Who will be Hutchinson next year?
Good afternoon! I am very much enjoying this season and how competent the team looks.
I have a question that I’m hoping you guys will give some enlightenment to.
After Hutchinson graduates, who is on the team that will step up to help fill that void? Is Michigan set up currently to have another good edge in 2022?
Go Blue!
October 7th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
Well, no one on Michigan. But Hutchinson will still be himself in the NFL!
But seriously, Obajo is trending to be a great pass rushing threat and he has the size to develop into a solid run defender so my guess is he'll start in that spot next year opposite Mike Morris. He's a bit like Winovich in 2016 right now (like very early shades).
Braiden McGregor will likely rotate in as well (perhaps for Ojabo and Morris). He has a chance to be very good too.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
Braiden McGregor*
October 7th, 2021 at 3:50 PM ^
McGregor is listed as 6'5" 265 and Hutch at 6'6" 265. Braiden looks a little more quick-twitch while Aidan looks a little stronger. In a year from now expect Braiden to be very nearly what Aidan is now. Next year, with everyone except Aidan and Josh returning, the front 7 will be at or near elite.
October 7th, 2021 at 4:12 PM ^
I very much hope that you are right about Braiden. Measurables are one thing but understanding the scheme, reading the formation & overall playing the game are quite another. When Braiden committed I was hoping he would be an Aiden clone even before seeing this fully weaponized version but at this point Braiden is only getting a handful of snaps.
In a blowout against NIU he got 14 snaps & in a "real" game vs Wisky he had 4 snaps. I hope he mimics fully weaponized Aiden in the future but to ask him to make that jump in just one year with this few game time snaps seems highly unlikely.
Ojabo seems like the best answer for who has a chance to be like Aiden next year & I hope it is the correct answer but I doubt anyone will mimic what we're seeing from Aiden this year
October 7th, 2021 at 8:42 PM ^
From what I have seen it is likely that Braiden is a better athlete than Aidan. For his size...he is very agile and he can run-with excellent acceleration. We will see what happens here. A year offers a lot of time for every kind of development at his age. Coming off the on-field exposure he is getting this year I think he is going to be a stunningly good player next year already.
I believe that this year's defense is going to continue to advance and over the next several games really come together. And next year Ojabo, Hill-Green, Colson and McGregor will know this defense are going to rain terror on opposing offenses-those kids can fly and they can hit.
October 7th, 2021 at 9:56 PM ^
I find it hard to believe that he is likely a better athlete. Aiden is obviously an elite athlete.
October 8th, 2021 at 6:47 AM ^
Aidan is an outstanding, elite football player. My opinion that Braiden will likely approach or equal Aidan in no way insinuates a detraction or criticism of Aidan. I am strongly suggesting that next year's front seven, as a unit, will likely be better than this year's-right out of the gate. Though I also believe that this year, by the time we get to The Game. today's front seven will be playing at a level that gives us a chance.
October 8th, 2021 at 12:37 PM ^
My comment wasn't on your overall point about the front-7 as a whole. Braiden approaching or equaling Aiden as an athlete is different than him being "likely better."
You may end up being right -- honestly, I hope you are. Wouldn't it be great for UM if Braiden was a better athlete than Aiden. I just found it difficult to believe that this were likely given how good an athlete Aiden is. Your pivot to "Aiden is an outstanding, elite football player" does seem to mean you do not think Aiden is an elite athlete as I stated. I definitely think he is. Aiden's combination of size, length, strength, power, quickness, speed, agility and balance is elite IMHO.
I think you're right about this year's front-7. I hope you're right about next year's (and think so too). I hope you're right about Braiden (and find it hard to believe in comparison to Aiden). I really look forward to Braiden's growth. Go Blue!
October 7th, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
Braiden isn’t simply getting clean up snaps. Even though the snap counts are low, he has rotated in periodically in the first half.
At the Wisconsin game he sat next to Aiden every time the D was off the field and was soaking in everything he could. I’m excited to see what he can do next year.
October 8th, 2021 at 9:51 AM ^
This. He's in his first year of playtime after being injured in high school. He has shown a lot of burst, pursuit, and athleticism. He's going to be a beast. I think Hinton, too, will continue to improve on the inside and take the leadership role next year.
October 7th, 2021 at 6:27 PM ^
Is Dax returning?
October 8th, 2021 at 8:47 AM ^
I really doubt Dax returns. He's already a 2nd rounder on some boards and surpassed Penn State's Brisker as the top Big Ten safety.
As the season goes on and they utilize his speed and skill and he hones his timing. I expect he'll continue to climb.
October 7th, 2021 at 7:57 PM ^
That’s a lot to ask. Aiden is one of the best defensive linemen we’ve had in the past 15 years and we’ve had some elite guys there. If you want to rate them by draft stock the he’s the best we’ve had.
October 7th, 2021 at 9:40 PM ^
Agree. Much more dominant than Gary.
October 8th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
I agree, Gary was a Mercenary in it for himself, Hutch is dragging the whole team along for the ride with him.
October 8th, 2021 at 9:17 AM ^
This doesn’t seem fair. Gary never became the elite pass rusher we expected but he was a beast holding the edge against the run and was all B1G 2x.
By all accounts he was a strong locker room guy. The 2018 defense was elite (until it wasn’t), in large part due to Gary.
October 7th, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^
You can’t be 100% certain. Maybe Hutchinson becomes Einhorn? I mean, you can have that sort of thing done over a weekend these days!
October 7th, 2021 at 1:43 PM ^
Ojabo will still be there, hopefully and Braiden McGregor has been getting a lot of run. He seems a bit tentative right now, but he's got a lot of raw talent.
October 7th, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^
Jenny Curran:
Do you ever dream, Forrest, about who you're gonna be?
Forrest Hutchinson:
Who I'm gonna be?
Jenny Curran:
Yeah.
Forrest Hutchinson:
Aren't-aren't I going to be me?
October 8th, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
Braiden is basically a freshman. Even there was a normal season last year, he would likely not have played due to a bad injury his last year of high school. The fact that he's getting meaningful snaps bodes well. If he can become 80% the player/leader Hutchinson is that would be fantastic.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^
Who became Peppers, Woodson, etc after they went to the NFL?
October 7th, 2021 at 4:20 PM ^
Michael Barrett
October 7th, 2021 at 5:13 PM ^
Khaleke Hudson was solid, if not the next level playmaker Jabrill was. Took a while til Marlin Jackson came around in Woodson’s case.
October 7th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
At the time, everyone wanted James Whitley to be the next Charles Woodson, as he was a highly rated recruit who was similarly shaped. But it was an impossible ask to replace the best player in college football, and it took him time to round into a decent corner.
Braiden McGregor is in the Whitley position. Let’s hope McGregor gets some opportunities to show his skills in more high-leverage situations in 2022 and be part of the OLB/DE rotation. Anything beyond that is awesome, but not expected.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
55 looks so much better than 71 on him LOL
October 7th, 2021 at 1:57 PM ^
Ask, and ye shall receive!
October 7th, 2021 at 6:05 PM ^
This is the Overtaking Ass whom will be doing all The Overtaking. HE.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^
Braiden McGregor
October 7th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
McGregor was once a star recruit, but it's not easy to replace a guy like Hutch. He is as good as anyone else in the US right now.
October 7th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
Hutchinson’s ability to set the edge is unique.
He does it with the power of an interior lineman and the agility of a linebacker. Add in the fact he is instinctive, relentless, and smart as shit and you have an All American 1st round pick.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
No one will be Hutchinson, clearly. Players at his level do not come along every year. Upshaw will be a lesser version of his run defense with Ojabo filling in the pass rush. McGregor or Ojabo most likely to approach Hutchinson level play down the road.
Hopefully a year of playing experience for all the young guys combined with having a year in the system will leave the defense as good or better next year.
October 7th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
This is the only real answer.
Hutchinson is have an All-American/high 1st round draft pick type of a season. The thing that makes him truly unique though is his leadership and smarts paired with his physical attributes.
How often does a team replace a guy like that with a guy like that?
October 7th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
As much as I hate OSU and I hate them as much as anyone can, they produced 2 Bosa brothers in a row and a Chase Young. An amazing 3 guys in a row all picked as a top 3 selection. It looks like they've finally come back to earth albeit with guys almost as good in Zach Harrison. Jack Sawyer might be back up there again as a top 5 coming out of HS.
I think we've had some guys at a similar level (Rashawn Gary, Kwity Paye) but didn't have the scheme to fully utilize, including as recently as last year. It looks like MacDonald may be better able to deploy these ninjas in a way that maximizes their skills.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^
How about we enjoy this season while it happens and celebrate the tremendous potential of the 2021 team, which still has all of its goals in front of them?
October 7th, 2021 at 2:05 PM ^
Good point. Plus your avatar makes me think that "the next Jake Long" (consensus All American, number 1 overall draft pick) hasn't come along, but there have been plenty of left tackles since he left. Next man up. Expecting Superman part 2 is a lot, but a hardworking, solid player is fine.
October 7th, 2021 at 2:18 PM ^
Taylor Lewan was a pretty dang good approximation of Jake Long.
October 7th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
Yes, that was what I had in mind - it seems like tackles at UM who've worn 77 have often gone on to stardom. Grant Newsome was definitely on that first round trajectory pre-injury.
Keegan is now wearing it as a guard, but looks promising in his very early career.
October 7th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
*Except for his brain,
October 7th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Would be very fortunate to run out someone at 90% of what Hutchinson is now. He's trending towards a top 10 pick in the draft and I don't know that there is someone on the team right now that will be that good next year. OSU had Bosa, Bosa, Young, and Harrison (all 5 stars but Harrison doesn't look as imposing) but they almost overlapped playing time wise (Joey and Nick didn't) so if we look at it that way, who has played this year that flashed that type of potential alongside Hutchinson (and who was highly regarded as a recruit)?
Ojabo has the athleticism and pass rush but he's not the run defender Hutchinson is to dominate every down (yet). He's 15 pounds lighter and hasn't been asked to be much of an "anchor" yet.
McGregor coming back from that injury definitely delayed his growth, but he has the upside. Is already Hutchinson's size but hasn't had the early signs that Hutchinson did as a freshman (because he was hurt) or last year (covid shortened year and still recovering from injury).
I'm interested to see what happens with Morris. He has looked good playing multiple positions. Strength and size as a DT at 6'7" 285 and a bit of pass rush as a DE. Might be too big and DT shaped to turn into a great pash rushing DE.
Regardless, they have a lot of guys in the pipe that are all capable of being very good. Replacing Hutchinson probably won't happen 1:1. But, if they can get Ojabo +1 year experience AND something a little more complete than 2021 Ojabo, they should be damn good.
October 7th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
Great insight. This is what I was looking for. Thank you!
October 7th, 2021 at 1:59 PM ^
Can we just enjoy being 5-0?
October 7th, 2021 at 2:27 PM ^
who will be coaching in jacksonville next year? i needed to ask, but wasn't bold enough to create a thread...
October 7th, 2021 at 6:27 PM ^
Good question Booted, positive it won't be the current POS. Pretty sure he won't finish the season ?
October 7th, 2021 at 6:45 PM ^
And who will be the next Tom Brady in Tampa Bay?
October 7th, 2021 at 9:37 PM ^
Who says we're not?
October 7th, 2021 at 2:04 PM ^
More importantly, is there anything that could get him back another year? He has eligibility because of Covid, right?
Obviously it would be semi-crazy from a career perspective. He can't get any higher on draft boards, there are injury risks.
Buuuut, he's a legacy. His Dad is a doctor so along with taking out a big insurance policy, coming back certainly wouldn't be financially disastrous.
Is there any way, perhaps with a huge NIL deal and perhaps a heartbreaking loss to OSU or in the playoff that he comes back with unfinished business?
October 7th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
No.
He's not going to come close to the B1G titles and/or accolades his dad has at Michigan, so there's no benefit from that standpoint. Maybe a National Championship could set him apart from dad? Financially, Aidan will make more in his first rookie contract than what Chris made in his NFL career. I doubt he'll delay that for another season of playing for nothing ($$) - regardless of whatever NIL deal might be on the table.
I like the thought - get him back for more! But it's not going to happen, so wish him well when he gets drafted in the top 5...
October 7th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
M could always try "the Izzo" -- which I believe has something to do with locking a player's Grandma in a basement. (allegedly)