and had numerous big moments. 

Cade Stover

- Dropped a critical fourth and two

- Dropped a TD that would have tightened the game - of course, thanks to the Swat by Sainristil

- Ball tipped off his hands for the official game-ending interception

Mike S. - looked like he was doing a "team player" thing moving to DB but really brought up his skill set. The EZ breakup vs. Ohio was so critical to the outcome at the time.

The Don - didn't expect him to come through as he did vs. Ohio and Purdue. Knew he had talent but the big moments were made just for him.

Livers - the game vs. Tenn in the Round of 32. 

Carol Hutchins - so glad we got to celebrate her and a star on our NCAA Champ team at a football this fall. She started coaching UM softball when I was a SR and absolutely no one knew much about the team nor followed the games. She put us on the map!

Hockey players and coaches who stepped up to expose the toxic culture of Mel P.

Hunter D - for coming back

Santa Ono - for making me proud again of a UM Prez. OK Mary Sue was alright (minus the slurring at the 2013 Nebraska half time show, or was it feedback?). But the last UM Prez I really liked was Harold Shapiro.

And many more unnamed heroes who keep our country free and our cities safe!

Forgot to mention Ben Herbert - what strength this team shows in the 2nd half, both physically and mentally. After a dismal (JH's worst year, non covid) 2017 season, I remember JH saying we had to get stronger. Along come Ben in Jan 2018. Took us a few years and some other coaching changes, but as Joel Klatt said after the Ohio game, UM is just stronger on both sides of the lines vs. Ohio for 2 years in a row. Plus, he looks like he could break a steel bar in half just by staring at it!

Heywood Jablomey and Phil McCrevis?

1. Gash 
2. Blocking from WRs and TEs
3. Makari Paige

Teachers, it's been a rough couple of years for most of them. 

Loveland - we started the year with All and Schoon plus a bunch of older depth TEs. Loveland was probably on the list player to look at for 4 games and see if an redshirt was appropriate.  We eventually lost both starters for some/ or all remaining games… he stepped up and played out of his mind down the stretch.  Can’t even express how impressive that was.  

Sainristil

Tough call.  So many young, talented players getting developed by this staff and just making plays.

Sainristil converts from WR and takes over for a 5* Dax Hill and actually looks better at times in slot coverage, albeit, Dax was a better run defender.

McGregor coming on late...Huge tackle for no gain on a run against OSU and 2 batted passes.

Jaylen Harrel, Mike Barrett, Kris Jenkins, Rayshaun Benny, Okie, Mason Graham - Everyone on the D-line just seems to get better under this coaching staff, it's quite remarkable how deep we run there.

Moore and Paige - Overlooked safeties that have not given up the killer explosive plays.  We may not get as many turnovers as we might wish for, but these guys are gap sound, coverage sound, and understand the scheme relative to given opponents.

Any 4* player not having SEC bags of cash thrown at them or good players in the portal looking to get to the next level will be looking at UM as the player development football factory.  Yes, we still need 5* talent in every class, as we have seen what the likes of JJ, Edwards, Will Johnson can do - game changers.  But a solid team built from the trenches with a few 5* players at positions like QB, RB, Edge, CB sprinkled in every year + ready to play hungry kids from the portal is a great recipe in this current CFB landscape.