Your Opinion: Who Are The Top 5 Players Going Into Next Season?
Out of curiosity, who do you think are the 5 best players on the team going into next season?
Assumptions
- Corum, Zinter, and Turner go pro (not saying I believe this to be true...but it's all hypothetical anyway).
- Keegan, Barnhart, Okie, Barrett, and both Green brothers are back.
- While there will be more transfers, assume that they do not include anyone who would be in someone's Top 5.
- Guys who've committed to transfer in are all eligible. As are true freshmen.
- Same coaching staff, same offense, same defense.
Who do you have at the top?!
January 3rd, 2023 at 11:48 PM ^
This seems relatively straight forward. In no order...
- McCarthy
- Edwards
- W. Johnson
- Keegan
- Loveland
January 4th, 2023 at 8:14 AM ^
Agree except maybe Keegan. I think any of the oline including the new center could step up and be in the top 5.
January 4th, 2023 at 8:42 AM ^
Graham or Benny will be in that list.
January 4th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
Similar but I will go:
- McCarthy
- Edwards
- W. Johnson
- Jenkins
- Colson
January 3rd, 2023 at 11:55 PM ^
JJ
The Don
Will
Mason
Sainrstil
Sheronne Moore Line: All for one one for all.
Sleeper. Derrick Moore
January 4th, 2023 at 12:09 AM ^
JJ
Edwards
Loveland
Will Johnson
Mikey
Oline will probably take a step back but hopefully that allows them to be more diverse on offense.
January 4th, 2023 at 5:28 AM ^
I actually think next years o line could be just as good. Nugent/Crippen at center, El Hadi and Keegan/Gentry at guards and Henderson and Jones/Barnhart at tackles.
January 4th, 2023 at 8:36 AM ^
Just as good until the playoffs
January 4th, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
JJ is going to make most any OL look good next year-even great.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:20 AM ^
Donovan Edwards, JJ McCarthy, Mason Graham, Will Johnson, and Colston Loveland in that order.
January 4th, 2023 at 7:52 AM ^
Love the Don but he’s not ahead of JJ.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:31 AM ^
1. JJ McCarthy
2. Will Johnson
3. Donovan Edwards
4. Roman Wilson
5. Mason Graham
January 4th, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
You have the outlier in Wilson! If he takes such a step next year and gives the pass game something similar to what Bell gave it, his speed will open doors. I'm just not sure he can take such a large step. I hope I'm wrong!
January 4th, 2023 at 9:12 AM ^
Would it really be that large of a step? He was burning people all year and either not getting a good ball, or flat out being missed (he was WIDE open on the Johnson out route against osu), and has shown both this year and last an ability to make big - contested catches. If Mccarthy can get his timing down with him, he could be lethal next year.
January 4th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
He has speed and can catch an open ball, but his game is pretty much entirely based on beating people deep.
Hasn't really shown skills as a route runner, or an the ability to make contested catches, or the ability to generate YAC.
Its great to have a deep ball threat as part of your offense, but he'll need to take a big step to become an every down type of receiver.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
He hasn’t been asked to do those things on a consistent basis but over the last 3 years he has shown plays of all the things you listed. I think going into 2023 as the undisputed #1 WR Michigan will need to use him in other ways bedsides go deep and catch this screen.
I like Andrel but the fan based overhyped him based off 1 game and 1 catch. Obviously we expect him to take a step forward next year as a starter but we haven’t seen it yet. Darrius Clemsons is a nice prospect. Henning is a gadget guy based off what we have seen so far. Roman is going to have to be the guy until some other people step up.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:33 AM ^
1. Will Johnson
2. Loveland
3. Edwards
4. Graham
5. Nugent
January 4th, 2023 at 12:40 AM ^
When do you start off season workouts at Iowa Cade?
January 4th, 2023 at 2:36 AM ^
Ha ha, well played, JJ.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:47 AM ^
Junior Colson could be really, really good next season.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:02 AM ^
Barrett says he doesn't want to be the old guy. So I would imagine he leaves
January 4th, 2023 at 9:54 AM ^
I can attest, there are worse things than being old.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:16 AM ^
1. Morris
2. McCarthy
3. Will Johnson
4. Sainristil
5. Edwards
January 4th, 2023 at 1:16 AM ^
Assuming Morris goes pro then shift the other 4 up and I'll go with Jenkins at 5.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:45 AM ^
1. JJ
2. Tie between everyone else
I could be wrong, but I still think a Heisman-level QB is the only way to level the playing field if you aren't a recruiting factory like Alabama/Georgia. And sometimes you can have a Heisman-level QB and a recruiting factory roster, and it still isn't enough. But there aren't many (if any) cases of non-recruiting factory schools winning with average QBs.
January 4th, 2023 at 9:15 PM ^
Well recently. Remember Alabama, and LSU back in the day had game managers and not big time pro prospects. If Georgia wins again this year, and really same for TCU, it won’t be from a top 10 pick at QB. Stetson and Duggan may very well be 5 star men but I don’t believe they are highly sought after NFL prospects.
January 4th, 2023 at 11:55 PM ^
Alabama, LSU, and Georgia are all recruiting factories. We are not on their level in that department. And TCU has a Heisman-level QB (he made the final 4). His game is obviously suited for college football more than NFL football, but that's why I said Heisman-level and not NFL-level. Off the top of my head I couldn't think of a recent championship team without either a top-5 level recruiting or a Heisman quality QB. Michigan with Griese is probably one of the most recent examples.
January 4th, 2023 at 2:33 AM ^
Are we really sure corum is leaving? I think that comes down more to what the injury really was....
January 4th, 2023 at 2:41 AM ^
1. McCarthy
2. Edwards
3. Johnson
4. Loveland
5. Graham
January 4th, 2023 at 2:55 AM ^
JJ
Okie
The Don
Colson
Johnson
January 4th, 2023 at 3:31 AM ^
Like everyone's saying - McCarthy, Edwards, W. Johnson at the top. Then probably Loveland.
Think Rod Moore should be getting more love here though. The guy is super skilled, consistent, and is only improving
January 4th, 2023 at 7:39 AM ^
Harrell, McGregor, and Hausman have breakout years.
JJ, The Don, Will Johnson, Roman, Loveland will become top players on O and D
Omarion Walker and Clemons bring the WR play all of us wanted this year.
I think our DL/LB group is better next year than this year.
January 4th, 2023 at 7:39 AM ^
I also have a hunch that Corum comes back...
January 4th, 2023 at 8:55 AM ^
I think both Walker and Clemmons will be good, but Tyler Morris was the only freshman WR on the field against TCU. He seems a step ahead of the others...
January 4th, 2023 at 7:45 AM ^
Will Johnson
Mason Graham
Edwards
JJ
Loveland
This is a bit of a cop out, because these five were some of the best this year, but all should be on an upward trajectory and playing at a consistently elite level next year.
January 4th, 2023 at 8:05 AM ^
a. walker, jj, d. edwards, w. johnson, m. graham
January 4th, 2023 at 8:35 AM ^
tough to know if we don’t know who will be back, but probably:
- JJ
- Donovan
- Will Johnson
- Junior Colson
- Kris Jenkins
January 4th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
If this team were healthy, we are playing in the championship...
January 4th, 2023 at 9:02 AM ^
JJ, Edwards, Loveland, Mason Graham, and Will Johnson will be my top 5. It feels like Morris will enter the draft. Both Colson and Barret will be even better next year. Rod Moore will force WillJo to give up the DB spotlight and share it - he'll prove to be the best safety Michigan has had in decades (yeah - I know Peppers and Hill exist).
This is another championship level team if JJ is allowed to play football in a modern offense that includes his legs and a pass game similar to Georgia's (more versatile, layered, dynamic, and better integrated with the run game). If Edwards is used in space, like how we all wanted Chris Evans to be used, he'll be a Heisman contender.
Like it has every year, championship dreams will rest on how the Harbaughffense evolves...
January 4th, 2023 at 9:20 AM ^
Just a tip: every time someone writes "Donovan Edwards", read it like Gus Johnson is saying it on the second touchdown run against OSU.
"Donovan Ed-WARDS! Whoa!
Can they catch him? No!"
It's more enjoyable that way.
January 4th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
Only 5 is tough, how about 5 on each side of the ball.
Offense-
1. JJ
2. Dono
3. Wilson
4. Loveland
5. Keegan
Defense -
1. W. Johnson
2. Graham
3. Jenkins
4. Colson
5. McGregor
January 4th, 2023 at 7:40 PM ^
Allowed. But the fact that you added McGregor over Sainristil and Rod Moore makes me second guess my decision.
January 4th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
By same defense, you mean the one that was smart all season and made teams earn it? Or the 0 blitz package we run in the playoffs on alternating downs.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
1. JJ McCarthy
2. Donovan Edwards
3. Junior Colson
4. Will Johnson
5. Roman Wilson