On to the defense! Offense bits was last week and mentioned Chris Evans is an extremely good dude who did an extremely dumb thing. Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News caught up with Evans and got quite a bit more clarity on his status.

Not an insider article: I’ll reiterate my disclaimer about this feature: Football bits is about trying to gather what’s out there (mostly public information), triangulating from other information and heuristics, then guessing what it might mean. I get emails from insiders sometimes and will share what's believable, but if you want stuff from people who actually put some work into getting their own information, try Steve Lorenz and Sam Webb of 247/TheMichiganInsider (they’re having a three months-for-the-price-of-one special right now). Try Balas/Borton/Brown of TheWolverine (I missed an encouraging note about Onwenu($) from them last week). Try Isaiah Hole of WolverineWire/USAToday—he’s free. I have way too much respect for those guys to have my name erroneously included among them.

Defensive Tackle

Save us Jeter [Eric Upchurch]

What we want to hear: Mo Hurst but bigger, Donovan Jeter is the next big big thing, Mazi Smith impressing immediately, and a nice thing or two about Carlo Kemp.

What we’re hearing: Dwumfour had a foot injury he aggravated in the bowl game so he’s still out. :/ Jeter came out for a nice sentence when Harbaugh confused a reporter with which Donovan was injured (it’s DPJ). Carlo Kemp is getting the first mention at DT and Harbaugh went right from there to DEs and a fullback:

Donovan Jeter has really come on, has really stepped up and had a great winter. Looked really good in our first practice. Lot of excitement about him.

“Carlo Kemp has really turned himself into a strong, strong player. Inside player all the way now. Playing a 3-technique to 2, and it’s interesting: he came as a tweener between a linebacker and a defensive end. More of a linebacker— you know, body type. And he’s gone from that linebacker—really, we thought inside linebacker. We thought maybe traditional inside linebacker, then thought of him as an outside linebacker, then he moved to end, and now he is a strong—one of our strongest guys on the team.

“Excited about that position as well. There’s some real good players right there. Kwity Paye has continued to get better and better and he’s just doing a heck of a job. Aidan Hutchinson is outstanding, Carlo Kemp is outstanding, Ben Mason is gonna add in there, Donovan Jeter’s really doing a good job, so there’s…

It’s unclear from that sentence if they’re working Ben Mason at anchor or tackle. Chase Winovich was in town for his Pro Day and didn’t know, but told WolverineWire’s Isaiah Hole that Kwity’s a “dawg,” Hutchinson is going to be the “next G.O.A.T.” and Kemp/Dwumfour didn’t really know where they were last year:

“And then, inside – you’ve got Carlo Kemp (and) Michael Dwumfour. The list goes on. Those guys are gonna take on a big leap this next year. I just think Carlo was pretty confused – he was playing anchor, he was playing this. I think once he gets settled into his role – and same thing with Michael Dwumfour.”

Also this bit from Harbaugh’s presser (context: Nua’s coaching) will be relevant in a moment:

They are runnin’. There’s a real emphasis on running, getting out of the box, making the tackle, playing not sideline to sideline but at least middle of the field to sideline or numbers to numbers, and they’re looking good and athletic.

So the one downer bit I got from three different inside people is Mazi Smith came in super strong but also super-large. He’s a true freshman so he didn’t get to go through all of winter conditioning, and it’s showing in the sprints. On the other hand, according to the guy who emails me and Borton($), Mazi benched 9 reps of 395 lbs. That should be fine if they need him to be a planet for a few snaps per game; I worry because I worry, and because I don’t think Michigan feels comfortable playing a guy who can get tired if locked on the field.

What it means: Brace yourselves. Last year’s DT production was merely fair, Dwumfour is still mostly ceiling and needs reps, and unless they get an instant star out of Hinton it sounds like it’s last year’s rotation minus Aubrey if Mone’s a true freshman. A lot of spring left, but a long way’s to go here. I get trying to find ways to get Ben Mason Destructo on the field, but this is your tea leaves post, and one of our heuristics is position-switches are bad news for the position, more so the further the position was from what he played previously. When it was Vince Helmuth going from fullback to DT it was bad for Helmuth; in this case I think it’s an ominous sign for the position; if he’s competing at DT that means someone else isn’t.

[After THE JUMP: It gets a lot happier, and then suddenly silence.]

--------------------------------------------

Defensive End

Get big enough Josh and you can put one of those in the ground some. [Patrick Barron]

What we want to hear: These three-stars and legacies and German mogul skiers and weirdly shaped edge rushers we’ve been piling up are going to line up for the NFL like a train of Boston College ends recruited by Don Brown despite Michigan’s disappointing inability to land any of the blue chips they coveted.

What we’re hearing: Well, that, but could I also interest you in an almost five-star?

Luiji Vilain looks healthy at the end of the video. https://t.co/EUhMjGyxyx

— Steve Lorenz (@TremendousUM) March 18, 2019

Wait wait, for real? FOR REAL!

“Impressive – very, very athletic; very, very smart,” Nua said. “He got out there – I thought he was gonna be rusty, but he’s off to a great, great start. He’s had some injury problems, but crossing my fingers, because he’s a good, good athlete.”

There’s more in there from Kemp and Nua. In other ends, Danna has indeed signed with Michigan, and Reuben Jones will grad transfer, signaling the end of D.J. Durkin guys on the roster (unless you count Jordan Glasgow). Kwity got the first player-specific hype video. We also got our first bits on the two projects from the 2018 class:

David Ojabo is going to be another guy to really keep an eye on. He’s already put on 20 pounds and looks good. Looks good. Welschof is—from going from playing no football in high school or little league football has asserted—he’s got the traits. He’s got the talent, he takes coaching, he gives it all he has, and he’s coming along nicely as well.

And many reports that Josh Uche is getting reps with his hand down as a true WDE. Anthony Campanile met with the press last week and Uche was the guy he chose to talk about (after 6 minutes of how do you like it here and 1.5 on Khaleke’s leadership).

I’ve got conflicting reports on Hutchinson. The first report is I thought he played well as a freshman. The second is the coaches didn’t; they thought he needed to get a lot stronger, and that’s still a work in progress. The guy who emails us via Borton($):

Sophomore defensive end Aidan Hutchinson continues working on building up his strength. He put up seven repetitions of 340 pounds, and Michigan is looking to improve those numbers. Hutchinson may have hit the freshman wall later last season, and needs to work his way past that.

What it means: I know it’s the worst of sportswriter-covers-practice clichés but this is the one time it’s really justified to call Vilain “a storyline to watch this spring” as the ginger “Really great to see him out here with us” quotes give way to “He’s killing it!” Between Kwity, Uche, Hutchinson and Mike Danna, the CMU transfer who killed it on Pro Football Focus, Michigan has a lot of experienced options for life after Gary and Winovich, but Vilain—who’s gotta be a on six-year plan now—is almost like getting that five-star in the 2019 class, and they really really really wanted one. Treat like a hype freshman: Danna and Uche are probably your guys this year at Winovich's old spot (Kwity/Hutchinson are at Gary's), but expect some snaps, some flashes, and someone who’s not totally fresh-faced to step into the competition in 2020.

It seems they’re building David Ojabo into an Anchor for down the line, and that Julius Welschof has passed step 1 of several before we can unwrap him.

--------------------------------------------

Inside Linebacker

Cam McGrone be McComing. [Barron]

What we want to hear: One of these guys is Devin Bush, the other is Devin Bush but fast.

What we’re hearing: The arrows are all pointing the right way for Josh Ross. Said emails-Borton-and-Seth-guy: “Ross will be the player we expected him to be. He’s putting in the work.” The same insider said they’re really pushing Gil to take the next step, attacking instead of reacting, and playing faster, but added one more tidbit I found way more interesting: Cam McGrone is coming on quickly, and if he continues on his current trajectory he’ll be in the mix to start. Jordan Anthony is still on track to contribute. Lastly, Ben Van Sumeren has been practicing here.

Interestingly Inside the Fort($) is already ready to make the McGrone Projection:

The staff is extremely pleased with its linebackers and secondary, however. Josh Ross and Cam McGrone are two guys who many believe are ready to elevate their games based on the work they put in during the offseason. Devin Gil will be in the mix, too, of course, but Ross and McGrone have made gains.

While Khaleke Hudson is saying Ross is Devin Bush Jr. Jr.:

“Josh Ross is a great sideline-to-sideline athlete and is a hard hitter, and reads offensive players well. I don’t think there will be a drop off with him in there this year — I think he’ll do as well as Devin Bush did and maybe even better.”

And Ross got himself a Ty Rogers hype video, which could be taken as a sign the program sees him as a guy we’ll expect to see a lot of highlights from this season. Harbaugh basically confirmed all of this in his presser, though he blanked on McGrone until after naming some walk-ons.

Well, first thing that jumped into my mind when you started asking that question first was Josh Ross. That’s what popped into my mind. And then also Devin Gil and Jordan Anthony. Guys will be battling in there. Adam Fakih is already popping right now and another name is Adam Shibley. There’s other guys that I’m not mentioning right now, but excited about that group. Thought Gil really came on and did some good things last year. Jordan Anthony has also made a lot of progress last season. There’ll be heated waters of competition in there.

“Um, Cam McGrone! [/throws hands up] Cam McGrone! [/pounds lectern three times] Cam McGrone’s a ball player, too. There’s guys—there’s Dudes in there, as Don Brown would say. And Cam was just a freshman last year. Came a long way. Was always on the verge the entire season last year. I mean, he was always on that verge of turning him loose and letting him play and were kind of monitoring the four games and redshirt or play, but he was always like right there in that discussion of getting in there to play full-time last year, so he’s very much in the mix as well.”

What it means: I read the Ross hype carefully, because his ascension to Bush’s job was all but guaranteed after splitting time with Gil at WLB then covering for Bush in the Peach Bowl and second half of The Game. “Going to be the player we expected him to be” is highly contextual, but if it’s coming from the Michigan staff that’s high praise. I think Ross is going to be better than fine, a good solid player, not a superstar. This is only disappointing in the context of losing an All American death squirrel to the NFL.

Placing Ross is important because it helps peg what they mean about McGrone, given he’s the kind of guy who could become a Bush-like player. If Ross is a B- option, it means McGrone is a future B option they’re trying to coach up to close to that ASAP for need. If Ross is a B+ right now, it means McGrone is the kind of young star it’s going to be hard to keep off the field. Let’s split the difference and say it’s a situation similar to what they had with Ben Gedeon when young Bush was around.

Re: Devin Gil, it’s no secret the program loves him (more than UFR does, anyway). I would expect to continue seeing him on the field and that his leadership and likeability gives him a bit of a performance buffer. Re: VanSumeren, I think that’s more about fewer snaps for fullbacks—if he was passing potential starters it would be another thing. I choose to read more into the fact that Ben Mason, a former linebacker, isn’t here. Mason at DT is a sign they need help at DT; BVS at LB is a sign they need something to do with BVS.

One man’s guess: Ross is your clear starter at MLB, and McGrone is this year’s 2018 Josh Ross.

--------------------------------------------

VIPER(!!!)

What we want to hear: That we’ve found an heir to Khaleke Hudson, and Michigan’s insurance carrier isn’t thrilled about it.

What we’re hearing: One point for Sam Webb’s scouting: Michael Barrett is going to stick at SAM:

“Mike Barrett is back on defense. He’s playing that SAM/Viper position that Hassan Haskins was doing a little bit of running back last year, a little bit of that SAM/Viper and showed a lot of promise as a SAM/Viper as well. Can really run, but more need at running back right now. Excited about him at that position.

Meanwhile Khaleke is getting Senior Who Could Have Gone Pro Talks to Media treatment (standard thing but it means they see him as a team leader.

What it means: Michigan’s bringing in Anthony Solomon and recruiting the spot hard this cycle. For now it’s Hudson and Glasgow, who are known quantities. Nothing on Barrett yet but he was a quarterback we thought would become a running back a year ago.

--------------------------------------------

Safety

What we want to hear: Daxton Hill is walking into a depth chart as deep as the one Rashan Gary had to battle.

What we’re hearing: Harbaugh is pointing at Josh Metellus as his example of “guys that are just attacking it, bringing guys along.”

What we’re hearing other than senior multi-year-starter has leadership: Josh Metellus is hungry.

What we’re hearing about someone other than Josh Metellus:

Anything? David Long said it’s going to be fine.

“The safeties are fine. You’ve got Brad Hawkins, J’Marick Woods. You’ve got Josh Metellus still there. I think everybody’s fine as far as the secondary.”

What it means: I guess that’s a depth chart? It would be nice to have something about Brad Hawkins, Jaylen Kelly-Powell (who was banged up most of last year) or J’Marick Woods. I’m sure we will—Partridge is coaching the safeties again and it hasn’t been his turn yet, and Harbaugh’s presser naturally favored the offense. But still, there’s a position battle from a graduated multi-year starter, and while an elite recruit on the way is a nice thing for that, there’s zero chance this coaching staff is just settling for that.

Wait and see for now. They brought in a boatload of long and lengthy types last year and a few of them (German Green, Sammy Faustin) went to safety and were never heard from again. That’s not unexpected, but I’m anxious to find out which name is the first to pop.

--------------------------------------------

Cornerback

What we want to hear: Ambry Thomas has turned a corner, is ready to be a superstar. The kids are alright. But THIS kid…omigod you’re about to see some things.

What we’re hearing: Lavert Hill was the last of the guys Harbaugh mentioned who “had a procedure” in the offseason and thus wasn’t available for spring. St-Juste was medicaled.

Read into this what you may: Michigan has been putting out hype videos of specific players and Ambry is the third guy to get one:

 

They left em in the dark so I had to bring em to light : @_TyRogers_ pic.twitter.com/rTxjdfB3DB

— Ambry Thomas (@Tavonn_) March 14, 2019

And going back to the Peach Bowl practices, Don Brown mentioned Ambry along with Vincent Gray as the next line of guys:

“On the back end, this Vincent Gray is really impressing me,” Brown said. “Obviously, Ambry Thomas kind of gets sometimes left out there. I think he’s playing really, really well.”

What it means: The Ambry video, like Ambry’s career thus far, is mostly returns and end-arounds.

Bummer, re: St-Juste, but hardly unexpected given he’d been battling health issues more than his competition the last year. Like safety, there are a bunch of young guys with relatively similar profiles and we’re waiting for a name or two to pop out. The first here is Vincent Gray, mentioned by Harbaugh and David Long as the freshman closest to playing time.