Who’s The Next “Dude?” (based on only your gut)
College football is a sport we obsess over in the weirdest ways: stars, camps, weight gain, weight loss, “insider information”, scouting, tapes, spring camp, spring game, prognosticators, media days, rumors, social media hype videos, etc. Each talk us in and out of things rapidly.
So, forgetting all of the above and just feeling it (and not picking the obvious studs), who’s your guy this year that you’ll tell all your friends to watch out for? The racehorse you have a line on? Simply, someone that’s ready to take the leap?
Mine? Rayshaun Benny
Might not be this year, but im excited for Grant.
I'm watching for Grant too but I also thinking Moore, Harrell, Wilson and Clemons are going to become big-time players for us.
Jaylen Harrell
Not sure we want to evaluate Dudes based on gut.
Knock knock mustard tiger…..
Baaaaaammmmmmm
Compared to now, he's looks absolutely slender in that photo.
What if it's based upon front butt?
I've lost track. Is he still getting paid for not working?
I think ND needs to make sure e has enough pancakes for breakfast.
There is a decided schematic advantage, though.
Saw him and Bobby Bonilla high-fiving each other in an airport once when they were passing each other on opposite sides of moving side walk. (not true, but totally would happen, if ever found themselves in this scenario.)
Is that a before they bought Golden Corral pic?
Tyler Morris
the offense (i know not really the question but we could put up some numbers this year)
McGregor
Offense: Raheem Andersen
Defense: Braiden McGregor
Bonus: Zeke Berry looks good at nickel and is ready to replace Sainristil when he moves on
IMO-excellent choices. Here, McGregor was my first thought but I agree that Zeke Berry is one helluva young player-one who is, likely, going to ascend to elite status before he graduates.
I don't trust my gut. It can't even handle dairy...
Darrius Clemons on O and Hausmann on D.
James Turner
Derrick Moore.
Both Moore and McGregor are going to be really, really good.
I know he’s already done a lot in relatively limited touches the last 2 years, but I think Roman Wilson has a breakout year finally. The security blanket of Ronnie Bell is gone and it just seems like Roman has ice water in his veins as a receiver. I could see him getting 60+ receptions like Ronnie.
It already feels like he is a dude based on how defenses react to him (absolute terror). But I like this take. Just need JJ to hit him in stride more and his stats reflect the terror the defenses feel.
Yeah, he can be our Devonta Smith.
I love Roman Wilson, but tbh I don't see it. We already saw what he looked like within Bell in 2021.
2021: 12 games. 25 rec. 420 yards. 3 TD.
2022: 12 games. 25 rec. 375 yards. 4 TD. - Take away 100 yards and a TD in the CFP and that's not a lot of week to week production.
That's solid production but not great. I have a hard time envisioning Wilson becoming more than a better big play threat in Year 4, which is still a really useful piece in the offense. If he gets 35 catches for 650 yards, that's awesome. I don't see him becoming a 900+ yard receiver a la Bell.
To be fair there wasnt week to week production from any of the WRs because JJ was not throwing much.
I think this is the season they air it out more for two reasons:
1) They HAVE to keep miles off of Corum and Edwards. They found out the hard way last year what its like to be depleted at running back. Thats when JJ started throwing more.
2) Michigan finally has a home grown QB that has experience and was born to throw the ball. JJ has shown he can put the team on his back and throw anywhere on the field. He made mistakes the last game, but he has shown he isnt scared to throw and has what it takes to throw for 30+ TDs this year with the number of targets he has.
We can only hope. Here's 2 more reasons: QB recruiting is affected by the style of offense, and we have like having a QB of JJ's caliber. Plus, we saw how OSU almost beat Georgia. We'll have to air it out to beat them, too.
Unfortunately I think the "airing it out" talk is just talk. Corum, Edwards, and the majority of the starting OL were all out in the spring. It only made sense to practice the passing game more, and so that's what's being talked about right now. Once everyone is healthy, I'd expect them to get back to the ground and pound.
The overall run/pass splits are interesting however. We ended up about 60/40 run/pass, but we generally were closer to 50/50 in competitive situations.
Totally agree. Talking about airing it out is great in the offseason. As soon as we go three and out throwing the ball, it's a lot harder not to hand it off to your All American RBs behind the best OL in the country.
Maryland last year, we gave it to Corum like 30+ times.....because it was a super effective way to win the game.
Who replaces the Ronnie Bell catches is a great question and I submitted Tyler Morris as my answer to this above. IMO, Wilson and Johnson are great big play threats but I don't think they will replace the security blanket consistency of Ronnie Bell. Neither is as quick as Bell or as elusive after the catch. Maybe one takes a big step forward this year though.
Kozen or Rojo
Im still excited and anxious to watch Kelly Baraka dominate the Big Ten.
Based on my gut, it's the guy who cleans the bathrooms at Panda Express.
TWill
Roman Wilson
Max Bredeson
I'm thinking our WRs are going to take a giant leap with Roman Wilson taking a huge leap as a down field threat.
Junior Colson cuts his mistakes way down and becomes an 85% version of Bush.
Yes. Very likely with Partridge back on staff.
My money is on Mcgegor !!!
For guys who have had more limited roles in their careers to date, I'm going to say McGregor on defense and Tyler Morris on offense.
For guys who are returning starters/major contributors looking to make a leap, I'm going to say Colson on defense (big leap under Partridge's tutelage) and Loveland on offense (he flashed "dude" late last year but I'm thinking he'll be all-conference caliber all season in 2023).
+1 for Loveland. I’ve been fixated on defense this off-season.
Football: McGregor
Basketball: YoYo
Braiden McGregor. Really started to breakout at key moments the last few games of last year and it finally seems like his body is wear it needs to be post injury
I remember watching him making a PBU or two in the OSU game and at one point, almost tipping the ball to himself. If he'd managed to catch that, there was no one catching him en route to the end zone, and that game winds up 52-23 instead.
I'd love for it to be McGregor. This defense could go from really good to really, really stinking good if it finds itself consistent, organic pass rush, and McGregor showed flashes last year of that oozing potential, but it all depends on how he's continuing to progress from that lower body injury that has essentially stunted his entire career thus far.
I hope he can take another step forward this year.
I've been saying McGregor is going to be a beast before he leaves A2... I think this year is going to be his....
I think you can sometimes tell based on how certain players are talked about and who gets promoted on the team socials. Last year, I remember seeing/hearing a lot of Mike Morris in the offseason. He was a solid role player in 21 and made the leap to B1G DL of the year in '22. Mazi to a certain extent, too.
Based on those ~vibes~ I'll go with Loveland on offense and Jenkins on defense. I'm a little surprised at how much Loveland we've seen given he's a true sophomore and didn't play much until the end of the season. Jenkins is featured like an All American.
Less obvious candidates:
Offense: Tyler Morris. The offense desperately needs a reliable pass catcher to move the chains. CJ/Roman/Loveland are all big play guys. Morris could be that guy and got some run last year in non-garbage time.
Defense: Derrick Moore. I feel like he is actually under-discussed by the general public. He had an awesome year for a true frosh and a high-level recruiting profile. He should break out this year.