Uniform Number Switches
Can't recall having seen a post about the changes in uniform numbers, but I've noticed some switches shown on the latest official roster:
Oliver Martin from 2 to 80; Ben VanSumeren from 20 to 40 (Surprising, because no other player on offense has 20 this year now that Tru Wilson has switched his number to 13, but it might mean that he, Wilson and Brad Hawkins all will be on special teams this year, and that Hawkins will keep 20.); Kurt Taylor from 5 to 39; Tru Wilson from 20 to 13; Casey Hughes from 25 to 35 (Ben St-Juste keeps 25); Ron Johnson from 97 to 92 (freshman Aidan Hutchinson keeps 97); Philip Paea from 31 to 58, Christian Turner from 28 to 41 (Surprising, because no other player on offense has 28, but it might mean that both he and Brandon Watson who wears 28 on defenses are expected to be on special teams this year.)
And one non-switch seems interesting: Josh Uche, Michael Barrett and Myles Sims all still are wearing 6 (Could it mean that Barrett has gone back to offense and that Sims will redshirt?)
August 29th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
Ron Johnson is a name I have not heard in forever.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:13 AM ^
He was always a boom or bust guy. Seems to have gone bust up till this point. The hope is that he comes on late a la Lawrence Marshall. But he hasn't been heard in practice reports and it really seems to be an uphill battle with all the D-line recruits that Michigan has committed/is after
August 29th, 2018 at 11:59 AM ^
When exactly did Marshall come on late?
August 29th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
There was that one drill in practice 2 years ago...
August 29th, 2018 at 10:11 AM ^
I’m still upset Kekoa Crawford wore #1 for two years.
/s
August 29th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^
So am I, with all the great players that have been number one he never earned the right to wear it .
August 29th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
Braylon? That you??
I kid, I kid. For the most part, I agree with you.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
I have always disagreed with the "earn the right to wear #1" crowd. It was issued to Anthony Carter, Tyrone Butterfield, David Terrell. It should be a recruiting incentive for a top WR IMO.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^
Agreed, I prefer the No. 1 jersey mean something at Michigan.
August 29th, 2018 at 12:57 PM ^
Did you miss the "/s" in his post?
August 29th, 2018 at 1:22 PM ^
Everyone did ;)
August 29th, 2018 at 1:02 PM ^
I think most fans would agree with all of you but there are only so many numbers available. I hate seeing duplicate numbers on players and do we really want to see a jersey with "7/8"? (think futurama blernsball episode).
August 29th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
I prefer alpha-numerics to fractions.
August 29th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
What's wrong for the #1 to have extra meaning here at Michigan? It was unique and I thought it was cool. That number has a lot of history here. Tradition has to start somewhere and we already have the foundation for this to become added to Michigan's great amount of excellent tradition.
Most people on this blog like to hate on the #1 thing because it became popular on here to hate on Braylon Edwards. So the Mgosheep follow suit and hate on Braylon and the idea of #1 being something more than just a number.
August 30th, 2018 at 1:45 AM ^
He could block downfield like a son of a gun...
August 29th, 2018 at 10:37 AM ^
I think you’re over analing the number 6 thing. Obviously each player will play one quarter and whoever plays the best of the three will play the fourth quarter.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^
I think you’re over analing the number 6 thing.
Over analing can be rough. You want to take it slow, and ease into it.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:55 AM ^
Good point, Doc, but you've just got to love the irony of his name.
GO BLUE!
August 30th, 2018 at 12:21 AM ^
OK so that made this 48 year old laugh like a 12 year old. Well done!
August 29th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
Lol analing
August 29th, 2018 at 10:51 AM ^
So much for Straight Dave
August 29th, 2018 at 11:10 AM ^
Where are old posters Hard Gay and MgoBallSack when you need them?!
August 29th, 2018 at 10:49 AM ^
Over analing? No such thing my friend.
August 29th, 2018 at 2:43 PM ^
NTTAWWT!
August 29th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^
The fact that your phone let you type analing without correcting it says something about something.
August 29th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
He has the Mandroid 7. It has its own unique spell checker.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:03 PM ^
It apparently replaced the eunuch spell checker.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^
Comes with a free WildmanT balllifter assembly.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:16 PM ^
Is that what you do to the milk cow Tevia sold you?
August 29th, 2018 at 10:38 AM ^
I didn't know (or had forgotten) that Wilton Speight had a younger brother on the team.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:21 PM ^
The curious case of Jess Speight.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
Sims will almost certainly see the field with the new rule allowing players to appear in 4 games and still keep a redshirt.
I think your point about number changes to allow offensive and defensive players to appear on special teams is right. Even if it isn't planned for them to be on field at the same time right now that could change during the course of the year as injuries pile up. It also adds additional protection against guys making a mistake and going on field when the coaches don't want it.
August 29th, 2018 at 11:17 AM ^
Tru Wilson was #24 before switching to #13. He was #20 last year but this year up until the switch, he was #24.
August 29th, 2018 at 12:42 PM ^
Thanks. True about Tru's uniform switches. I stand corrected.
August 29th, 2018 at 1:18 PM ^
He also wore #27 for a bit too.
August 29th, 2018 at 10:53 PM ^
Now that he's found a spot on the depth chart, hopefully he'll settle in on #13 lol
August 29th, 2018 at 11:30 AM ^
Why do freshmen get put on special teams? Is it because it gets them on the field and allows them to adjust to the speed of the game?
It seems like it would be better to have them focus and learn their positions. And also, why use up eligibility if they're not going to see the field (at least much) in their normal spots?
August 29th, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^
Avoids putting starters\back-ups at risk of injury ....as for redshirt/eligibility concerns, I'd say special teams has a huge impact on games, so no they're not playing CB, LB or RB, but they are contributing to wins
August 29th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
Its all the things you said plus just getting them on the field is good. College football is a completely different animal. Getting freshman in the game for 8-12 special teams plays gets them adjusted to the game. May not seem like much but it helps.
August 29th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised to see both Barrett and Sims redshirt. Barrett is moving from QB to Viper, and Sims is a beanpole, and both play at positions where we have a ton of depth.
The only reason I'm surprised they still share a number is because I would expect every "redshirt" to play four games due to the new rules, and it seems likely that they'd see the field together during a blowout.
August 29th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^
Does it have to be the 1st 4 games? Or can it just be any 4 games? Must they be consecutive? I ask because I’m curious if there is a strategy to maybe wait til the last 4 games to play a guy in the event he is needed due to injuries later in the year but the redshirt gets preserved...
August 29th, 2018 at 8:27 PM ^
it can be any four games