spring game hot takes....
Michigan was missing a lot of key players who sat out, but they look pretty loaded and athletic on defense.
S/NB Zeke Berry, CB Ja'Den McBurrows, CB Jyaire Hill, CB Myles Pollard- all first or second year players- really flashed at moments and look like some real life 'ball players. One who didn't....Amorion Walker...who played WR as a true frosh last year but was switched to CB this spring. Harbaugh and staff and the other players were hyping Walker up...but he failed to show any signs of that hype. The other aforementioned DBs were far more impressive. The safeties are set with Rod Moore, Paige & Moten. Nickel is set with Mike Sainistril. CB1 is set with Will Johnson. CB 2 looking like it'll be a battle between McBurrows and Hill imo. Zeke Berry looks like the backup at nickel. If it was up to me- I'd roll with the true frosh Jyaire Hill. Early enrollee who just looked way better to me than any 18 year true frosh that should technically still be in HS has any business being.
TE's looked pretty, pretty, pretty good. Colston Loveland, AJ Barner, and Matthew Hibner all flashed. They have 3 guys who look like legit high quality TE's. Loveland by the way looks like he could become the best TE that Michigan has ever had. That dude looks legit....excited to see what he does in '23. He probably has the best NFL draft potential of any TE they've had since Jake Butt. Heard Jake Butt even say he thinks Loveland will be the best TE to ever play at Michigan when it's all said and done.
Alex Orji almost has to be your backup QB. No offense to Jack Tuttle or Davis Warren, but they both seem to really lack size and physical ability. Orji looks like a damn thoroughbred compared to them. He's just bigger, stronger, faster, has a more RPM in his arm strength than either guy. Not sure he's ready for prime time, but he looks the part of college QB...the other dudes...not so much.
DT Kenneth Grant, EDGE Josiah Stewart, EDGE Derrick Moore, and EDGE Keachaun Bennett all really popped and flashed in that spring game. Grant is a massive human being who has no businesses being as quick as he is. He was wreaking havoc and collapsing the pocket pretty much every snap he was in. Stewart's speed off the edge was eye opening and he was disrupting the QBs every snap he was in. What a steal in the transfer portal. Moore looks like he's taken another step from his true frosh year last year- can definitely see why dude played as a frosh and was a top 50 national 'croot and won MVP of that UnderArmour HS All-Star game- he's going to be big-time when he hits. Thing is- they are so deep at EDGE he might not even start. Bennett was a surprise breakout player on defense...did not expect him to make as big a jump as it looks like he has.
LBs looked pretty solid. The transfer Hausmann from Nebraska looked the best to my eye test. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he starts at ILB next to Junior Colson. They are deep at the position, with 2021 starter Nikahi Hill Green finally back from injury, '22 starter Michael Barrett coming back for his 6th year. Just to my eye, Hausmann moves and hits at a different gear than Green or Barrett. He looks freakishly twitch and quick.
OL should be good. RBs should be good. Speaking of RBs, the early enrollee true frosh "lowly 3*" from Georgia- Benjamin Hall looked fantastic. I'd say he's put himself into position to be leader in the club house for RB3. CJ Stokes missed spring with injury and his true frosh year he went into the dog house with fumblitis issues. Mike Hart targeted Hall early on and pushed for his commitment- and was being lambasted on the internets for 'crootin only lowly 3*'s....same people who fail to remember Hart was a lowly 3* himself. Maybe...just maybe Mike Hart knows a thing or two about playing RB?
Only real glaring weakness I see on this team imo is QB depth and who the hell will be WR1? Would've been really nice to have Cade back as the backup- he's more suited for that role- despite his delusions of grandeur. No real clear cut #1 WR. Also...would've been amazing to have Mazi Smith back and pair him up with a Kenneth Grant who looks ready for prime time. Hey, can't have everything though...
This is the best, most talented team he's had on paper since Jeem has been in Ann Arbor imo. Schedule is favorable and once again the NON-CON is a joke. 11-0 heading into the final showdown in Ann Arbor vs the Buckeyes is possible if they can stay healthy and get a little bit of luck here and there...
