Michigan Football Team 136 Wrap-up

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: January 30, 2016

With a 10-3 season, Team 136 did a great job of getting Michigan football headed in the right direction after a tough few years. Not many thought they’d be as good as they were, with many predicting 7-8 wins or so. Before the season, I predicted a 9-3 regular season finish; I was right on the result, but wrong on how they’d get there. I had them winning one of the rivalry games, which unfortunately didn’t happen. They should have won one, but didn’t. The silver lining to that, though, was we got to watch Little Brother get throttled by Bama on New Year’s Eve. Thanks, Bama. They may not have beaten MSU or OSU, but they didn’t lose to anybody they should beat, so that was a welcome change from the previous administration.

So, two losses that hurt a lot for different reasons and one that probably goes differently if played later in the year. Not bad. I thought there was a lot of talent on this roster that had just been very poorly coached by the previous administration, but still, heckuva job by Harbaugh in year one.

Here’s how everyone’s grades added up over the coarse of the season:

Key

Grades for players who have eligibility remaining and have not announced a transfer are in bold. Players who will probably end up at a different position are in italics.

Individual game grades are here:

Offense vs. Utah

Defense vs. Utah

Offense vs. Oregon State

Defense vs. Oregon State

Offense vs. Northwestern

Defense vs. Northwestern

Offense vs. MSU

Defense vs. MSU

Offense vs. Minnesota

Defense vs. Minnesota

Offense vs. Penn State

Defense vs. Penn State

So, yeah, Michigan brings some talent back. Obviously, not everyone in maize will be back next year, but this is what I have to go on right now. At the very least, expect guys who have been there four years and don’t look to be starters next year to not be around.

A look ahead

Speight comes back next year, though most expect John O’Korn to be the starting QB after sitting out this year after transferring from Houston. Shane Morris redshirted this year and has said he wants to play out his career at Michigan. He could compete for the job, I guess. As could Zach Gentry, if he’s not moving to tight end, and Alex Malzone.

We’ll get to the fullback spot in a minute, but the only guy there coming back in Henry Poggi. So, it wouldn’t be totally surprising to see De’Veon Smith take on a BJ-Askew-fullback-tailback-hybrid role. I kind of hope he does. As for the tailback spot, there are plenty of options. Ty Isaac was highly touted during bowl practices, but didn’t play in the game. Drake Johnson was fine most of the year and then very good in the bowl game, but isn’t an every down back. Karan Higdon, in hindsight, probably should have just redshirted, but I’m guessing the staff sees something in him. Jabrill Peppers will get some carries, because he is Jabrill Peppers. Kingston Davis and Kareem Walker enrolled early. If either was going to make an impact next year, my money would be on Walker, but I think they both are going to need a bit of time. Derrick Green and Ross Taylor-Douglas are transferring. Neither one is surprising. Taylor-Douglas will be at Rutgers.

Poggi was still kind of learning the position this year. We could see Smith here next year, since Poggi’s the only one returning and there’s nobody currently in the recruiting class who really fits here.

Cole is off the team. Canteen has been practicing at CB. Everyone else comes back. Chesson looked very much like a legitimate #1 receiver late in the year. Darboh is fine as a #2 guy. Grant Perry looked excellent in the bowl game after looking not-so-excellent during the regular season. Ways was okay in limited action. Harris was okay in even less action. Jones didn’t do much.

Michigan loses Williams to graduation. A year ago, this wouldn’t have been a big deal. Now, it is. That should put all the nepotism talk to bed. It looks like Khalid Hill will be called upon to fill Williams’ role. Also, with Poggi mostly at FB, he’ll have a pretty big role in the offense. I think he’s up to the task. Hopefully, we see more of Ian Bunting next year. He looked like a good receiver, but a he blocker. Look for Chase Winovich to be at LB. You’ll see why in a minute.

80% of the starting O-line comes back next year. What spots those guys play appears to be up in the air, though. Michigan was a possible destination for Texas grad transfer C Jake Raulerson, but he’s going to UCLA. Mason Cole practiced at C this spring, but the depth chart beyond next year looks less-than-ideal at T at the moment, so I don’t know how good of an idea moving a guy inside only to move him back out in a year is. This is a total shot in the dark, and I’ve seen nothing that indicates this will be the case, but I think a line of Newsome-Braden-Kalis/Magnuson-whichever guy isn’t at C-Cole makes sense. If that ends up happening, my guess would be Kalis at C and Magnuson at RG.

Even with Henry leaving early, this is still Michigan’s deepest position group. Look for Hurst to play mostly 3-tech next year, since Michigan gets Bryan Mone back. Godin ended the year on kind of a rough note, but one of his three minus games there was one where nobody did very well and another was one where the opposing offense ran tempo and kept him on the field with Strobel, who was getting his first defensive playing time of the year. With Glasgow and Mone both available at NT, I think Godin’s fine at 3T. Carlo Kemp enrolled early and could make an impact at DE. Shelton Johnson is an option there as well after redshirting this year. Lawrence Marshall didn’t see the field much this year after being hyped up in the spring. Wormley and Charlton look to be the starters, I’m confident Michigan can find two other ends to rotate in.

Remember when I said to expect Winovich to move to LB? This is why. This is not ideal. Gedeon is the only returning LB who saw the field last year. When on the field, he was a model of inconsistency. One minute, I would find myself asking “Why isn’t he playing instead of Bolden?” The next minute, I would find myself saying “Oh, that’s why.” Devin Bush, Jr. enrolled early; I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t play a significant role next year. Reuben Jones moved to LB while redshirting this year. Mike McCray looks to be the favorite for a starting spot here. Noah Furbush could compete.

You could make a case that Jourdan Lewis was the best CB in the country last year. He’s back and that’s great. Jeremy Clark probably ends up as the other starter, but Stribling will see plenty of action as well. Freddy Canteen moves here from WR. He should see the field some next year as well.

I’m really going to miss Jarrod Wilson. The National Championship showed what an asset a safety with the ability to put out fires can be. If Clemson had one, they’re the champs. Dymonte Thomas looked fine most of the season. Him at FS, Hill at SS, and Peppers at nickelback looks pretty good to me. Tyree Kinnel should see the field a bit next year as well. Ahmir Mitchell enrolled early and may end up at S.

Pro potential

QB Jake Rudock: Potential 6th-7th round pick. Should at least get a look as an undrafted free agent. If the NFL doesn’t work out for him, the CFL could.

FB Sione Houma: Worth a look as an undrafted free agent.

TE A.J. Williams: Made major improvements this year, outside chance a team looks at him as an undrafted free agent.

C Graham Glasgow: Being looked at as a G in the NFL. Projected as a 5th-6th round pick by CBS Sports. Stock rising in senior game practices. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him end up going as high as round 3.

DE Mario Ojemudia: Was looked at as having potential going into the season, then he got hurt. Someone may take a look at him as an undrafted free agent. CFL’s a possibility.

DL Willie Henry: Projected as a DT and a 6th-round pick by CBS Sports. Mel Kiper has said he has a chance at being a 1st-round pick. That seems a little high to me, but I’d look at him in the 2nd or 3rd round. Could play DE in a 3-4 or 3T in a 4-3.

LB Desmond Morgan: Projected as an OLB by CBS Sports. Chance at a look as an undrafted free agent. May not be athletic enough to play at the next level.

LB Joe Bolden: Projected as an ILB by CBS Sports. More athletic than Morgan, but has a bad habit of being in the wrong place. May get a look as an undrafted free agent.

LB James Ross: Projected as an OLB by CBS Sports. Made improvements this year, but wasn’t an ideal fit in Michigan’s defense. Might get a look as an undrafted free agent.

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com