Upton Stout: transfer corner from WKU is removing his name from the portal and returning to WKU

Submitted by Jordan2323 on December 22nd, 2023 at 6:57 PM

Michigan led the crystal ball picks for him  

I don’t know how good he is but the staff offered early on so they must have been impressed. We definitely need a corner or two from the portal. Hopefully this signals good news for Domani but I think Stout was going to be more of a replacement for Mikey. 

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MaizeBlueA2

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:10 PM ^

Stout was a NB (Sainristil)...Jackson would battle for the Wallace CB spot opposite Will Johnson. 

They both were "takes."

 

I liked Stout because I like competition for spots, but I'm someone who is super high on McBurrows. 

I think the CB spot opposite Johnson is WAAAAY more important for next year's team.

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GoBlue C4

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:07 PM ^

Why does Michigan need a corner or two from the portal?

CB1- Johnson / Hill

CB2- Walker vs Waller vs Calhoun

Nickel - McBurrows / Berry

Seems pretty good to me!

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MaizeBlueA2

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:12 PM ^

Huh? How does that seem good to you?

 

Walker and Waller have looked between terrible and average all year. We haven't seen Calhoun. Not a single one of them look even remotely close to ready to start next year.

You're just naming names.

McBurrows and Berry (and Jones) at NB...at least we've seen those guys play a decent amount, especially McBurrows.

I would argue that we need TWO outside CBs. A starter, and a backup with experience (e.g., Tuttle or Barner).

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1WhoStayed

December 22nd, 2023 at 8:11 PM ^

Man, the grass is ALWAYS greener for some of you. Maybe some real PLAYING TIME will yield some quality CBs from the players already here!? 

I hate people saying we NEED to get someone at any position. If the coaches feel the players in house can’t cut it - or think we can upgrade - great.

Until then, let’s support the team we have.

A famous person once said “you get better at football by PLAYING football!

Joined: 09/07/2015

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Quailman

December 22nd, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^

1. Acknowledging potential trouble spots for NEXT year's team is not being unsupportive of the team we have.

2. The coaching staff offered Stout, so clearly they think they could upgrade there. By your own admission, if they think that way, then "great," so not sure why you are then upset at posters for agreeing? 

Joined: 08/30/2013

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JonnyHintz

December 22nd, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^

Idk, I think I’d rather take a proven commodity over hoping someone that hasn’t seen the field much is going to blossom. Clearly, the coaching staff agrees considering they’re targeting these guys in the portal. 
 

The guys from the portal aren’t guaranteed starting spots, so one of the guys you mentioned have every opportunity to earn the job themselves. 

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JonnyHintz

December 22nd, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^

The guys being mentioned barely saw the field, so we’re not exactly talking huge detriment to the overall defense. But in their limited snaps, they each showed moments of concern. I believe it was Waller who lost the ball in the air and stopped running, getting beat down the sideline for a big gain in a game earlier in the year. He didn’t play a ton, so his “rough snaps” stand out. 
 

All in all, those guys showed the need for improvement more than they showed they’re ready to start. 

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Avery Queen

December 23rd, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^

Waller & Hill were true freshman & Walker just converted to CB in the spring (& then had to deal with an injury during summer practice) so I think it's premature to say none of those guys will be ready to start next year. That being said, getting a proven commodity is always a good thing, & adding depth is always a good thing. 

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NeverPunt

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:19 PM ^

Depth and experience is invaluable and in Domani Jackson’s case the raw talent is too good to turn away. It doesn’t mean they feel bad about what they have but we are 1-2 injuries away from a very chaotic defensive backfield. With the schedule next year we are going to be facing some offenses that can sling it (albeit with new qbs) and depth here is going to be very important. 

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MaizeBlueA2

December 22nd, 2023 at 8:22 PM ^

No, but what have they shown that makes you think they're going to be ready to play CFP level football next year? Especially Pollard.

 

Look, I'm not throwing shade on these guys, I'm saying starting for a CFP caliber team is HARD. And you don't get starting spots for just being around.

Look at Hibner, Persi, Crippen, T. Jones, Rolder and Hood for the #3 ILB spot...then of course all of these CBs in question. 

We don't just hand out spots. And if we think Barner, Henderson, Nugent, Hinton, Hausmann, and Wallace haven't made a HUGE impact this year...we're lying to ourselves. 

We could've easily rolled with those first guys. But there is a level that is expected of a starter for this type of a program and clearly our coaches wanted to see some competition at those positions. 

 

Let's try this...how many players in our two-deep were unproven at this point last year?

  • Semaj Morgan
  • Darrius Clemons
  • Fredrick Moore
  • Greg Crippen (maybe)
  • Andrew Gentry (maybe)
  • Jaydon Hood or Jimmy Rolder (whoever you consider the #4 ILB)
  • Walker, Waller, Harris (whoever you consider the #3 and #4 outside CB)
  • McBurrows 
  • Sabb

 

That's 10 guys out of 44 spots! And two are Crippen and Gentry. Who are kind of proven for the roles they play. 

Of those guys Morgan, McBurrows and Sabb are the only true first team level rotation guys.

So we can hope all we want, but we have 3(!) guys in our rotation right now that we weren't confident on at this time last year.

Gone are the days we're you start just because you waited your turn.

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MichiganFootball

December 22nd, 2023 at 11:26 PM ^

I think with both those guys it's going to be about how they look in the spring.  

Corner in particular is a position where there's a number of guys we're going to have to see how it shakes out between Walker, Waller, Pollard, Hill, Calhoun, and possibly Domani Jackson (with Will Johnson's spot obviously assured).  Depending on how some of those guys develop and if Jackson really does come in, part of me wonders if we shouldn't consider shifting Walker back to receiver.  

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MaizeBlueA2

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:18 PM ^

I must have watched a different team than everyone else.

Are we trying to win a 4th B1G or are we playing club and intramurals and worried about feelings?

OSU, Oregon, Washington...those teams would have a field day with our current CB #2 options.

Sainristil's versatility is what saved us this year, but those guys had every opportunity to break into the lineup this season and we had to move Sainristil outside. That says all you need to know.

We have Johnson, McBurrows and a bunch of potential that couldn't move past Josh Wallace and Keshaun Harris. Think about that.

Two of the things that have made us great are depth and competition.

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colonel

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:32 PM ^

I see your point, but it also could be that Sainristil was just that guy, and the younger options weren't quite ready to match that standard. 

They might be ready next year... That said, added depth and competition feels like a good idea, and a guy like Jackson who has the raw talent to eventually become a star seems like an obvious take.

On a semi-related note, Upton Stout would have been one of the stronger name additions that Michigan has made in a while, and I am disappointed for that reason alone. 

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MaizeBlueA2

December 22nd, 2023 at 8:46 PM ^

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Will Johnson was a true freshman and it took him 3/4 a season to beat out a vet in Gemon Green for the starting spot (and an assault).

No offense to Josh Wallace or Keshaun Harris, but neither is Gemon Green.

I personally feel like it matters who is ahead of you. Loveland was getting snaps with All (got hurt) and Schoonmaker ahead of him.

 

Sainristil was also a converted WR. Haskins and Mullings were converted LBs.

Sainristil stepped in right away, Haskins made Zach Charbonnet transfer.

 

Personally, I like Waller and Walker...for 2025. Neither has shown flashes with their ample opportunities to do so.  If they were ready to play next year, they'd be playing right now...it's not like they have All-B1G players or super experienced seniors ahead of them.

I'd like to see us get a transfer and a grad transfer...let those guys bake in the oven for another year and hope that one of them passes the grad transfer for the #3 CB spot by the midpoint of next season. 

Starting either sounds a lot like the folks who are ready to just hand the reigns to Orji and Denegal should JJ leave.

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King Tot

December 22nd, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^

Not every player is Will Johnson. Wallace and Harris are not all stars but is legit players with a ton of experience. Whereas:

-Hill was a safety in High School.

-Waller was considered a project.

-Walker just transition and missed a large chunk to camp with injuries. 

Guys develop and get better. If there is a clear upgrade/fit you get them and let them to compete. I feel comfortable that one of the guys we have on the roster one will be ready by week 4 of next year if we don't get anyone else. 

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Avery Queen

December 24th, 2023 at 6:59 AM ^

Yeah, I remember Seth saying after we signed Jyaire Hill that CB is a difficult position to pick up as true freshman and guys like Will Johnson who were able to move into the starting lineup their 1st year were very much the exception rather than the norm (I believe Charles Woodson also became the starter in the middle of 1995).  Same goes with Sanistril...it's very rare for a player to switch from WR to CB as seamlessly as him, and most guys need at least a year to make the transition. 

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King Tot

December 22nd, 2023 at 7:29 PM ^

I think McBurrow can step into that spot but can he stay healthy?

Jackson would be a great add to the room. He can join the battle with Hill, Waller, Walker, and Edmonds for CB2 next year. If he doesn't take the job he can work on his craft and replace Johnson the following year.

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