2023 Michigan Season Thread

[Mdot21]

Michigan's OL might actually be better in 2023...

They'll have 4 of their top 6 OL's back. LG Trevor Keegan, RG Zak Zinter, T/G Karsen Barnhart, and RT Trente Jones. Jones was the starting RT until he got hurt and Karsen Barnhart started a majority of the games in his place. Then they added three veteran OLs in the transfer portal in LaDarius Henderson, Drake Nugent, and Myles Hinton. Henderson was rated a 4* and the #2 rated interior OL in the 247 Transfer Portal rankings and is a talented vet with 29 games of starting experience under his belt, Nugent was PFF's fifth highest graded center in 2022 with an 80.5 grade- PFF rated him as the #6 returning interior OL for the 2023 season, and Myles Hinton who is a former 5* 'croot and a mountain of a human being at 6'7, 315+ lbs. 

Then they have returning in their two deep RS Soph's Giovanni El-Hadi (4*, top 100) and Raheem Anderson (4*, top 200) who made waves in spring/fall last year as rs frosh and in spring this year. Then they have RS Frosh OT Andrew Gentry (4*, top 100) and true frosh G/C Amir Herring (4*, top 300) who has already made noise in spring and is said to be a starter in waiting. 

They'll have more talent and depth along the OL than they've had at any time in the Harbaugh era. Ryan Hayes can be replaced, he was a solid player at LT but nothing unique or special. Olu Oluwatimi will be a big loss at center, and he was a special player- but Drake Nugent is no slouch as a fill-in and they have a lot of experience, talent, and depth returning. 

Will there be a better OL group in the nation in '23 returning? I don't know. Will there be a better 1-2 punch at RB in the nation in '23 returning than Corum & Edwards? I tend to think not. Corum is a special back and Edwards is even more special imo.

[ELA]

The last decade of Carr, UM had an argument of being WR U.  Even though they've had some recruits there, I'd argue that in the post-Carr era, it's been the worst position group.  They almost certainly have the best OL and RBs on paper.  The QB is top 10.  If they could have lucked into a Jameson Williams to Alabama type transfer, yikes

[Mdot21]

The last decade of Carr, UM had an argument of being WR U.  Even though they've had some recruits there, I'd argue that in the post-Carr era, it's been the worst position group.  They almost certainly have the best OL and RBs on paper.  The QB is top 10.  If they could have lucked into a Jameson Williams to Alabama type transfer, yikes

WR's have been very average once Carr left. From like 1999-2007, Carr went on a run where he just always had some studs at WR. Guys like David Terrell, Marquise Walker, Braylon Edwards, Jason Avant, Steve Breaston, and Mario Manningham. Avant and Breaston were probably the worst WRs of that era, and both would probably have been the best WR of this entire post Carr era. 

If this team had a Mario Manningham at WR they'd be pretty lethal. If they had a Braylon Edwards or David Terrell at WR....forget about it. They have continually lacked that elite WR, meanwhile their arch rival Ohio State has like 3 of them every season. Go figure lol.

Jeem needs to breakthrough and find that next Braylon Edwards type #1 WR who is an obvious high NFL draft pick.

[Mdot21]

Reece Davis says he'd put Michigan #1 on his ballot on his ESPN podcast with Pete Thamel. 

Says he thinks JJ is going to improve, Will Johnson is the best CB in 'Merica, the stud RB's are back, and they are solid on both lines of scrimmage with some nice adds in the transfer portal. 


https://twitter.com/ReceDavis/status/1649145257370480643?s=20

[Cincydawg]

It's a thing folks talk about to fill air time in the off season of course.  The top teams are usually well known, the order in  which they will finish is usually not.

[medinabuckeye1]

If this team had a Mario Manningham at WR they'd be pretty lethal. If they had a Braylon Edwards or David Terrell at WR....forget about it. They have continually lacked that elite WR, meanwhile their arch rival Ohio State has like 3 of them every season. Go figure lol.

This is not, IMHO, altogether coincidental. 

Mario was born in Warren, OHIO and played HS football at Warren G Harding HS in Warren, OHIO.

Terrell was from Richmond, VA and Edwards was from Detroit. 

In today's environment, what are the chances that Manningham would go to Michigan?

If those three guys had been HS seniors in 2020, would Michigan have gotten any of them?

[Honestbuckeye]

Reece Davis says he'd put Michigan #1 on his ballot on his ESPN podcast with Pete Thamel.

Says he thinks JJ is going to improve, Will Johnson is the best CB in 'Merica, the stud RB's are back, and they are solid on both lines of scrimmage with some nice adds in the transfer portal.


https://twitter.com/ReceDavis/status/1649145257370480643?s=20

I am a big believer and having an experienced quarterback. If you look at the teams that appear to be getting the preseason hype, that would be USC and Michigan.  Given their defense both historically and what they return from last season, I would most certainly pick them as my number one preseason favorite. 

[Mdot21]

my #1 would be Georgia just bc to me they’ve earned it til proven otherwise. Plus their schedule is eassssssy like Michigan’s. 

I’d put Michigan #2 maybe. They have a ton coming back and if JJ can make that 2nd year leap they’re offense is going to be reaaaally good. The defense has a lot of young second year talent just waiting to burst out like CB Will Johnson, EDGE Derrick Moore, and NT Kenneth Grant and they added really good pieces in the LB corps in the portal in Haussmann and Stewart. 

Bama may be in some trouble this year. They’ll still be really good but not what they’ve been imo. Milroe kinda sucks at throwing the football and their WRs are just a bunch of guys- not the studs they’ve rolled off the assembly line for years. Their OL also is not quite what it used to be.

USC is interesting to me. They’ll have an amazing offense but they probably are going to just absolutely suck on defense….again.

Ohio State is going to be a top 5 team imo, even with the losses at QB and OL, they’ll figure it out and their skill talent at WR is best in America by far and their RBs are elite level as well as long as Henderson returns to form healthy. The defense will be very good as well and they got a big time pick up in the portal at CB from Ole Miss. 

I think my top 5 right now would be…

1) Georgia 
2) Michigan 
3-4 are interchangeable - LSU or OSU 
5) USC - their offense gonna be amazing but that D is sooooooo questionable

[FearlessF]

I think my top 5 right now would be…

1) Michigan
2) LSU
3) OSU
4) Georgia - defense, but new QB
5) USC - their offense gonna be amazing but that D is weak

[Mdot21]

This is not, IMHO, altogether coincidental.

Mario was born in Warren, OHIO and played HS football at Warren G Harding HS in Warren, OHIO.

Terrell was from Richmond, VA and Edwards was from Detroit.

In today's environment, what are the chances that Manningham would go to Michigan?

If those three guys had been HS seniors in 2020, would Michigan have gotten any of them?

yeah, good point. Michigan was probably more well known for passing the football back then than Ohio State was. Players tend to go to schools that play schemes/styles that fit them. Ohio State is known for passing the ball now, so of course WRs are going to flock there naturally. Michigan? Eh...not so much.

[Mdot21]

Michigan just landed a kicker in the portal from Louisville, James Turner. Probably the biggest glaring need/? on the entire roster after losing Jake Moody- who was arguably the best kicker to ever play at Michigan. 

Turner was 3rd team All-ACC last season and went 20 for 22 on FG's, and 3 of 5 on attempts 45 or longer.

[Mdot21]

this is one of the things that I believe Jeem was fighting with his AD over....more NIL support. Seems like Jeem is getting what he wants more and more and probably bc of those NFL threats...


https://twitter.com/Balas_Wolverine/status/1657107597483229186?s=20

[ELA]

this is one of the things that I believe Jeem was fighting with his AD over....more NIL support. Seems like Jeem is getting what he wants more and more and probably bc of those NFL threats...


https://twitter.com/Balas_Wolverine/status/1657107597483229186?s=20

And because Hunter Dickinson essentially put their NIL program on blast, and said that was a major factor in him leaving.

[FearlessF]

Jeem thanks the hoops program