'24-'25 Michigan Football "Post Spring" Depth Chart
QB: Alex Orji / Jack Tuttle / Davis Warren
4. Jayden Denegal / Jadyn Davis
RB: Donovan Edwards
2. Kalel Mullings
3. Benjamin Hall / Jordan Marshall
5. Cole Cabana
6. Tavierre Dunlap
7. Micah Kaapana
RB/WR: Donovan Edwards
2. Cole Cabana
3. Micah Kaapana
WR: Tyler Morris
2. Channing Goodwin
3. Dale Chesson
WR: Fredrick Moore
2. Peyton O'Leary
3. Kendrick Bell
SLOT: Semaj Morgan
2. I'Marion Stewart
H-BACK: Max Bredeson
2. Jalen Hoffman
TE: Colston Loveland
2. Marlin Klein
3. Zach Marshall
4. Deakon Tonielli
5. Brady Prieskorn / Hogan Hansen
LT: Myles Hinton
2. Evan Link / Blake Frazier
4. Connor Jones
LG: Giovanni El-Hadi
2. Nathan Efobi
3. Luke Hamilton
C: Greg Crippen
2. Raheem Anderson
3. Dominick Guidice / Jake Guarnera
RG: Josh Priebe
2. Amir Herring / Dominick Guidice
4. Ben Roebuck
RT: Andrew Gentry / Jeffrey Persi
3. Tristan Bounds
4. Andrew Sprague
6OL: Andrew Gentry / Jeffrey Persi
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DT: Mason Graham
2. Rayshaun Benny
3. Trey Pierce
4. Owen Wafle / Deyvid Palepale
6. Ike Iwunnah
7. Alessandro Lorenzetti / Ted Hammond
9. Manuel Beigel
DT: Kenneth Grant
2. Rayshaun Benny
3. Trey Pierce
4. Owen Wafle / Deyvid Palepale
6. Ike Iwunnah
7. Alessandro Lorenzetti / Ted Hammond
9. Manuel Beigel
DT/DE: Rayshaun Benny
2. Cameron Brandt / Enow Etta
4. Chibi Anwunah
5. Brooks Bahr
EDGE: Derrick Moore
2. TJ Guy
3. Aymeric Koumba
4. Dominic Nichols
ILB: Ernest Hausmann
2. Jaydon Hood / Jimmy Rolder
4. Micah Pollard
5. Christian Boivin / Jason Hewlett
7. Semaj Bridgeman
8. Jeremiah Beasley / Mason Curtis
10. Cole Sullivan
11. Hayden Moore
ILB: Jaishawn Barham
2. Jaydon Hood / Jimmy Rolder
4. Micah Pollard
5. Christian Boivin / Jason Hewlett
7. Semaj Bridgeman
8. Jeremiah Beasley / Mason Curtis
10. Cole Sullivan
11. Hayden Moore
EDGE/OLB: Josaiah Stewart
2. Tyler McLaurin / Kechaun Bennett
4. Breeon Ishmail
5. Devon Baxter
CB: Will Johnson
2. Jyaire Hill
3. Ja'Den McBurrows
4. Keshaun Harris / Myles Pollard
6. Jo'Ziah Edmond
7. Jeremiah Lowe
CB: DJ Waller
2. Jyaire Hill
3. Ja'Den McBurrows
4. Keshaun Harris / Myles Pollard
6. Jo'Ziah Edmond
7. Jeremiah Lowe
NB: Ja'Den McBurrows / Zeke Berry
3. Jyaire Hill
4. Kody Jones
S: Quinton Johnson
2. Zeke Berry
3. Brandyn Hillman
4. Jacob Oden
inj: Rod Moore
S: Makari Paige
2. Zeke Berry
3. Brandyn Hillman
4. Jacob Oden
inj: Rod Moore
K: Adam Samaha
P: Tommy Doman
April 21st, 2024 at 10:02 PM ^
Still a bit worried about WR depth and kicker.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:34 PM ^
Yes, but outside of that, this team has amazing depth. A lot of it unproven, but there are plenty of bodies with talent waiting their turn.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:11 PM ^
Thoughts
- If we stick with the QBs, I think it becomes a Tuttle/Warren battle for the 2021 Cade McNamara spot. I think Orji has locked down the 2021 JJ McCarthy spot, and I don't see that evolving into a traditional starting QB role (but I do think he gets snaps, he is allowed to throw, and it's more than a "gimmick" - I see a very similar role as true freshman JJ, including certain packages and formations).
- Michigan MUST get more depth at WR - a starter who is 6'2+ and a "Baldwin" type possession guy for depth. Take the "Baldwin" type out if Kendrick Bell is ready to step into that role.
- Coaches and insiders report that Michigan wants more depth at ILB (hence Nikhai Hill-Green rumors). As someone without a clue, I respectfully disagree. I really like Hood as the #3 and Rolder is right there when healthy.
- HOWEVER, I absolutely think we need to go get another Josaiah Stewart...to backup Josaiah Stewart. I believe in Guy on the other side, behind Moore.
- I'm starting to come around on CB2. Still don't love it, but certainly improvement.
- Losing Rod Moore hurts.
- Go find a kicker!
April 21st, 2024 at 10:27 PM ^
"Must Haves"
- Starting WR (6'2+)
- Starting Kicker
"Needs" (championship-level standards)
- Starting QB
- Starting WR (6'2+)
- Backup WR (6'2+)
- Backup LB (Nikhai Hill-Green)
- Backup EDGE/OLB
- Cornerback #2 (grad transfer)
- Backup S (Q. Johnson replaces Moore, Z. Berry replaces the K. Sabb snaps...we need someone for the 2023 Q. Johnson role)
- Starting K
*I would add "Blocking TE", but I think Klein is fine along with the non-starting RT (Gentry or Persi). Plus Bredeson in his role.
*I don't think finding the "Cam Goode" DT in the portal is necessary. Get one of the true freshman game ready by using those snaps. This (upcoming season) could be it for Graham and Grant. Get a true freshman experience for the 2025 season.
*Hill and Waller can be the 2nd team CB tandem. Both can start next year.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:23 AM ^
This is asking a lot from the portal considering there are no more than 20 practices and four months until opening day. This QB room has at least one or two average or better big ten QB's in it. An average big ten QB will get this roster to 9-3, and an above average one will get us to the big ten championship game. By then, this will be a different team and all bets are off for how far they go from there.
After loaded rosters in '22 and '23 and last year's departures, that's a solid outlook. If we wanted to have back to back national chpionships, we should have won it in 2022, which had a team much more well suited to do it.
Maybe....we play a very difficult schedule and the replacement pieces on offense are not equal to what we lost. I was not disappointed in the Spring Game play but it was not the same offense we have gotten used to over the last three years.
JJ and Blake were generational talents and to have had them at the same time created a synergy that I don't expect to see any time soon. We had exceptional O-lines and a very good receiving corps. That is not a knock on our current players and coaches but exceptional talent and coaching like we have had since Harbaugh rebuilt the coaching after 2020 just happened to give us what was arguably the best three years of Michigan football.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:54 PM ^
100% disagree on CB2, you have good young talent there, one or two will emerge as a good player. I have zero doubt about that. It is a little funny for a program that has been great with player development that people still doubt it will occur at spots where you have good young talent, it is bizarre to me quite frankly. You aren't going to have a proven starter from the prior season at every position but that doesn't necessarily mean you need a portal guy for every one of those positions.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:55 PM ^
If it is about winning the B1G and a National Championship then Warren/Tuttle will not get you there. We need to set our standards higher than 2021 Cade, who was ineffective at the end of the season. Yes they beat OSU, but that was primarily with a no pass offense. Once Cade went against Purdue and then Georgia he was thoroughly exposed. Orji is the most dynamic player on the roster as a passing and running threat. He needs to be the day 1 starter with Tuttle/Warren right behind him. If the staff doesn't think Orji is up to the task then there needs to be a 4 alarm effort to get a starting transfer portal QB ASAP.
Michigan did Orji a disservice last year by having him run only so they could pull out a single pass play against Alabama as a sort of trick play.
Personally, I would start Orji for the opener if he continues to develop over the summer and get Warren or Tuttle some action in the 2nd half, so you have a couple options available if plan A fails.
April 21st, 2024 at 11:24 PM ^
I think Orji is getting the job. That's what most the chatter has been all along. He didn't do anything in the spring game to hurt that assumption. Orji and Warren each got one drive against defensive units with actual starters on the field -- Orji got a TD, Warren got a FG. Neither one of them were throwing balls in defenders' chests. I think it was a positive for the QB1 and QB2 spots.
As for Tuttle, I'd love for him to be in the mix, but I've heard at least one insider mention the possibility of Tommy John surgery.
Lastly, right now the portal really isn't an option (obviously could change if more entered). There's only one player who is better (HS Rankings wise) than what we have, and that's Jaden Rashada from ASU (former Miami commit & Florida commit that sparked the NIL fiasco in Gainesville).
Top Portal QB Options (and portal rank):
- Jaden Rashada (ASU, 4*)
- Timmy McClain (UCF, 3*)
- Nick Evers (Wisc, 3*)
- Jacurri Brown (Miami FL, 3*)
- Collin Schlee (UCLA, 3*)
- Dematrius Davis (ASU, 3*)
- Jacolby Criswell (Ark, 3*)
- Cooper Legas (UtSt, 3*)
- Jeff Sims (Neb, 3*)
Rashada already has visits set up with Georgia and multiple other SEC schools. It doesn't seem like he's a likely target. You're left with a bunch of guys who might not even be as good as Orji/Warren/Tuttle and won't have the benefit of being in the offense multiple seasons.
April 21st, 2024 at 11:34 PM ^
Didn't Orji throw a pass that was nearly intercepted in the endzone? It's great that he can run but Ohio State is going to put everyone in the box and stuff that immediately and then if we are in 3rd and 8, we are screwed.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:06 AM ^
I don't recall Orji nearly throwing an interception. If he did, it wasn't on his opening drive.
Ohio State loaded the box two years ago, and Donovan started getting about 80 yards a carry. Penn State loaded the box last year, and we blocked it up. Washington tried bringing an extra guy in the box. It's nothing new. And we beat it with long runs more than we did with long passes. Michigan, sometimes frustratingly, chose to run into stacked boxes (even with JJ at QB). If anything, he was used to bail the offense out on 3&Long moreso than keeping defenses honest with deep throws. Luckily, he was by far the best at the nation at that. What JJ didn't do, was run when defenses were ignoring him to crash down on our RBs. With a run-threat QB, it helps our numbers in the run block game (fewer defenders running free bc you have an extra blocker on QB runs, and someone has to account for possible QB pulls on handoffs).
Ohio State loaded the box two years ago, and Donovan started getting about 80 yards a carry. Penn State loaded the box last year, and we blocked it up.
That's very true. However, I have to point out that none of the players of those remarkable O-lines are on the team anymore. Not saying that these guys are a bunch of slugs by any stretch. Still, expecting them to perform at those Joe Moore-levels may be asking a little too much.
Without JJ doing what he did through the air early on thats a very different game. Very different.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:25 AM ^
We don't want Rashada. He only played in 3 games last year, was hurt, and looked afraid to get hit. He's very inexperienced. We need experience if we are going to the portal.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:58 AM ^
Yeah, I was using him more as an example. He's by far the most talented QB in the portal, and he's probably not even an upgrade for us (when factoring in experience, not having years in our system, etc). Meanwhile, SEC teams were throwing money at him as soon as he entered. The odds of a better option popping up in the portal, and then landing that option with all the competition, seems unlikely at this point.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:24 PM ^
Tom Brady lost his first two games as the starting quarterback at Michigan in 1998, the year after winning a national championship. His backup, Drew Henson, the most highly decorated and sought after quarterback recruit in Michigan history from Brighton, didn't fare any better relieving Brady in his first home appearance against Syracuse.
Those two names are heralded in school lore for what might have been after Michigan went undefeated in 1997. Everyone thought Michigan was on the road to college football dominance.
And even with a stacked defense and the return of a great runner and Oline and probably more offensive firepower, Michigan stumbled out of the gate, costing them a repeat bid for a national championship. Michigan beat Ohio State, finished 12th in the rankings and ended up beating Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl, going 10-3.
That record this year given the competition on Michigan's schedule might make the Wolverines eligible for a playoff spot. Be careful what you wish for and don't think you already have available to make your wishes come true.
It's how you compete and perform, not what your team looks like going into competition.
One of the benefits of winning a natty is you don’t have to set unrealistic expectations for a year where we’re returning 5 starters and play three top 5 years. Beat MSU and contend for the playoff and it’s a successful year in my book. It’s insane to suggest we have any shot at winning another Big 10 or natty, no matter who starts at QB.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:12 PM ^
-Cole Sullivan at 10 at both LB spots?? Did you not watch the spring game? He might be the backup by mid season. Total stud. At worst he is behind Rolder at one spot and Hood at the other, but my view is will surpass both eventually and will start next season.
-Dunlap should be ahead of Marshall and Cabana
-Herring should not be in the 2 deep. I would put Gentry as the reserve RG or even LG and bring in Persi at RT. Sherrone would do this... Herring got reamed in the spring game and isn't ready.
-Id have Tonielli ahead of Marshall.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
lol one spring game with split squad, where you aren't going up against a first team unit is not a determining factor for me.
Dunlap couldn't play over Isaiah Gash and Leon Franklin.
Now you take the spring RB room, cut it in half so he gets carries against a mish mosh of 1s, 2s, and 3s...in a game where true starters are limited, and of course he looks solid.
But it doesn't overtake the 2+ years of data, lack of any news coming from practice reports, coaches at press conferences, etc.
He literally wasn't playing in games when we were up by 30 points.
...I bet last year you had Peyton O'Leary as a starting WR (coming off the spring game). Exactly my point.
Edit: Can't emphasize enough the impact of split squad scrimmages. You already have little depth, and then you cut it in HALF.
This is why schools would go offense vs. defense...but it's not a good product for fans or on TV and the weird points systems were stupid. But at least then you could see, "okay...Tavi Dunlap is out there doing that to Graham, Grant, Hausmann, Barham, Johnson, Paige, etc. - he must be improved!" Not the same with this format.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:57 PM ^
Not sure if it means anything but the order Alford went when talking about players behind Donovan was Mullings, Dunlap, Hall Cabana.
"lol one spring game with split squad, where you aren't going up against a first team unit is not a determining factor for me."
Why, then, did you elevate Chesson out of nowhere at the WR spot?
Also, I like Cabana and I know he's had injury issues, but he's done almost nothing on the field yet, and you have him ranked pretty high at multiple spots.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:37 PM ^
I thought Dunlap looked quite a bit quicker hitting the hole than in the past.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:45 PM ^
That's fair.
At the same time, I can't dismiss that he was healthy and didn't get a single carry versus Indiana, MSU or Purdue (and only got one versus Minnesota).
Tavi Dunlap got more carries as a true freshman who only played in TWO games than he did last year where he played in ten.
Gash got more carries in '22 than Dunlap did in '22 and '23 combined.
Even Franklin got 11 carries last year.
I get guys improve, but I just can't look past these facts. Especially knowing it wasn't against a first team defense.
Hall, Marshall, and Cabana don’t have the in game reps to put them ahead of him either though. I think Dunlap is probably 4 right now.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:39 PM ^
Yeah, Dunlap is the clear RB3. I mean, he even outperformed Mullings in the Spring Game.
Obviously we'll need to see more of Cole Sullivan, but his future's bright. Man, the way he manhandled Herring and put him on his ass was impressive. Stud.
There was a reason the coaching staff was hesitant on taking Herring early in the cycle. He's definitely not in the two deep.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
Dunlap definitely needs to be higher. He looked good - and he’s a lot bigger than when he first got here.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:17 PM ^
What Have You Done To Beat An Ohio State!!!
F You State!
April 21st, 2024 at 10:20 PM ^
Not bad.
Need depth at the following positions:
WR, DT, CB
Good starting talent here, but another player at each position would help.
We need a starting K, period. Go spend some money on Jesus Gomez from EMU.
Ultimately, we will probably have a Warren/Orji QB rotation. I’m not happy about it. I don’t think we should be in this position after winning the national championship, but here we are.
April 21st, 2024 at 10:44 PM ^
Samaha will be fine.
April 21st, 2024 at 11:22 PM ^
With NIL and unlimited transfers, there's absolutely zero reason to not have a top 15 nationally kicker on your roster when you're a program of Michigan's caliber. Grab a grad transfer, please and thank you
April 21st, 2024 at 11:00 PM ^
Rod Moore has been one of my favorite Michigan players ever since his freshman year. Check my posting history from 2-3 years ago (but don't b/c it's a waste of your time) to see me predict he'd be an All-American. It really grinds my gears that he got hurt because otherwise this is in the running for maybe the best all-time Michigan defense. And that's saying A LOT. I still think it's a way above average defense, and probably top 5-10 nationally but we'll sure miss Rod quarterbacking it.
April 21st, 2024 at 11:26 PM ^
So many new names as starters on the line
April 21st, 2024 at 11:44 PM ^
Curious about Tuttle. Obviously we don't have details on his injury, but for those in the know... What kind of timeframe would he need to be practicing to be in the competition for the season opener? I understand this is somewhat of a guess, but I am sure some here have a better educated guess than I do.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:05 AM ^
Persi started at RG for one of the teams. He played more at guard last season than tackle. I would put him as first backup for RG. He’s somewhat odd shaped for guard, but so were Ben Braden and Trevor Keegan. If he’s the 6th best lineman, he’s going to be the backup for both tackle and both guard positions.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:05 AM ^
Pretty much all of the tea leaves are saying it’s Priebe at LG, so I think those of us who were pining for a clean transition for El-Hadi are gonna have to let it go.
I’m indifferent to the WR depth situation. We underutilize the position so much by design that I honestly don’t see the harm tasking those blocking assignments to our duo of 2nd year TEs. They both really showed something yesterday.
And besides, we’ve got Loveland, Morris, Morgan, and Edwards as options heading into a season in which I highly doubt we can give the starting QBs (whomever it is) more than two reads. JJ spoiled us.
I'm watching the 1:30 am rebroadcast (yes it's 2:15 am and I should instead be sleeping) on FS1 right now.
I'll say this right now: don't sell Davis Warren short. While he doesn't quite have JJ's arm strength (nobody on this team does), he seems to be able to make all the throws, he appeared to read the defense and go thru his progressions well, and he has excellent and consistent footwork. The rifle shot he made to Brady Prieskorn early in the game was a tight throw and a thing of beauty---he kept his poise in the face of a strong pass rush and delivered a strike. We're all well aware by now of what he did in the 4th quarter Saturday to win the spring game.
He's showing he's definitely got more arm talent than Cade had. Remember, Davis Warren was a much sought-after 4* before his health problems derailed his senior season of high school.
Warren looks more ready to play QB than anyone else, and he looked good enough to win a lot of games in the spring game, but I don't think Warren was a four star in high school. Here is a quote from a maize n brew article about a week ago :
His senior year of high school was canceled because of COVID. The year before that, he was diagnosed with leukemia. He went from being an up-and-coming high school quarterback in Southern California, garnering interest from Ivy League schools, to being a cancer survivor who never had the opportunity to be a high school starter.
That looks like he was just never rated, because he missed two years. Michigan won the national championship partly by doing their own scouting during covid and developing guys who would contrubute three years later. If Warren pops and becomes an above average big ten QB, his would be the ultimate success story of that approach that allowed Michigan to overcome the recruiting powerhouses and NIL factories.
I'd put Warren over Tuttle and Orji.
Portal needs:
2 WR
2 IOL
1 OT
1-2 LB
Kicker - Unless Doman can handle both.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
Harbaugh really stocked the TE pantry...so many potential weapons simmering in that position group as well.
Anxious/excited to see the differences (if at all) Sherrone creates with the offense. Perhaps a wrinkle or two to keep defenses puzzled but Harbaugh and Moore seem very like-minded.
April 22nd, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
That depth chart looks deep, ready and solid to me. We don't know how they'll perform when challenged by top competition but team 144 had question marks as well and showed how dominant it was weekly before being fully tested at season's end..
Fans always want assurance of performance answers that spring practice will only offer a fleeting glimpse of but never fully resolve.
We know by their lack of participation Saturday who will be counted on and who are being eyed to make major contributions and where others fit in the 145 team puzzle. But like any large scale mosaic, this is a puzzle picture that will take months to complete.
Meantime, hope and pray the guys remain healthy and ready to go when called upon.
Missing Enow Etta on that two deep, definitely sounds like will get some snaps from the practice reports.
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:51 PM ^
Not gonna be a factor this year, but don't forget Lugard Edokpayi at edge/DL.
Tough due to the number of rostered DT's, but I'd like to see another vet via the portal (CJ West, please?). I kinda would like to keep E. Etta on the edge as a heavy.
Hoping for OL health. Two injured tackles and things get dicey. On the other hand, seems like there are 7 solid guys in the secondary (maybe 8 if Hillman really comes along).
There's gonna have to be some positional shifting around given some of the imbalances. It's UM, but don't think it's good to have more scholarship backs than receivers--I liked Brian's suggestion to swing Cabana out wide. 11 ILB also seems too many, although I guess Curtis/Sullivan/Hewlett are positional unknowns.