Who has played their last game for Michigan?
With today's super sucky but not at all surprising news I was thinking about who we have now seen play their last game in the winged helmet. There are a couple scenarios at play in this depressing exercise:
Scenario 1: Have a spring season - this would most likely mean that most high level NFL talent sits out
Scenario 2: No football until fall 2021 - lets assume that all players are given an extra year of eligibility similar to what was done for spring sports. The issue of roster size and scholarship limits can be saved for another day.
Transfers will obviously happen, probably even more then normal, so no need to speculate on that. I would assume that Nico and Ambry are probably done in either scenario. Scenario 2 adds McGrone, Paye, Eubanks and possibly Hutchinson and Mayfield?
What are your thoughts / opinions
August 11th, 2020 at 10:34 PM ^
A lot of guys unfortunately, it's too bad, Nico is gone for sure, I hope DCaff stays and finally gets a chance to play.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:10 PM ^
I suppose he doesn't have to stay at Michigan, but I can't imagine that McCaffrey has the resume to leave for the NFL.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:28 PM ^
He's seen more action than Matt Cassel did at USC.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:49 PM ^
Cassel sat behind a Heisman trophy winner though. So all that was known about him was that he wasn't the best QB in college football that year.
DCaff sat behind a guy who himself wasn't even drafted. DCaff is a looooong way from anyone's NFL radar. Lot's to prove. He'll grad transfer if he thinks he's going to lose out to Milton but that'd be the only scenario in which he leaves.
August 11th, 2020 at 10:39 PM ^
August 12th, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
I'd transfer asap were I them, any potential they can play this season? Should be no wait time seeing that the Big commissioner won't let them play their sport.
August 12th, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
They're going to show up at Okie St in late August and learn the playbook and excel and raise their NFL value? Sounds like a great way to make yourself look much more clueless and inept than you really are. Not to mention that no conference is playing longer than the first set of quarantines.
August 11th, 2020 at 10:44 PM ^
I think Michigan is in a pretty decent spot, honestly. If extra eligibility is granted (which I can't see happening), I could see some guys wanting to take another year to prove their worth like Nico. Honestly this situation bodes well for us in terms of our rivals
Justin Fields? Gone.
Shaun Wade? Gone.
Micah Parsons? Gone.
Trey Sermon? Possibly gone.
MSU players? Thankfully all still there.
August 11th, 2020 at 10:59 PM ^
Ohio State always reloads unfortunately.....not sure if we going to catch a break with them but maybe other teams.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:10 PM ^
OSU has good quarterback play, but never top five draft pick good
Anything there HAS to be a downgrade from fields. I'm sure the other positions will be reloads tho
August 12th, 2020 at 12:27 AM ^
Part of their reloads were getting players plenty of game reps once it's out of reach though. Especially defensively, they see a lot of first team action against teams like Northwestern, Illinois, Maryland, and Nebraska. They're going to lose a lot of reps in their reload, and its going to make a difference. They're still going to be really good because they're talented and well coached, but there's going to be a pretty decent drop off right away, especially if they lose Myers and Davis from that OL.
August 12th, 2020 at 4:07 AM ^
I said for a long time with OSU “well after that guy leaves they should see a downgrade at the position.” It’s never happened. In fact more often than not, they get better at that position after X guy leaves.
Never make the mistake of assuming that things won’t work out for OSU in the best possible manner. It’ll save you a lot of heartache going forward.
August 12th, 2020 at 9:10 AM ^
Completely agree Perkis-Size Me. Got my hopes up too high, especially in 2018 that I will believe it when I see it when it comes to us beating OSU.
I still can't figure out how teams like Iowa and Purdue pull off the occasional upset. At this point, I would take 3 out of every 10 against them and smile gleefully.
August 12th, 2020 at 9:02 AM ^
5 years ago, I would have agreed with you but everyone of their QB's still beat us whether it was JT Barrett or Braxton Miller or Cardale "I don't play school" Jones. My fear is OSU is recruiting a different type of QB recently such as Burrow, Haskins, and Fields and they are much better than their predecssors. Couple that with Ryan Day QB development and ridiculous transfer rules and just wonder when we will finally breakthrough with a win.
August 12th, 2020 at 9:09 AM ^
OSU must have downgrades.
-michigan fans the last 10 years
August 12th, 2020 at 8:47 AM ^
If everyone loses who is expected, then I like our chances in 2021 against OSU (assumming graduation or NFL top pick).
Presumably they would lose Fields, Wade, Olave, Myers (maybe), Watt (maybe), Sermon, Farrell, Munford, Cooper, Haskell, Browning, Werner, Proctor, Williamson
We would lose Nico, Mayfield (maybe), Eubanks, Mason, Paye, Kemp, Ambry, Hawkins.
They would have new starters at QB (true freshman), RB, WR, LT, RG, OC, TE, DE, DT, OLB, MLB, CB, FS - That is a ton of attrition with very little experience backing them up.
Conversely, we would in theory only have new starters at WR, LT, TE, DE, DT, CB, and SS. The only position group that would worry me is obviously along the line at LT, DE, and DT as well as CB but we would be fielding a veteran QB over their true freshman. If we can't get it done then, we'll never get it done.
August 12th, 2020 at 9:54 AM ^
They'd still have Day vs Brown's defense. Huge advantage for them.
August 12th, 2020 at 6:01 PM ^
August 12th, 2020 at 6:58 PM ^
Some white guy with a weird last name.
August 11th, 2020 at 10:46 PM ^
Just listening to all the B1G/PAC 12 leaders speak its clear that the whole spring football thing is nothing more than a half assed attempt to placate the players and fans for the short term.
There is a goal based approach to spring football and there is lip service. Nobody in leadership has given any indication that this is an actual goal that they are working towards. It’s insulting.
August 12th, 2020 at 7:05 AM ^
What about the other sports? It seems like sports such as women's volleyball can be played in the spring season. I agree that football probably won't happen in the spring.....but the other sports might.
August 12th, 2020 at 11:08 PM ^
Nobody cares about women's volleyball in this scenario, other than the players and family members of that team.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:13 PM ^
Why not talk about scholarship limits and roster size? You still have a lot of kids trying to make it to the league. With all of the holdovers and new kids coming in. I say 100 scholly's and 120 roster size for minimum of 2 years. Chris Evans is still trying to make the league, give him his 6th year. The kids should be given the benefit of the doubt. Do you think any of Michigan's players are going to go in the early rounds of the draft? I see question marks, for all teams.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
The problem is, what does the NCAA do with any teams that manage to play a full season this year, or at least get through 4 games & burn any redshirts off a big % of their rosters?
Do they get 100 or 120 scholarships too? Or will the NCAA have different scholarship limits for different FBS teams based on their activity this year?
Or, will the NCAA totally screw the teams who "opted out" this season & force them into a roster bloodbath for the 21/22 season by taking only a miniscule 2021 recruiting class and/or processing a bunch of guys who still have remaining eligibililty, just so they stay at the 85 limit cap?
Seriously.....I don't see any good answers if part of FBS plays this season & another part doesn't. What a debacle.....
August 11th, 2020 at 11:16 PM ^
Spring ‘21 football won’t happen. All players eligible for NFL draft will be preparing for it. Some may decide to return for ‘21 and not declare for the draft, but if anyone has a decent draft grade, they will stay in the draft. Why would they trust the decision makers? Some unknowns: if there is NOT a vaccine, will there be a fall ‘21 season? Will Harbaugh have a contract extension or be in limbo? Will Harbaugh decide he has had enough of Schlissel & go to NFL? A lot of trust & respect evaporated over the past few days. It will not be easily repaired.
August 12th, 2020 at 12:41 AM ^
If this is what causes Harbaugh to go to the NFL, so be it. He's not the one whose fucked in terms of liability if something were to happen. And Schlissel has to do what's best for the university as a whole, and having a player die/get seriously sick is uncharted waters that could make things really bad.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:38 AM ^
So what if a student gets really sick from a frat party that they inevitably go to in a few weeks? That's worth it? All this is ass backwards with zero consistency
August 11th, 2020 at 11:17 PM ^
Ambry, Nico, McGrone, Mayfield, Paye, and Hutch are all NFL talents that may never play again for Michigan. This one stings.
I really liked this team. I was expecting a return of a top 5-10 defense and an offense that was also going to be be improved once the line gelled.
This hurts Michigan as much as any school. What a surprise.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:24 PM ^
They're NFL talent, but not high talent. Nico and Mayfield were thought to be able to play their way into early rounds, but that was contingent on a season. You'd rather have guys who still need a season to break out than surefire top picks like Lawrence and Fields who are guaranteed gone based on past seasons
August 11th, 2020 at 11:47 PM ^
Wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of an end to the Harbaugh era. Hot take.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:13 AM ^
Why?
August 12th, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
Reading your comment while looking at your avatar makes me laugh. Its like you really know why but aren't telling us.
August 12th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
Because of the politics of NCAA/Universities. (YES, tons of politics with NFL as well...)
Again, it was a hot take. I just have a feeling Jim is not too happy with the leaders at UofM right now. Not too mention, he still hasn't had a contract extension offered to him.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:57 PM ^
Even if any of the seniors play, they'll quit right when they get drafted in April right? In which case, the best case scenario for Nico, Thomas, Paye, Eubanks and maybe some others is that they'll play half of a spring season. Those guys will likely all get drafted.
The big question marks are McGrone, Hutchinson and Mayfield. Will they leave after only playing two seasons? If they stay, they'd have to essentially play two seasons in only a year. That's a lot of injury risk. All three would get drafted, probably second or third day though. It would be a question of whether they'd want to move up. All three would stand to move up significantly if they did stay.
August 11th, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^
The only guy I'd see sitting out a spring is potentially Nico. I'd think if granted another year of eligibility none of the rest are round 1-2 projections and would more than likely return for another year in college.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:01 AM ^
Nobody is getting an extra year of eligibility. They will not expand rosters either. You can do that for a the Big Ten but not for the SEC.
The SEC will be playing football this fall. And for some reason, they are going to have the big ten practice all fall. That’s why they will use up their eligibility, to practice!! As if COVID knows the difference between practice and games.
August 12th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^
Actually, many people have, dating back decades.
August 12th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
it's all bad... after the way last season ended, now no 2020 season... I don't even want to think about who is leaving
not criticizing the thread... that's my personal answer
August 12th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
There's this assumption that guys will sit out, and they of course may, but it seems predicated on the NFL draft process occurring on a somewhat normal schedule. There is of course the very real possibility that the NFL is paused or postponed, pushing their season to the spring as well, and the draft process being shifted by a few months. Should that occur, I think you'd see near-normal participation (assuming a spring season can happen at all).
August 12th, 2020 at 1:00 AM ^
Nico probably, Mayfield maybe (unless he wants that first round pick grade, hed get drafted regardless if he left now though), McGrone, Ambry
Itll all depend on if the NCAA address the scholarship numbers if football is just cancelled and no spring ball happens. Michigan and Ohio State will both lose a lot of guys I'd imagine.
August 12th, 2020 at 2:25 AM ^
Not getting another year of Nico hurts my soul. Dude is a baller.
August 12th, 2020 at 3:47 AM ^
Likely to lose a dozen or more especially since a "spring season" is meaningless!
August 12th, 2020 at 4:11 AM ^
I don’t know. Michigan doesn’t have any surefire first rounders that I’d say leaving is a complete no-brainer, but if you want me to take a stab at it:
Mayfield - everyone has been riding high on him since he neutralized Chase Young last year
Nico
Cam
Ambry
Kwity - already being talked about as a Day 2, maybe late Day 1 guy if he had a monster year
August 12th, 2020 at 7:35 AM ^
Depressing.
August 12th, 2020 at 7:42 AM ^
Don’t be surprised if Joe Milton leaves, he posted a picture on his Instagram yesterday with some cryptic caption that made it seem like he was leaving Michigan.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:16 AM ^
He's my first thought too.
August 12th, 2020 at 7:48 AM ^
Seniors who want a shot at an NFL skip a spring season to train for combine / pro days. Also, a spring season beats your body up to close to be ready for rookie camp in the NFL.
August 12th, 2020 at 7:58 AM ^
The idea of "spring football" is like going to a strip joint. Tease to get you into the private room in order to fork over $$$. If you're a player that has a chance to move to the NFL, why would you ever consider playing in the spring, couple months off and come back to play again in the fall? Insane!
Big 10 is going to look bad if Big 12, ACC and SEC successfully pull this off.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:54 AM ^
Yep. But the Big Ten is going to look good if a bunch of SEC and ACC teams have the virus spread through them like wildfire, if some players develop serious health issues, or if their seasons implode after a few games. Time will tell.
August 12th, 2020 at 8:25 AM ^
Can anyone transfer right now and be eligible immediately due to the current circumstances? I wouldn't be surprised to see some players say "eff the B1G, I'll go play in the Big12 or SEC.