Breakout Sleepers: Who You Got?

Braiden McGregor

Watch out for Cornelius Johnson.  I think he will be the break out guy from the WR room.  All the talk is about Bell coming back and Anthony and the freshmen Clemons.  Johnson has been steady.  He's not going to break any land speed records, but I feel like he could be an Avant type of receiver that will always get you the first down when you need it.

Kris Jenkins and Rayshaun Benny. Get us back to the happy place of having rotational pieces on the d-line be high impact guys.

I would say Woody Allen, but the dude is a creep and his films are wildly overrated.
As for real answers, I'm going with:

Darrius Clemons. The early buzz is that the talent will not be denied.

Keon Sabb. He can step right into Dax Hill's role.

Michael Barrett. He's going to win the next presidential election...after balling out at inside linebacker.

Tavierre Dunlap. With Haskins moved on, I think Dunlap could be a hidden surprise. I don't see Edwards and Corum as the workhorse type backs, so Dunlap could easily fill that role. 

Cristian Dixon. There's a LOT of talent at WR, but no one has really made the statement that they are the number 1 receiver. We don't know what Bell is coming back as. I do think Andrel should make the jump, but it really is a wide open race. 

Braiden McGregor. This to me has to happen. With Hutch and Ojabo gone, the door is WIDE open for someone to take over. He's the highest rated DE (I believe) we currently have on roster, had injuries in High School that limited him I'm assuming. 

Louis Hansen. All goes through streaks of what feels like he drops everything thrown at him. I don't think Schoon will be the one to make the jump.

Juice Welschof. Dude is an athletic freak so he's gotta blow up at some point, right?

I'll take the easy route with Junior Colson.  Uber-talented LB who played a ton as a freshman with splash plays and mistakes.  Having a year in the system playing lots of minutes puts him in position to excel in year 2.  Could be one of our top defensive players and will generate some of our missing pass rush.

I'll also take TJ Guy.  Of the rush ends not named McGregor, got the most run in garbage time and made some plays.  Breaks out with lots of playing time in 2022 and stars in 2023.  

Jaylen Harrell is another.  I see him as playing more than most of the DE/LB types but will be more steady than spectacular.

Does Edwards count?

We obviously saw what he could be as a receiver out of the backfield.  However, I think we will get to see the entire package of what he brings to the position this season.  This kid is going to be a game changer for Michigan this season.  I firmly believe he will be the lead the team in rushing yards AND finish in the top 3 in receptions.

@Goblueinalabama I think picking any of the QB's is cheating

Is it corny to say Will Johnson? I think we will be fortunate to have him for three seasons before he plays on Sunday's. 

I wish my 5 and 4 year-olds would become sleepers

I don’t mean to be dismissive about TJ Guy, but there always seems to be a lot of talk about him and I think it’s because he made a sack against Maryland. But he literally played in 2 games and that sack was all he did. It could be that he will be awesome, or it could be that he made one singular nice play in garbage time. Probably a little too early to tell. 

McBurrows and Harrell for the defense.  I think Colson, McGregor and NHG are supposed to be good (or should be good) so not really sleeper picks.

On offense I think there is so much talent at RB and WR that it's hard to think anyone is really a "sleeper" in this group. Maybe ... but not really.

Not a leap or a sleeper but I think Olusegun “Victor” Oluwatimi is going to play himself into the 1st round of the NFL draft and lead the best OL in the B1G (again).

I'm thinking 11-0 heading into the Giant Toilet ... and back to back B1G champs. Weak schedule and a solid team culture with lots of star players. 13-0 after the B1G title game.

McGregor will discover beast mode this season.... and next season will be dominating

Offense: Tavierre Dunlap. The rest of the offense is pretty much set and deep. Dunlap will get around 60-80 carries and will add a little thunder to our lightnings.

Defense: 

1. Jaylen Harrell. He made some great contributions this year and is very good at “setting the edge” in the run. He was the staff’s choice for more run oriented teams than Ojabo (Iowa for example). He also showed this vs OSU on a big TFL. He won’t be the pass rusher Ojabo was, but his overall impact will not be a big downgrade within the scheme. 

2. Rod Moore. I think we found an absolute gem in this guy. Great tackler (like Hawkins) with a think a little more range and versatility. 

3. Mike Morris/Kris Jenkins. Both will demand starter-level snaps this year. 

4. Braiden McGregor. The one player I think who needs to make the biggest leap this year. 

5. Gemon Green. I would not be surprised to see him back in the mix for an outside CB role and allow Will Johnson to handle the slot. 

Andrel Anthony.  It's going to be a crowded and talented WR room but especially if Sainristil is moving to defense, he will factor heavily both in the slot and at the outside positions.  He is likely to improve more than CJ and Roman too given his age.

He was still quite raw last year but the hands, speed, change of direction ability, and leaping ability along with his size allowed him to be productive when healthy.  It may be more sporadic last year and I think the real star leap comes in year 3 but he is going to have a couple of big games (on the order of 100 yards and or/or multiple TD's) next year.  

I'm a jinx—every time I pick somebody as a sleeper, they end up staying asleep. Oliver Martin was my last one. Sorry, Oliver.

Offense - Roman Wilson is my pick to exceed expectations. He has shown elite speed and an ability to make plays and probably would have popped more last year if not for a seemingly nagging hand/wrist injury. 

Defense is harder to predict with so many departures. You could make a reasonable case for almost any player on the D-line. McGregor and Moore are the obvious ones you would hope make an impact, but Morris,Welshof, Jenkins, and Herrel all seem like they are primed for big years. I think Hill-Green could surprise people as well. 

I think these guys will be All-Big10

Of course Colson will be a beast and that's expected but I think Nikai Hill-Green and Harrel will turn heads.

Rod Moore stepped up and was solid the later half of the season.

Mike Morris had a game or two where he showed he has the potential to dominate

and finally,

Andrel Anthony completely took over a game and was easily the best player on the field.

I don't know if I would qualify any of those three guys as sleepers. 

I am going to Jaydon Hood.

Ronnie Bell ends up in the discussion to be a Heisman finalist if he comes back fully healthy.  His trajectory, way he started this past season before the injury, and his usage rate lead me to making this my hottest of hot takes.  

Trente Jones. Steuber was a big part of this year's offensive success, I think Jones snatches the job and impresses. He's got tons of talent, got a lot of run as the extra road grater, and the recruiting profile says it's time to shine.

Defense, I'm going with McBurrows grabbing PT and I think Gemon Green has a big bounce back season. Secondary is going to have to be good, so I hope this is true. In man, Green just needs to be better when the ball arrives. As one of the staff guys pointed out previously, he always seems to be there, just needs to get his head around and make a play. By midseason Turner figured out how to do the former AND the latter. If Green can turn that corner (pun!), that's two REALLY good corners with experience for shutting non-OSU teams down in man to man.

McBurrows as the third guy with explosive playmaking ability would put us in great shape in the secondary.

“Sleeper” is probably not the right word, but I predict Andrel Anthony will lead the team in receiving yards and TDs. I like Bell, Johnson and Wilson, but I think Anthony is the clear #1 by mid-season. 
 

Rod Moore is another player who I think goes from tantalizing to reliable star. 
 

Rod Moore and Jaylen Harrell came on late in the year last year and could be key pieces on D this season. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a big leap for Junior Colson

Welschof. Giant freak athlete who I think is into his mid 20s by now. 

Wish the reply button worked so I could argue the definition of “sleeper” with many of you! Last year’s leader in receiving or a highly ranked recruit who just got a “could be be the next Hutch?” feature in The Athletic don’t qualify to me. 

Jenkins and Benny - Feel ripe to make the leap in a position of need.

Anthony -  Budding star - has that ability to go get it. Gonna blow up even in a crowded WR corps.

Edwards and DJ Turner - All-B1G, and maybe even AA. Already very good, gonna boom.

Colson - Far fewer mistakes year 2, has the physical tools.

Some of these guys aren't "sleepers" per se, but they're guys I think are gonna be MUCH better and more impactful.

I've got the over on Snazzy McDazzy threads before fall camp at 137.5.

Going with the Hometown Villain.

Gabe Newburg from Clayton, Oh.

And Joey Velazquez who will feel right at home in Columbus in Nov.

Michigan defense as a whole

It seems odd to pick a receiver because Johnson, Bell and Anthony all look like they have Biletnikoff potential and I wouldn't sneeze at Wilson either* (solely based of what they could produce if they were The Guy in an elite offense.  Michigan spreads it around too much, for better or for worse).  But I'm going with AJ Henning.  When I watched his HS tape my first thought was "that's Golden Tate".  But he's been mostly a gadget guy so far (to great effect!) so we'll see if he can take that next step and be a route runner.  Also, if JJ wins the job he may benefit from the Illinois mind meld they've got going on.

Defense?  I dunno.  I take this question as looking for a "star out of nowhere" and//or true freshman type dude.  Hopefully WIll Johnson

*I wouldn't sneeze at anyone right now tbh.  We are still dealing with a respiratory virus pandemic 

1. Slight sleeper in Andrew Anthony - ready for a sophomore jump and a tight connection with JJ, who should throw far more passes. 
2. Bigger sleeper in Jenkins - showed some disruptive burst and stout play while 15-20 pounds undersized … while his family genes indicate “undersized” won’t last.
3. Biggest sleepers in frosh in Darrius Clemons and Derrick More - both are mature, big, fast athletes that the staff will find ways to selectively make plays.  
4. Total sleeper in Damani Dent - staff really wanted this middling 3 star and he shows the competitiveness & playmaking ability to cause havoc as a safety.
 

Why needs van Sumeren?

Rip van Winkle will be the sleeper of the year.