Kris Jenkins to officially return
Jenkins to return per his Twitter. Sheesh. I like this NIL thing. After his initial decision, he had gotten a top 100 draft grade so there was some Indecision it seems.
https://twitter.com/KrisJenkinsJr1/status/1615022503625195520?s=20&t=0K296cHdONaBBeH5kNQIjg
January 16th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Add Reed to the starting lineup and UM basketball has arguably the best starting 5 in the conference....time to get on board that train wagon.
January 16th, 2023 at 3:29 PM ^
The bball team usually gels late. Not worried.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
I don't think NIL is the largest factor here but it is the difference vs. BPONE on this one. This is likely to be a year to year thing... Playing time, Portals, and Money.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
NIL and….winning. It feels good to win. It feels good to beat your rivals, spank OSU twice, and win B1G titles. Winning begets winning. There is something to come back for, instead of just another season. We turned a tide here in the program in 2021. Can’t emphasize that enough
January 16th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
Green left as well.
January 16th, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
Great news! Let's hope there will be more to come from Schembechler Hall in the coming days.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
January 16th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
Awesome news!
January 16th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
I more than understand that this is a completely different landscape, thanks to NIL, but the culture has changed so much and a lot of that and this has to with Hutch returning for the 2021 season.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:48 PM ^
Confused by the Hutch comment - he played 2 games in 2020. Wasn't headed to the NFL.
January 16th, 2023 at 3:54 PM ^
He most certainly was, despite his 2020 season. He had a very good 2019 season with 69 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Before he decided that he was coming back for the 2021 season, he was seen as a 1st round pick and was consistently in the 1st round in several mock drafts.
January 16th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
Would it be bad luck to make a hotel reservation in Indy now?
January 16th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
Yes, psu will be very good and who knows about osu. Don’t jinx anything
January 16th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
Agree. I'll wait until after the PSU game.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
And the OSU game. Harrison and Egbuka are back while we are now minus a lockdown corner. It will be a fight. Take nothing for granted.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
Ok fine.
January 16th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
Yep, way too early, but the PSU might be the only game we will be underdog in.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
to bad the players have Frames and his clock management to to beat along with the other team
but yea they have a ton of talent and that will be a season defining game.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
PSU skill players are getting pretty close to OSU. Seems like they haven't had an OL since Franklin got there (and even before that).
January 16th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
This is turning out to be a good day.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
Keep it going, Tom.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Another outstanding confirmation! This team is loaded!
January 16th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
This will be our best team (on paper) heading into a season since at least 2006.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Oh shit, don't say that.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
Say it loud and proud. Time to right that what-could-have-been wrong.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
2006? I think the past two teams were better than it on paper. (Never mind on the field ...)
The OSU teams Michigan beat the past two years were (*on paper*) more impressive than the 2006 OSU team.
You could look at the bowl season. 2022's OSU team did pretty well against the SEC's king. After the 2006 season OSU got stomped by Florida.
How about 1997? There was a team with NFL talent all over the field.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
It is difficult to tell until the season happens as you don't know exactly what you have with the younger guys. Going into 21 no one thought Ojabo was going to Ojabo. I hope this portal in guy can be a good B10 DE, we missed some of that elite pass rush last year and not sure where it's going to come from this year. And CB is a big concern. Hopefully someone comes on fast there to offset WJ. And then we need a depth guy there too. We finish with MSU, Purdue, PSU, Maryland, OSU - that's a lot of passing headed their way.
January 16th, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^
I don't think anyone expected the 2021 team to do what it did going into the season (and I still tend to believe that for majority of the year they won in spite of Cade rather than because of him) and there was still uncertainty about this team going into 2022. The pre-season expectation was still that Cade would be the starter and there were significant questions about the pass rush / defense overall with Hutch, Ojabo, Dax and Mike McDonald heading to the NFL.
That 2006 team was loaded and should have played for the national championship after a razor close loss in Columbus the day after Bo passed.
Woodley, Branch, Terrence Taylor, Rondell Biggs, Tim Jamison, David Harris, Shawn Crable, Leon Hall, Ryan Mundy and Jamar Adams on defense.
Henne, Hart, Arrington, Manningham, Breaston, Tyler Ecker, Jake Long and company on the OL.
That was a great team, best since 1997 up until that point. Balanced offense, stingy defense, excellent special teams.
January 16th, 2023 at 2:51 PM ^
Disclaimer: I enjoyed the 2006 team a lot.
But, they got their balls pounded to dust against John David Booty and post-Leinart/Bush USC in the Rose Bowl. I think these last 2 Michigan squads are up there with 'em, and I agree the 2023 team has a good shot to be better than all of them. Obviously, no Michigan team of recent vintage can touch 1997 until, well, you know.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:22 PM ^
HAIL YEAH!
Getting stronger every day.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
Find a CB for the other side opposite WJ and this team has 13-0 / conf. champs / CFP potential once again.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
LEEEEEE ROYYYYY JENKINS!!!!!
January 16th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
this guy world of warcrafts
January 16th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
It's great to see the level of commitment to the team show by the many NFL-worthy individuals who are returning. This doesn't seem like a situation Coach Harbaugh would walk away from, does it? I've said it before and I'll say it again:
Jim Harbaugh has no intention to coach in the NFL.
...and his team knows it.
January 16th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
Jenkins isn't a candidate for big DE like Morris right?
If not we need to find a DE between Moore, McGregor and the transfer
CB2: McBurrows I think gets first crack if that doesn't work I think you see Mikey move outside and they play one of the sophomore safeties and move Rod Moore to Nickel.
LB unit I think is a stronger unit next season. Hopefully Colson finally realizes his All-American potential, Mike back, NHG hopefully full strength who they raved about, Nebraska transfer and a year older Rolder who was getting a lot of run late year
DL: Not sure how you can lose Mazi and be better but its shaping up that way as a unit
Huge to get Jenkins back!!
FG kicker worries me Moody has been absolutely stellar for two years and the brand of football we play there is going to be times kicking the FG is necessary.
January 16th, 2023 at 3:36 PM ^
College football is becoming a who can outscore who race with huge offensive numbers. Not the worst thing in the world to have a mauling o line that goes for it on most 4th downs.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
Another great day for Michigan football. Thanks for sharing.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
who of last year's class can take a big step up and fill in some shoes on O/D? part of the reason we stumbled was because of who was playing - not to knock those guys, but we didn't quite have enough playmakers on either side of the ball to get to the ultimate goal. Just curious who might step in and elevate things... e.g. morris? Clemons? who else?
January 16th, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
But I thought there was a culture problem at Michigan?!?
/s
January 16th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
So do we have any weaknesses next year?
We still don't have a Hutch/Ojabo-esque EDGE, but we have the transfer from Carolina and guys that could break out minus Okie.
A second proven CB.
An announcement from Harbaugh.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
Not weaknesses really, but we do have some non-strengths that need to win in the playoffs:
- A Harrison / Johnston type 50-50 jump-ball receiver that you can not leave alone for one second.
- An elite blocking TE.
- A lockdown corner opposite Johnson.
- A fierce pass rush DE.
- Money FG Kicker.
It will be interesting to see if we can fill these holes by November when the hard part of our schedule kicks in.
January 16th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
I don't think a Harbaugh run offense needs a star WR and the recent history of Michigan TE's would imply 1 or 2 guys will know how to block at a high level. I expect the pass rush to be as good or better collectively, but Derrick Moore seems like a good bet on a guy too break out as an "elite" pass rusher
January 16th, 2023 at 1:12 PM ^
Well, this is going well. Muahahaha
January 16th, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
This is starting to feel like Blues Brothers. We're getting the band back together.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
I fully expect Harbaugh to be back based on “ the insiders” I know and others tweets. However, if there was a year to lose a coach I’d have to say this is probably it. A new coach’s biggest issue would be to keep the culture that has been built. This team can win with most any good coach. The coach would have “ a honeymoon” where concentrating on those could be prioritized greater than otherwise. Keep the train chugging.
I would think this ability would move up on the list of prioritized qualities in a coach.
Just a thought in case……
January 16th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
Have to imagine, with everyone coming back, that Harbaugh’s new contract is basically a done deal. At least he’s telling them he’s staying.
January 16th, 2023 at 1:46 PM ^
This is great news. The amount and quality of the young men coming back says a ton about the program, school, and everything in between.
January 16th, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
Man, veteran teams with good culture are so rare. I’m pumped with what could be next year!
January 16th, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
Our DL next year will be amazing!