2022 CFB All-Portal Team, Offense - The Athletic
The Athletic has come out with a mid-season All-Portal team that I was thinking before I even clicked on the link to it, "If Olu Oluwatimi isn't on this list, it's complete garbage!" But low and behold, there he is. Kudos to The Athletic!
What's more, right next to Olu is former Michigan OL Chuck Filiaga, who is now playing for the Minny Boat Rowers. So now I ask you... does this seem like a fair exchange? I would tend to think so, but YMMV. What say you?
Click the image to link to the paywalled article (it's free with a NYT sub), which includes the Defense as well.
October 20th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Happy for Chuck.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:35 PM ^
Isn't Filiaga the Titan-sized Aussie that Harbaugh was initially interested in but then cooled on?
Not sure if he was actually Michigan's to have if they wanted, but I sort of remember that and was surprised at the time that we didn't make him a project given our recent history of up-coaching OL prospects into draft picks.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
I think you're thinking of Daniel Faalele. He was a 4th round pick by the Ravens in last years draft.
October 23rd, 2022 at 2:20 PM ^
That's the one
October 20th, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
Filiaga was in this program for years. Saw a decent number of real snaps in a back up role and would have been great for our depth this year, but he was never going to crack the starting 5 so a transfer made complete sense. Glad he's thriving.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:42 AM ^
Lol...Filiaga was on Michigan's roster the last 5 seasons and started for us last year.
October 23rd, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
Yah, knew the name sounded familiar, I stand corrected, should really Google stuff before posting.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:54 PM ^
With all the transfers Spartee took you would think they would own this list.
Lack of player development maybe?
October 20th, 2022 at 11:02 AM ^
With a team of transfers, how does MSU not have a guy on this list ?
October 20th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
They do. EDGE Jacoby Windmon.
DL Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State: Windmon, a UNLV transfer, has already earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors three times this season. He’s been a remarkably dangerous edge rusher for the Spartans, leading the country in forced fumbles (six) and ranking sixth in tackles for loss (10.5). He can still be a darn good linebacker, too. Windmon moved back to his old position last week against Wisconsin and shined with 11 tackles, two TFLs and another forced fumble in the overtime victory.
October 20th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
It's sort of crazy to me that he's won Big 10 DPOW 3 times given the fact he did so against Western, Akron, and now Wisconsin. There have been better defensive performances by other players over this weeks but he has a ton of counting stats so it's easy to justify.
I think Windmon is a good LB/edge for MSU but I think it's telling that against teams that aren't awful offensively - Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, and OSU - he didn't put up particularly good numbers or help tamp down those attacks at all.
October 20th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Akron, Western, and Wisconsin are the only Spartan games I did not watch this year. He was invisible every other game.
October 20th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
Yeah, I caught a bit of the Western game and thought he looked good but figured competition-dependent. He absolutely was a ghost against Washington, a game where a semi-competent pass rusher would have made some noise.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
Doesn't the B1G commish have a son playing for Sparty?
...things that make you go hmmmmm 🤔
October 20th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
A single shrub in the middle of the desert looks as tall as an oak tree if you squint hard enough.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Except he's not an edge anymore apparently. Nothing inspires confidence like taking your best edge attacker and moving him away from the line of scrimmage into read and react scenarios. Very Hoke.
October 21st, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
That quote does say LB was his old position. So maybe MSU was playing him our of position? He definitely aggressively attacks the ball with a literal punch. Hopefully we have a plan to use their aggression against them.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^
I take it Okie didn't make the list? That's ok, he's been coming on really strong. If he continues to improve that's an X factor in the Game.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:04 AM ^
Put Giles Jackson on the list. He’s got speed & moves like Jagger but he needs more touches.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^
I think it's only the 2022 transfers, Jackson would qualify as a '21 transfer I believe.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
Ah, that’s why I didn’t go with Charbonet.
3 years already since Giles went 97 yards for a kickoff return TD. Shitake mushrooms time flies.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:37 PM ^
It's weird it feels like Filiaga has been gone for 2 yrs now.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:05 PM ^
I had the same feeling, though when I think about it, Chuck was starting for a good portion of the season while Zinter was club-handed. Maybe we’re thinking of Zach Carpenter at IU
October 20th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
I personally would probably take Jordan Addison over Palmer but maybe I am falling victim to the hype machine
October 20th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^
I remember Laborn from when he was being recruited, and then I saw his great game against Notre Dame. I just looked it up and he has 100+ yards in every game this year. He has 851 yards on 5.4 YPC and 10 touchdowns in six games. Not bad.
As for Trey Palmer vs. Jordan Addison, Palmer has Addison beat in catches and yards but with fewer TDs. Also, Addison really hasn't been that much better for USC than Oklahoma-to-USC transfer Mario Williams, who is averaging 19 yards per catch and has 4 touchdowns.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
It surprises me that, despite the highest ranking recruiting classes annually, that Bama has two players on this list. It's not that those players aren't deserving - but, it does make me wonder if there's been some change in player development in Tuscaloosa.
As for Filiaga, I'm happy for him and glad he's having success in Minneapolis.
Olu definitely belongs on the list. Congratulations.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
Having a great QB, Bryce Young or his predecessors, has been a key position for Bama to be so good for so long. That seems to be very true last year and so far this year. It is like they are slipping on other positions except QB, which makes a team look better than they are.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
Life,
Respectfully, I mostly agree with your comment.
Bama has had an incredible string of very good QB's, and without doubt - it's one of the reasons for their continued success.
Is Bryce Young solid? Absolutely. However, it seems like Bama doesn't have the depth at the QB position this season that they've had in the past. And, that showed a bit when Young went out and Milroe came in. So, Bama's QB depth - maybe it was situational - or, maybe it's Young and the "next best", which is a four or five star talent without the savviness or decision making skills.
Comparatively, Michigan's play has been what it has been - in 2021 and thus far in 2022, because of QB play. Yes - solid OL, very good skill positions, no drop off on the D, etc. But, ball security at the QB position, decision making, sustaining drives, etc. - a lot of any team's success goes through that position.
October 20th, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^
I think the bigger issue with Alabama isn't at QB (Milroe has been fine this year, just not Heisman-level) but at WR, where they really don't have anything like they had the past couple of years. The fact Gibbs leads them in receptions highlights that, as I don't think that's the type of offense Bama would like to run with Young at QB.
October 20th, 2022 at 12:24 PM ^
Remember when the only thing Bama was missing was a top-notch QB? They won national championships with Greg McElroy, AJ McCarron, and Jacob Coker. All decent college QBs (McCarron probably slightly ahead of “decent”) but all NFL backups at best.
Next year, their last 4 QBs (Hurts, Tua, Jones, and Young) will be starting in the NFL.
With that said, as of right now, it doesn’t look like they have that heir-apparent to continue the streak.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:01 PM ^
They will most likely go out and get a stud transfer QB.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:22 AM ^
I don’t know if they’re slipping or what happened exactly but I do agree this year they seem to be excellent at QB, look to have an emerging RB which normally they would just plug and play here, and a bunch of talent on paper everywhere else but no elite units. Even their heisman hopeful who was supposedly so much better than Hutchinson last year seems to be not as impactful so far. I still won’t be surprised if by draft day some random dudes from Alabama get drafted in the top 3 rounds anyways.
October 20th, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
Well they have a lot of players who transfer out because it’s hard to crack the two deep. So it makes sense to replace those scholarships with guys like Jameson Williams and Jamyr Gibbs who can be immediate contributors rather than take extra recruits and hope they pan out in a year or two
October 20th, 2022 at 12:23 PM ^
To me it partly says that Saban never sleeps on anything. Even good programs won't hit on all their players. Fill those holes with proven players who are open to up-transfers for exposure (a la Mike Danna). IIRC Alabama had a WR from Bowling Green or another MAC school a few years back.
October 20th, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^
How old is Filiaga - 30
October 20th, 2022 at 2:50 PM ^
I was listening to a podcast a bit ago and they were talking about how modern recruiting works two ways...the board of guys you're trying to get out of high school, and a board of guys you're keeping your eye on in for a possible transfer depending on their development. Saban has always been a great recruiter. Makes sense that he's now recruiting the transfer board as well as the high school board.
October 20th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
Lo and behold.
"Lo" is an ancient word shortened from "look," meaning "to draw attention to."
It's from the Bible, Genesis 15:3: "And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
(Alternatively, someone might say, "He's on the downlow, and behold what he's doin'!")
(OR "The offensive guard got low and be holdin' the pass rusher.")
October 20th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
Much ado about nothing?
October 20th, 2022 at 5:19 PM ^
Probably but I thought the info would interest some people.
Plus there were a couple joke-like substances at the end.
October 20th, 2022 at 8:27 PM ^
Speaking of mid season teams 247 has Deone Walker as first team freshman. Has 14 pressures on the season and is tearing it up at Kentucky. Dam wish we got him. Grant, Mason and Walker would have been a great great DT haul. Hope for 2023 we can pull a few big time players out in the last 2 months.
October 21st, 2022 at 1:16 AM ^
The athletic is not free for nyt subscribers
October 21st, 2022 at 7:01 PM ^
I glossed over the "2022". I thought this was an "all-time" list and was prepared to be annoyed about Kenneth Walker again....