Waaay Too Early Projected 2024 Depth Chart

Submitted by MaizeBlueA2 on December 4th, 2023 at 9:44 PM

QB: J.J. McCarthy

2. Davis Warren 

3. Jadyn Davis

4. Alex Orji / Jayden Denegal

 

RB: Donovan Edwards

2. Kalel Mullings

3. CJ Stokes / Benjamin Hall / Jordan Marshall

6. Cole Cabana

7. Micah Kaapana

8. Tavierre Dunlap

 

RB/WR: Donovan Edwards

2. Cole Cabana

 

WR: Tyler Morris

2. Karmello English

3. I'Marion Stewart

4. Kendrick Bell

 

WR: Darrius Clemons

2. Peyton O'Leary

3. Channing Goodwin

4. Cristian Dixon

 

SLOT: Semaj Morgan

2. Fredrick Moore

3. Eamonn Dennis

 

H-BACK: Max Bredeson

2. Josh Beethum

3. Zach Ludwig

 

TE: Colston Loveland

2. A.J. Barner

3. Marlin Klein 

4. Brady Prieskorn

5. Hogan Hansen

6. Zack Marshall / Deakon Tonielli

 

LT: Myles Hinton

2. Jeffrey Persi

3. Evan Link

4. Andrew Sprague

5. Connor Jones

 

LG: Giovanni El-Hadi

2. Nathan Efobi / Luke Hamilton

 

C: Drake Nugent

2. Greg Crippen

3. Raheem Anderson

4. Jake Guarnera

 

RG: Karsen Barnhart

2. Andrew Gentry

3. Amir Herring 

4. Ben Roebuck

5. Dominick Guidice

 

RT: Trente Jones

2. Jeffrey Persi 

3. Tristan Bounds

4. Blake Frazier

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

DT: Mason Graham

2. Rayshaun Benny

3. Trey Pierce

4. Reece Atteberry

5. Owen Wafle 

6. Alessandro Lorenzetti / Ted Hammond

8. Manuel Beigel

9. Ike Iwunnah

 

DT: Kenneth Grant 

2. Rayshaun Benny

3. Trey Pierce

4. Reece Atteberry

5. Owen Wafle 

6. Alessandro Lorenzetti / Ted Hammond

8. Manuel Beigel

9. Ike Iwunnah

 

DT/DE: Enow Etta

2. Cameron Brandt

3. Brooks Bahr

 

EDGE: Braiden McGregor

2. Derrick Moore

3. TJ Guy

4. Aymeric Koumba / Chibi Anwunah

6. Dominic Nichols / Devon Baxter

 

ILB: Ernest Hausmann

2. Jaydon Hood / Jimmy Rolder

4. Micah Pollard

5. Semaj Bridgeman / Jason Hewlett

7. Jeremiah Beasley / Mason Curtis

9. Cole Sullivan 

10. Hayden Moore

 

ILB: Junior Colson

2. Jaydon Hood / Jimmy Rolder

4. Micah Pollard

5. Semaj Bridgeman / Jason Hewlett

7. Jeremiah Beasley / Mason Curtis

9. Cole Sullivan 

10. Hayden Moore

 

EDGE/OLB: Jaylen Harrell

2. Josaiah Stewart

3. Kechaun Bennett

4. Tyler McLaurin

5. Breeon Ishmail

6. Jaden Smith

 

CB: Will Johnson

2. Amorion Walker / DJ Waller

3. Keshaun Harris / Jyaire Hill

5. Myles Pollard

6. Jo'Ziah Edmond 

7. Cameron Calhoun

8. Jeremiah Lowe

 

CB: Amorion Walker / DJ Waller

3. Keshaun Harris / Jyaire Hill

5. Myles Pollard

6. Jo'Ziah Edmond 

7. Cameron Calhoun

8. Jeremiah Lowe

 

NB: Ja'Den McBurrows

2. Kody Jones

3. Zeke Berry

4. Jacob Oden

 

S: Rod Moore

2. Quinten Johnson / Zeke Berry

4. Caden Kolesar

 

S: Makari Paige

2. Keon Sabb

3. Brandyn Hillman

 

K: Adam Samaha

 

P: Tommy Doman

 

Notes:

• Obviously McCarthy is a "toss-up," maybe not even a toss-up, but he's not 100% gone so we’ll leave him here for now.  If he stays, Michigan is in BUSINESS!  If he leaves, a transfer is a MUST.

• Tuttle can get a medical, but I don't actually expect him to return.

• We will absolutely be hunting for a starting WR in the portal, maybe Burks from Purdue?

• AJ Barner is no lock to return. Neither is Drake Nugent, but both have eligibility remaining.

• Outside of QB, the other glaring hole is another starting CB. Domani Jackson, USC's defense is terrible. Come to Ann Arbor and start opposite your good friend.

• Kicker is also a spot where we could use a transfer, even if Samaha is the starter, you want competition there and having two guys is a plus.  

• The last two holes aren't as glaring as QB and CB...but Michigan could look at another starting OT and a DT.  S becomes an issue if Rod Moore leaves, but he can shoot up draft boards if he comes back and has a big year.

• There will obviously be transfer portal casualties, I'm not ready to project those, JJ will be a huge driver. This team can 4-peat if they bring JJ back and add a few key pieces. OSU, USC, Washington, and Oregon all lose their starting QBs and there is no way the 3 from the Pac-12 improve at that position next season.

MGoBoard
Football

ShoelacesFlapp…

December 4th, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^

If we win it all, JJ, Harrell, Colson, and Rod Moore are all likely to leave. And while it'd be nice to have them back, I wouldn't expect Nugent, Barnhart, and Trente would all stay for a 6th year.

Joined: 01/03/2023

MGoPoints: 2812

maizedNblued

December 5th, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^

Exactly my point that some people fail to recognize - why be a bench player (if you're lucky to make a team) on a low-ball contract if you can make a decent amount of money being a stud and risking less? 

It's a sensible financial decision for many of these solid to good college ballplayers - it's also allowed schools like Michigan to hang with the big boys by keeping 4th, 5th, and 6th year players who are well-rounded, mature and have already been stitched into the culture. 

 

Joined: 11/25/2009

MGoPoints: 2137

smotheringD

December 4th, 2023 at 10:36 PM ^

The thing is JJ is still pretty young, 20 years old, and just looking at him, he looks like he could use another year with Coach Herb getting his body ready for the rigors of the NFL.  Those are some big mean men looking to get licks on QB's.  Derrick Carr got lit up yesterday and knocked out of the game against the Lions.

Plus, JJ hasn't had nearly as many live passing game reps as his counterparts, roughly 650 vs 1200-1500 for Williams and Nix I believe.

All I'm saying is that at 20, another year of college with an attractive NIL package might better prepare him for the League.  But the schedule would have to be more challenging, which it will be.  This year was like a 9-game preseason, 2 games, and a playoff (beginning with OSU).

Joined: 09/15/2010

MGoPoints: 7590

Buffalowing Blue

December 5th, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^

I agree 100%.  I'm not just saying this because I think JJ needs to stay at Michigan, but his completion % is a lot of 5-7 yard  passes.  We've seen him make some really nice throws down field but he's still not where he needs to be IMO.  An NFL coach is not going to trust him if he can't be consistent throwing up field.  Another year would benefit him a lot.

Joined: 11/14/2022

MGoPoints: 5369

SalvatoreQuattro

December 4th, 2023 at 11:07 PM ^

Barnhart and Trente are end of draft types at this point. Nugent is a middle rounder. I could see all three return.

Moore is gone. Colson and Harrell probably so. UM is in good shape at DE.

JJ, I think, returns if Harbaugh does. I really think that he does. Regardless, he needs to tell the staff ASAP so they can get a replacement.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 78900

MaizeBlueA2

December 4th, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^

That's not what a waaay too early post means, but go off.

They do "way too early" polls, depth charts, etc. all the time...it's just a way of saying that it is too early to know for sure.

 

Not it's too early to think about this and you can't post it on a slow message board during a month long period when the team isn't playing.

 

I guess I should wait for the next OSU kid to hit the transfer portal and post that, lol. 🤡 

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

VintageRandy

December 4th, 2023 at 11:47 PM ^

My bigger beef with this is that in addition to speculating on a roster before two of the biggest attrition windows (after CFP, after spring ball) you are just woefully uninformed in your prognostication. Alex Orji behind Davis Warren? What leads you to this conclusion, Warren’s dramatic QB draw in The Game?? Any number of draft eligible players coming back? Why? Several of these players have strongly indicated it will be their last year. This whole exercise is meaningless at this point.

Joined: 04/04/2019

MGoPoints: 7209

JonnyHintz

December 5th, 2023 at 5:12 AM ^

Warren has been hurt most of this year, and bringing Orji in for some wildcat snaps doesn’t mean he’s ahead of Warren on the depth chart.

What would lead someone to that conclusion is the fact that Tuttle and Warren were in a battle for QB2 until Warren got hurt. The next QB to appear in games was Denegal. Orji has a special package in the playbook specifically because he’s a good runner and he’s a big guy, that doesn’t mean he’s ahead of those other guys on the depth chart.

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48354

rob f

December 4th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^

Interesting list. 

And although it's not the coaching staff's first priority as playoff practice sessions move forward, some of the depth chart positions will become a bit more apparent over the coming weeks.

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194599

MaizeBlueA2

December 4th, 2023 at 10:34 PM ^

I'm very much enjoying it. I'm sure coaches are too, even though they're recruiting to next season...right?

I'm sure when folks are posting about the MSU game, that's not the past, right? Should I no longer watch the '21 or '22 games versus OSU?

I'm being ridiculous, obviously, but so is the thought that somehow creating a depth chart for next season means that me, a fan, can't also be focused on this season, the Rose Bowl and a National Championship. 

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

njvictor

December 4th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^

We just won the B1G and are in the CFP and we're already doing this? Come on, man

Not to mention with the portal and NFL draft decision, doing stuff like this becomes more and more pointless

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

MaizeBlueA2

December 4th, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^

Which is exactly why I do look at it now...

I like to see what we have behind guys who are making those very decisions you're talking about.

Who is going to be making the decisions? Who needs a strong CFP to have a better position to make those decisions? As the portal opens, what should we be targeting?

All fair questions to ask this time of year.

Joined: 11/06/2018

MGoPoints: 49955

LSAClassOf2000

December 4th, 2023 at 10:05 PM ^

As excited as I am for this postseason, I am never so excited that I would take a wild stab at the depth chart (which is never the depth chart per se) before the season previous to the projection is even finished. 

More politely, perhaps, I don't know that I am quite ready to think THIS far ahead right now. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130627

DutchWolverine

December 4th, 2023 at 10:20 PM ^

I know you’re taking a lot of heat for this post, but I for one appreciate it.  While I am enjoying this year as much as anyone, I have been wondering what next year will look like and the prospects of a 4-peat.  Even though we all realize much is still to be determined, I haven’t had the time to figure out everyone’s eligibility. So this is helpful for those of us who are interested. 

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 2519

bsand2053

December 4th, 2023 at 10:58 PM ^

Braiden was calling this his final season months ago 

In any case, I don’t think you deserve the heat you’re getting for this.  There’s no harm in a little prognostication!

Joined: 04/14/2010

MGoPoints: 19337