Rickett88

December 18th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^

Someone tell me how I’m supposed to feel… is this good that we are bringing in high quality players that can start right away, or is this bad that we have to recruit over so many of the OL already on our team?

Joined: 08/21/2012

MGoPoints: 10566

Bambi

December 18th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^

Eh I don't think any OL transfer so far has to do with the guards. Nugent is a C, Hinton is a T, and Henderson is a swing. Zinter is probably gone just because he's a 2nd rounder, but Keegan is up in the air.

Barnhart has said he's most likely back, and that's probably a 4th starter. At this point the 5th starter is going to be Keegan if he's back, otherwise probably El-Hadi? Then guys like Jones, Persi, Anderson, Atteberry and Crippen as depth. But also probably wouldn't be shocking to see a couple of those guys transfer out.

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 23158

bronxblue

December 18th, 2022 at 6:10 PM ^

Yeah, Hinton and Nugent feel more like guys who'll need a year to compete for a spot; they're talented enough but starting at Stanford doesn't quite mean what it did 4-5 years ago.  I also think UM is aware that there may be guys looking to transfer or head to the pros so they're planning ahead for that.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171742

njvictor

December 18th, 2022 at 6:08 PM ^

Hayes, Olu, and Zinter are all leaving. Keegan may leave. So that's potentially 4 starters leaving and RT is a position up for grabs. This could be an almost entirely new OL. Bringing in a former top 100 recruit, quality starting center, and projected NFL draft tackle/guard definitely isn't a bad thing. I also think Henderson is the only guy guaranteed to start on this OL

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

JamieH

December 18th, 2022 at 6:24 PM ^

With the portal and NIL, I think we have to stop thinking about "recruiting over" as being a thing.

Every year, the coaching staff is going to put together the best roster they can.  The kids they are bringing in have been starting at Power 5 programs.  They have tons of tape on them.  They can evaluate them pretty well.  If they think they are getting the best guys, then they should go get them.

Yes, is there a potential that it could drive away high school talent if they are worried that there will always be great players portalling in to fight for playing time?  Sure.  But as long as there continue to be great players portalling in, does it matter?  The kids transferring in are older, more experienced, and more ready to play immediately.  

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

RobM_24

December 18th, 2022 at 6:40 PM ^

we are bringing in high quality players that can start right away

What else really matters? We're either replacing players who were/are already expected to leave, or we're adding players who the coaches have seen play and like more than the guys on our roster who haven't played. 

 

 

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 63572

The Oracle 2

December 18th, 2022 at 7:42 PM ^

You really expect Crippen to stay? They’ve just told him, for the second year in a row, they’re not enthusiastic about him. He thought he was going to be the starter this year…and then they brought in Oluwatimi. Now they’ve brought in another guy, and Nugent isn’t coming to sit. Unless there’s already an understanding that either he or Nugent is going to be a starter at guard, there’s no reason for Crippen to stay.

Joined: 02/25/2018

MGoPoints: 19186

gbdub

December 18th, 2022 at 8:08 PM ^

Crippen is a true sophomore on the hardest position on the OL. I’m guessing in his heart of hearts he knew he wouldn’t be ready to start this year. Nugent is probably a one and done if he starts, which would give Crippen 2 years as a starter. Or Crippen beats Nugent and we have a quality backup C/G. Or whichever loses the C competition slots in at G. 

Joined: 02/16/2010

MGoPoints: 26761

gbdub

December 19th, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^

Didn’t say he’d be “glad”, just that he could look at the situation and say “yeah I’m probably not ready to go outperform a Rimington finalist or be a top level B1G starter”.  He’s got the same data in front of him that Harbaugh had when the decision was made. He knows how his practice reps go, he knows his error rate, etc. “Realistic” doesn’t mean “glad”. 

Joined: 02/16/2010

MGoPoints: 26761

Ezekiels Creatures

December 18th, 2022 at 7:40 PM ^

that might be right. But winning the Joe Moore 2 years in a row is a powerful closer.

But it looks like NIL is part of, and might be bringing in, the #1 transfer portal WR Dominic Lovett. Allen Trieu says:

Has excellent acceleration and burst. Beats defenders off the line cleanly and can create immediate separation off the snap. Can make cuts at full speed and has the same burst out of his breaks.

 

But it is still in the works, not definite at all.

 

https://twitter.com/PineNutPesto/status/1604636339822923776

 

Joined: 03/14/2019

MGoPoints: 28664

m1817

December 19th, 2022 at 4:50 AM ^

Amorion Walker played some CB in the Hawaii game.  After the success Sainristil had at nickel this year, Walker, who was recruited as an Athlete could be a candidate to convert to defense.  He could be the player to be named later in the trade for Kalel Mullings from defense to offense.

Joined: 01/15/2011

MGoPoints: 21308

Paps

December 18th, 2022 at 5:53 PM ^

Dang, I really thought Crippen was going to be That Guy, considering the staff was cool with him before Olu became a thing. 
 

i think both guards probably leaving (go get paid boys, thanks for the two amazing years), could Nugent or Crippen be a candidate to play guard next year? 

Joined: 09/29/2012

MGoPoints: 2239

bronxblue

December 18th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^

I wouldn't read a ton into Crippen with this move.  He still feels like a guy they'll want to take over but they don't really have a ton of depth behind him so it makes sense to get a high floor guy just in case.  I know they have some guys who could swing in as backups if necessary but it's not as loaded as other positions on the line.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171742

Don

December 18th, 2022 at 5:54 PM ^

Out of all the schools that are potential sources of transfers, I'd guess that Stanford is one whose course credits would be least likely to be refused by U-M academic departments.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148358

Ronswanson13

December 18th, 2022 at 6:13 PM ^

The reason why Crippen rarely seen the field this season was because they wanted to get his redshirt back since he a burned it last year, not because he was passed over. Had Olu been injured Crippen probably burns it. He still traveled and dressed for road games.

Now Anderson may very well pass him, but that’s not why he played more than him this year.

Joined: 02/11/2016

MGoPoints: 10264

bronxblue

December 18th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^

I'm not sure Anderson has passed him; Harbaugh said they were going to try to get a redshirt on him because they would up burning it last year and that'll keep him on schedule with Anderson, I believe.  

I agree someone is going to be left out in the cold but this feels more like roster management than necessarily an indictment of him

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171742