Last Look Ahead: Projected 2023 Depth Chart
The obvious discussion is at QB, rumor has it JJ is the starter no matter what in '23. Unsubstantiated. Unless McNamara emerges as clearly the better QB and leads us to another CFP (not out of the question at all), my guess...the job is JJ's.
The "COVID year" wreaks havoc on these projections, because guys have extra eligibility and the athletic department isn't obligated in any way to grant it, they could transfer and use it elsewhere, or they could decide..."I've got my degree, I played 4 seasons, even if one was only 6 games...I'm done."
We're recruiting EDGE players like that will be the entire starting 11 on defense, obviously the coaches feel that some of the guys with eligibility left will be gone.
Last, you also have guys like Bell, Sainristil, and Mike Morris, let's say they have a great year, but the late round projection isn't enough and they want to come back to be captains and enjoy one final ride. We have no way of knowing how these guys feel about school, the program, their future, etc. (for the record, I think Morris plays his way into the 2-3 round range).
That said, here is my best shot...only removing guys for the draft, not because I think they'll transfer or "retire."
QB: Cade McNamara / J.J. McCarthy
3. Davis Warren
4. Jayden Denegal / Alex Orji
RB: Donovan Edwards
2. Tavierre Dunlap / Cole Cabana
4. CJ Stokes
5. Leon Franklin
6. Benjamin Hall
WR: Darrius Clemons
2. Amorion Walker
3. Cristian Dixon
WR: Roman Wilson
2. Andrel Anthony
3. Fredrick Moore
SLOT: Ronnie Bell
2. A.J. Henning
3. Tyler Morris
4. Semaj Morgan
5. Eamonn Dennis
TE: Matthew Hibner / Colston Loveland
3. Louis Hansen
4. Marlin Klein
5. Deakon Tonielli
LT: Karsen Barnhart
2. Andrew Gentry
3. Jeffrey Persi
4. Tristan Bounds
LG: Trevor Keegan
2. Giovanni El-Hadi
3. Alessandro Lorenzetti
C: Greg Crippen
2. Reece Atteberry
3. Raheem Anderson
RG: Zak Zinter
2. Reece Atteberry
3. Raheem Anderson
4. Amir Herring
RT: Trente Jones
2. Jeffrey Persi
3. Connor Jones
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NT: Mason Graham
2. Kenneth Grant
3. Ike Iwunnah
4. Brooks Bahr
DT: Kris Jenkins
2. Rayshaun Benny
3. George Rooks
4. Dominick Guidice
EDGE: Mike Morris
2. Braiden McGregor / TJ Guy / Derrick Moore
5. Enow Etta / Collins Acheampong
ILB: Junior Colson
2. Kalel Mullings
3. Jaydon Hood
4. Jimmy Rolder
5. Deuce Spurlock / Semaj Bridgeman
ILB: Nikhai Hill-Green
2. Kalel Mullings
3. Jaydon Hood
4. Jimmy Rolder
5. Deuce Spurlock / Semaj Bridgeman
OLB: Jaylen Harrell
2. Kechaun Bennett / Joey Velasquez
4. Tyler McLaurin / Micah Pollard
6. Aymeric Koumba
CB: Will Johnson
2. Ja'Den McBurrows
3. Jalen Perry / Keshaun Harris
5. Myles Pollard
CB: DJ Turner
2. Ja'Den McBurrows
3. Jalen Perry / Keshaun Harris
5. Myles Pollard
NB: Mike Sainristil
2. Zeke Berry / Kody Jones
FS: Rod Moore
2. Makari Paige
3. Caden Kolesar
4. Damani Dent
SS: R.J. Moten
2. Keon Sabb
3. Quinten Johnson
K: Adam Samaha
P: Tommy Doman
*NFL Draft Early Enteees* (including guys who are seniors but "early" because they actually have eligibility left due to the COVID year)
Blake Corum
Mazi Smith
Erick All
Cornelius Johnson
Secondary will be strong next year and we get basically everyone back for 2023? Count me in.
I feel good about that entire roster.
For all the hand-wringing about recruiting, this doesn't look bad at all.
The recruiting woes will be felt 2 or 3 years down the line after the 2022 class has mostly departed, if there are any woes to be felt.
Factoring a strong NIL program, there is incentive for players to stay.
Hard to predict this far out, but I would take that line-up. If Michigan can show recruits that NIL for players on the roster is a good investment of their future maybe one slight slip in ranking class will not snowball into multiple classes.
Always going to be kids that take the upfront cash, and seriously no judgment to any of them. Everybody has their own situation and motivation.
Unless Ronnie Bell absolutely sucks this year, I see no way he doesn't go pro after this year
Wasn’t he a projected late day 3 pick this past draft even after sustaining that ACL injury? I swear I remember some mock drafts and big boards that had him in that range. It would be stunning to see Bell back next year.
I agree...if Bell returns, IMO, that's a bad thing.
It would mean he had a bad year and isn't going to get drafted and he wanted to come back as almost a coach/super senior, just to still be in the program.
Or even worse, it'll mean he got injured again.
Sainristil is the only one that I could see using the "super senior" year while having a legit shot to hear his name called at some point. And that's just because I know he loves college and he's in a new position.
Shocked he has eligibility after this year
I would be surprised to see Bell back again. He'll almost certainly graduate this year, and he won't have much more to prove. A top 3 of Clemons, Anthony, and Wilson still sounds pretty great.
I think Sabb and/or Berry could push through to starter when their experience starts to catch up with their athleticism. But regardless of that, this is a great roster even if it may need to manufacture pass rush at times. Should be a fun couple of seasons!
It’s hard to imagine both Cade and JJ return to Michigan in ‘23; they’re both high level P5 QBs and could start at 90%+ of P5 programs in ‘23. They know that, and if they’re both coming back to college one will be hitting the portal.
Best-case scenario would be that Cade has a spectacular ‘22 season and declares for the draft, then we have certainty that JJ is QB1 in ‘23.
I'm all in on your best case scenario. Absolutely!
Turner and Zinter are going to be All Big Ten players this year. It would not surprise if we lost both players to the draft.
Agreed.
I don't think both QBs are back either.
Bell is gone, IMO, as is Morris.
This is wayyyy early to be projecting this, and I think a lot of your predictions are pretty far off. You’ve got 11 players in this chart that have probably more than a 50% chance of leaving after this season.
You must've missed the part where I pretty much said this exact thing. 🤔
Where did you say that? You said there's a chance some guys have a great year and still end up late round projections which...no, not the guys you listed.
If Bell has a great year, he's a fourth rounder at worst and there's almost no way he'd come back for a sixth year even without a great year. Morris with a great year is a mid-round as well (same for Jones, Zinter, Jenkins, Turner, etc, etc - in fact most of those guys could play their way into the 1st, 2nd or 3rd).
You definitely didn’t say the exact same thing lol. I’m not trying to put you on blast it just seems like this is a futile exercise this early, and particularly when you’re projecting players to return in ‘23 that are almost certainly not going to.
Is it too soon to look at the 2024 depth chart?
You sure this is the last look ahead at the ‘23 depth chart?
Clarification- Last look this weekend
I think Bell is 3-4th rounder after this year if he's recovered from the injury.
Mullings is a pretty good RB and might beat out Dunlap, and is ahead of the others.
Barnhart at LT? Id take a bet against that.
I've got the scoop on the 2042 depth chart
1st string at all positions: A baby
2nd string: Various other babies
3rd string: Somewhat smaller and/or younger babies
I'm not sure how NIL and conference consolidation will affect this list, but I think it might turn out somewhat accurate.
Ronnie Bell will be in NFL, maybe Roman too depending on this season.
I think Hansen takes TE, but I can see Hibner too depending on who is 3rd in this season
Zinter is more NFL ready than Hayes whom I think has 2023 eligibility and I could see staying to work on his size and strength some more. Doing so would probably increase his draft profile a great deal. Person gets first crack at LT after Hayes leaves Barnhart to Zinters spot. Still a great line.
Benny At NT Graham plus.
Morris could be In NFL I agree same with DJ Turner. The 2nd cb spot goes to Mcburrows or Perry who I would think gets first crack.
Cade McNamara moves the offense better. He's more consistent. McCarthy has a little maturing to do. But if McCarthy starts taking the wide open second option, he could move past McNamara. Sounds easy. But it isn't.
Some stats comparison:
Cade McNamara junior year: 64.2%, 2576 yards, 15 TDs, 6 ints
Tom Brady junior year: 61.9%, 2427 yards, 14 TDs, 10 ints
Tom Brady senior year: 61%, 2217 yards, 16 TDs, 6 ints