How many freshman/sophomore starters next year?

Submitted by MGoStrength on

I'm trying to keep my mind off the obvious game next week and taking a look ahead at next year.  Just curious how many freshman and sophomores you think will be starters next year?

 

It seems like we lose the following starters to graduation/NFL:

Offense: Darboh, Chesson, Braden, Kalis, Magnuson, Butt, Hill, and Smith (almost the entire offense minus the slot WR, QB, and center).

Defense: Wormley, Godin, Glasgow, Charlton, Gedeon, Peppers, Lewis, Thomas, Hill, Stribling, and Lewis (the entire defense minus McCray)

 

So, who is likely to play as freshman/sophomores assuming we land some of the recruits whom have crystal balls in our favor even if they haven't committed yet?  Here's my best guess...

 

Offense: Bredeson, Onwenu, Evans, Asiasi, DPJ, and one of the freshman tackles if Newsome isn't back.

Defense: Gary, Bush, Long, Hill, and Hudson or Matellus

 

That's 10 freshman or sophomore starters and probably many more in the 2 deep. Personally I don't picture much of a dropoff in the offense since our o-line hasn't been great this year, we return lots of RBs, and Speight continues to develop.  The one question is an outside WR threat, but I think DPJ is good enough to do that as a true freshman if we land him.  Would Oliver, Black, or Collins start if signed ahead of guys like McDoom, Crawford, Harris, or Perry?  

 

I think the real question marks will be the defense and particularly the depth.  Would Gay start at LB if we landed him?  Would St. Juste or possibly Holmes start over Long or Hill? Who is the other safety next to Kinnell?

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MGoStrength

November 20th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^

Lawrence Marshall is currently a junior, so he'll be back next year.  But, yeah I don't know what to think about him.  He has gotten very few snaps in his career.  He was a highly regarded recruit, but has yet to do much.  You'd think he'd see time as a backup WDE next to Winovich, but who knows.  Maybe one of the two Johnson's or Jones is ahead of him or even one of the incoming freshman like Vilain.

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The Fan in Fargo

November 20th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^

A lot of question marks with a ton of young talent. Going to need one hell of an off season of very hard work to get them all game ready by next fall, that is for sure.

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MGoStrength

November 20th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^

I agree with you, but since DPJ is from Michigan, seems likely to be a commit, and also seems likely to be starter if he comes to Michigan I included him.  He's the only one I felt strongly enough about to mention by name.  I think it's possible a guy like Slaton or Wilson would be a starter at tackle or Gay at LB (Singleton too if he didn't tear his ACL), but neither seems as strong of a candidate to sign with UM yet as DPJ does based on what I've read, and that also assumes Newsome isn't ready to play next year.

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MGoStrength

November 20th, 2016 at 10:37 AM ^

Yeah, the interior o-line will be interesting to see how it plays out.  We still have Dawson, Onwenu, Kugler, Bredeson, and Cole to fill 3 spots.  Cole and Bredeson are already starting this year so you'd assume they will next year.  That means Ruiz would have to beat out Kugler, Dawson, and Onwenu to start.  In terms of recruiting profiles they are all in that Top 150 type of player.  Most seem to think the older guy is not as good as the incoming guy that we hope is gonna be good.  Personally I see Owenu or Kugler being the other guard ahead of Ruiz or Dawson, but that's based on playing time so far this year and the fact that Ruiz will be a true freshman.  I think he'll be the 4th or 5th interior guy on the depth chart.

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MGoStrength

November 20th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^

I think you meant to reply to the other guy because I didn't say anything about a true freshman center.  I believe Cole remains the center as long as he's at UM.  I predicted Bredeson to remain at one guard spot and the other guard spot will likely be taken by Kugler or Onwenu. The only place I expect a true freshman is at tackle, if it's one of the really highly rated guys like Wilson or Slaten, and only if Newsome isn't 100% yet.

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DrMantisToboggan

November 20th, 2016 at 1:19 PM ^

I hope Newsome is ready. I think Wilson will be a great player one day but I don't think you want him at LT. I think we will get Filiaga but I'd prefer him on the right side. Then you're looking at JBB, who should probably be the starting RT based on what we have seen. I really hope our doctors and the good Lord work wonders on Grant this offseason.



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DrMantisToboggan

November 20th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^

I'd say our odds of signing him are approaching Bama's and we are the school with momentum. Thought what Lorenz told Brian this week was very interesting - that 2018 rb recruit isn't very receptive of us because he thinks we are getting Harris.

I'm about as close to 100% on DPJ as you can be in 'crootin, but I'd say we are about 45% to get Harris compared to Bama's 50%. And, if we get him, he will get the plurality of the carries. He's the most talented RB recruit I've seen since...idk when? AP?



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Mabel Pines

November 20th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

about how many players we lose.  Thanks a lot.  I certainly hope we don't tank the way State did this year.  That won't happen.  (It won't, right?  Some smart football expert reassure me here....)

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MGoStrength

November 20th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^

OSU is playing 4 freshman/sophomores on offense and 2 on defense, but only one of those is a true freshman.  They're 2 deep has quite a few more however that do play a decent amount.  They are playing a lot of RS sophomores and juniors.  And, guys like Lattimore and Baker are really highly ranked recruits.  KJ Hill, Jordan, and Prince are more Top 300 types.

 

I agree that recruiting helps and I'd feel a lot more comfortable with top 100 type of guys like Harris, Wilson, Slaton, Gay, or DPJ starting. 

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LSAClassOf2000

November 20th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^

Further than that, they showed the start charts of Ohio State for the last 2-3 seasons during the MSU / OSU game and how consistent it had been over that stretch, it did get me to thinking that if you can build that sort of depth and that sort of consistency as Harbaugh definitely seems to be, you'll be just fine as a program. 

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