2025 Michigan Offseason Thread

[ELA]

From a Michigan writer on 9/23/2020

With that stated, how does Milton stack up as a QB and which other passers could his skill set be compared to?

Size
At 6-5 and 243 pounds, Milton could line up as a tight end in many offenses without sacrificing much in the size department. He is certainly a big-bodied quarterback, but he carries the weight well and still shows spry movement when breaking out of the pocket.

Cam Newton has been a popular comparison for Milton over the offseason, and it's pretty on the mark from a measurables standpoint. NFL.com lists Newton at 6-5 and 245 pounds, so that's a pretty spot on reference point. Both quarterbacks have strong upper bodies and look virtually identical in pads.

One other player worth considering in this respect is Ben Roethlisberger. Both Milton and Big Ben are 6-5, and the latter tips the scales at 240 pounds, so that's another big quarterback that has found exceptional success in the pros. Roethlisberger uses his size well to shake off pass rushers in the pocket, and that's a trait that Milton has exhibited in the past too. Back in 2018, Milton was able to fight through a couple would-be sacks and scramble around the pocket against Rutgers a la Big Ben, though the play ultimately did end in a loss of yardage.

Passing Ability
For this category, the most apt comparison might be another young gunslinger who is taking the NFL by storm in Josh Allen.

[Mdot21]

From a Michigan writer on 9/23/2020

With that stated, how does Milton stack up as a QB and which other passers could his skill set be compared to?

Size
At 6-5 and 243 pounds, Milton could line up as a tight end in many offenses without sacrificing much in the size department. He is certainly a big-bodied quarterback, but he carries the weight well and still shows spry movement when breaking out of the pocket.

Cam Newton has been a popular comparison for Milton over the offseason, and it's pretty on the mark from a measurables standpoint. NFL.com lists Newton at 6-5 and 245 pounds, so that's a pretty spot on reference point. Both quarterbacks have strong upper bodies and look virtually identical in pads.

One other player worth considering in this respect is Ben Roethlisberger. Both Milton and Big Ben are 6-5, and the latter tips the scales at 240 pounds, so that's another big quarterback that has found exceptional success in the pros. Roethlisberger uses his size well to shake off pass rushers in the pocket, and that's a trait that Milton has exhibited in the past too. Back in 2018, Milton was able to fight through a couple would-be sacks and scramble around the pocket against Rutgers a la Big Ben, though the play ultimately did end in a loss of yardage.

Passing Ability
For this category, the most apt comparison might be another young gunslinger who is taking the NFL by storm in Josh Allen.

hear what you're saying, but that was from a Michigan writer- not from anyone who does national HS recruit rankings- so naturally it's going to have some bias.

Milton definitely had comparable size and athletic traits to someone like Cam or Josh Allen- I mean the guy is/was a massive human being and can actually run around a little bit. Even comparable raw arm power in terms of rpms/pure arm strength. But arm strength doesn't mean a hill of beans for a QB if he can't process the game at a high level and if he can't throw an accurate catchable football with touch, timing, and anticipation. Joe Milton has never been able to do any of the above. If he had been able to he'd have been ranked as a top 10ish player in his class and as a 5* and he'd have been a very high first rd pick after 3-4 years of college.

[FearlessF]

President Donald Trump refers to Michigan as 'that team up north' during Ohio State White House visit

https://www.on3.com/college/ohio-state-buckeyes/news/president-donald-trump-refers-to-michigan-as-that-team-up-north-during-ohio-state-white-house-visit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqfRdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhuuf6bx7JX-_nrICpqJGgAFhkN87qkz_hElnd3DNPvIaY1Ntwzc8To96las_aem_P6LiedgQHDQibm--PUUp0Q

[MrNubbz]

https://twitter.com/Carter_Buckeye/status/1911878188571263103

[Mdot21]

https://twitter.com/Carter_Buckeye/status/1911878188571263103

figured Ryan Day's first EO would be free jet black beard dye for everyone 40 and up.

[Mdot21]

Bussin With The Boys in Ann Arbor for their spring ball campus tour. 

Taylor Lewan is 6'7", Bryce is all of 6'4+ maybe 6'5. Looks like they got him on that weight gain program. he's listed on their roster at 208, needs to be about 235 by the time fall hits and the season starts. bulk up young man, bulk up. crazy that he's only 17 years old....freak.

Jadyn Davis is kinda tiny. There is no way he's a legit 6'1. 5'11 probably more accurate. Doesn't look that much bigger than Corum who is 5'8.

[FearlessF]

Will Compton!

[Mdot21]

Will Compton!

all 5 of those guys in that pic played a game where they had to the throw football and hit the crossbar of the goal post. Will Compton won the contest. maybe Moore should get an NIL package together and sign Will Compton to play QB.

[Mdot21]

kid just has a howitzer and throws lasers....kid is physically gifted beyond his years at only 17. scary to think what he could become at 20-21 if he develops.

[847badgerfan]

Braelon Allen at 17:

[Mdot21]

only real video that's been released so far of Bryce in the spring game. obviously spring game means nothing, but just looking at some of the throws and him running around....yeah....see why he was the #1 player in the country. 

kid is a freak. size, arm talent, arm strength, athleticism. check, check, check, check.

feel pretty safe saying the kid could've skipped his senior year of HS and started last year at Michigan as a 16 year old (he's 17 right now) - flat out as a 16 year old he would've been better than anything they had on the roster last year- that's how shitty their QB's were.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqX9yOqEJVM

[Temp430]

I'm not buying into the Underwood hype just yet.  Michigan has had it's share of QBs with a big arm that couldn't hit a moving dump truck at 40 yards.  On the positive side, I'm thinking Michigan's OL will not be the dumpster fire it was at the start of last season.  A solid OL and RB will help a young QB greatly.

[Mdot21]

I'm not buying into the Underwood hype just yet.  Michigan has had it's share of QBs with a big arm that couldn't hit a moving dump truck at 40 yards.  On the positive side, I'm thinking Michigan's OL will not be the dumpster fire it was at the start of last season.  A solid OL and RB will help a young QB greatly.

well as long as I've been watching them- Michigan honestly hasn't had that many QB's with straight up rocket launchers. Drew Henson, Ryan Mallett, Joe Milton, and then to a lesser degree JJ and Chad Henne. 

Henson was great- but for only about 10 starts- his career was too short but he was a DUDE. Mallett stayed in Ann Arbor for a cup of coffee as a true frosh, and Joe Milton was ass. But Joe Milton was not rated like all the others- something I've pointed out time and time again. He was rated in the 240's overall and that rating was 100% projection based on his physical tools. He never had the HS production or refinement/polish to match the physical tools and warrant a super high recruit ranking. The others? Henson was basically a #1 overall HS recruit before the internet recruit ranking era, Mallett was a top 5 player overall in his class, JJ and Henne were both 5* top 25 overall players, and Bryce was a #1 overall player.

They don't need Bryce Underwood to be Superman. They just need him to be better than the absolute trash they had playing QB last year. That's it. Michigan doesn't ask a lot of the QB and if they work in the read option stuff with his legs it'll keep defenses honest and help enhance their run game even more. 

OL has the raw material to work with to be special- tons of talent there but it's young- might be a year away from being truly special- 2026 might be the year the OL really blossoms. RB duo of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall is going to be something special. Both those guys are DUDES.

[Mdot21]

just watched the spring game. caveats apply. quick thoughts and reading too much into the spring game: defense should be really good. again. thought that before the game- this just kind of confirmed what I was thinking. they return a lot of talent and depth and the transfer DT's Tre Williams and Damon Payne both look the part. so does the Arkansas nickel transfer Metcalf- he really flashed to me. Rayshaun Benny is a DUDE at DT. Derrick Moore is a DUDE at EDGE. Dominic Nichols is coming at EDGE, can definitely see why Sherrone Moore was so geeked up about him last year as a true frosh. Cole Sullivan is coming at LB- but he'll fight for minutes because they have 3 guys that are legit starters with Hausmann, Rolder, and Barham and only 2 true LB spots. Shamari Earls the true frosh CB wearing #2 looks like a DUDE...getting Will Johnson vibes dare I say just from the way he looks out there and his size. All I can think is wait til Rod Moore gets back to QB that secondary. This defense is going to be lights out and SHOULD have the added advantage this year of having baseline functional QB play and not the absolute abortion it had last year with Davis Warren & Alex Orji. 

they have 3 RB's that look legit. Haynes & Marshall are going to be co-starters and split reps but Micah Ka'apana is no slouch. great burst and speed. definitely see why Ben Hall hit the portal- he was never going to play here again. That TE/H-Back Jalen Hoffman was seriously impressive- might be a guy to watch this season- really like what he showed. Could be something- could be nothing- it's a spring game- but could be a someone to watch.

Donoven McCulley absolutely looks the part of WR1 but barely played- really flashed in the couple series he actually played and had some WOW plays. He's going to be their go to WR, hands down. It ain't close. Mikey Keene needs to get back ASAP because right now Bryce Underwood looks like the only playable QB they have. Jadyn Davis just ain't it. He's just too small and his arm is average at best and his throwing motion/wind up is HIDEOUS. Bryce showed serious flashes but also had some misreads, had some miscommunications with his WR's and made some poor decisions- and also had bunch of drops which affected his overall stats but man- he is massive, athletic, and TALENTED AS FUCK and only 17 years old. There is a clear night and day when comparing Bryce and Jadyn....one looks like they belong at this level already as a 17 year old true frosh- one doesn't as an about to be 20 year old sophomore. OL looked fine run blocking, had some issues pass blocking....but they drafted teams so there is no 1st or 2nd unit- they'll figure out the OL and be just fine imo. I trust Moore and tons of talent there.

Underwood will be the starter to open the season imo. And they'll be just fine with him- they don't need him to be superman they just need him to be better than the absolute horseshit they had last year and I believe he will be. They need to pick a starting 5 on OL and let it gel and work on pass pro. They NEED McCulley to be THE GUY at WR and they need Fred Moore to become a reliable #2 and they need Semaj Morgan to really bounce back and flash in the slot the way he did as a true frosh in '23. IF Sherrone gets the OL going and McCulley can be the guy and Moore & Morgan can be solid #2 and #3 options- they'll be fine imo. And they NEED Mikey Keene to come back healthy ASAP because they need a reliable backup to Bryce Underwood- and that ain't Jadyn Davis.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIsAnw1pKTc