Who stays and who returns for 2022?

I think it's fine to speculate now on next years roster. Michigan already won the big ten and now they are idling for the next 4 weeks. 

por que no los dos?

Is this really “worrying”.    Unless there is a shocking level of attrition (which would certainly count as worrying), we have a very sold nucleus coming back.   Very conservatively:

Running back - Corum/Edwards

QB - McNamara or JJ as starter

WR - long list even if you lose someone because of playing time concern.

OL - Zinter, Hayes, Keegan, Barnhart etc.

TE. - Schoomaker, hopefully All

plus lots of youngsters who haven’t seen the field

Defense may lose a bit more, but still, plenty of promising players, both experienced and on the roster.

With early signing day next week and the transfer portal full of big names, there is going to be plenty of addition in the coming week or so and speculating about how many spots we have and where the biggest holes and who may fill them is part of the fun of being a fan.

Personally I am excited that we are not talking about next year in terms of can we finally be good enough, but how can we be at least as good.   We are now in a re-loading, situation next year, not a re-building.    As Harbaugh has noted, it feels like this could be both something great this year and the beginning of more sustained success moving forward.

Can't we just not respond to posts that don't interest us that pertain to the football team on the Michigan sports blog?  

Go ahead and enjoy. But we have three weeks to go until the next game, interest in the football team is extremely high, and at some point next year is going to be a question (for positive reasons!).

To be honest, for much of this year I was hoping to see "growth" with an eye for what could be next year, my default pessimism fighting off much in the way of high expectations for this year. And the signs for next year on offense are particularly good. Haskins probably goes pro... leaving us with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. We'll lose some guys off the line, but I have confidence that our OL pipeline will produce a workable offensive line next season in a way I did not have confidence in, say, 2017. We have every receiver coming back, including Ronnie Bell, and the guys all show terrific promise.

And throwing to them will be either Better Cade Mcnamara or Better JJ McCarthy. 

The offense should be elite next year, assuming we have a good coaching arrangement there (Gattis could leave after this season, which isn't the end of the world but would need the staff will need to reorganize). The question then becomes, what will the defense look like? And.. we're not sure yet.

But it's not unreasonable to ask. It would be great if Michigan could continue this run of excellence by being elite again next year, which would help fortify a better recruiting approach and set us up for years of legit national contention. It's possible that this is just a "peak" year in a cycle where we still frequently have to look up at OSU, but leveraging this success into sustained dominance and parity with OSU is also possible. 

And if people are worried about "looking ahead," well: I guarantee you the coaching staff is thinking about this. 

Honestly, I kinda think both NHG and Colson might be better than Ross by the start of next season.

Those who stay will be Champions... again.

In my opinion, Ross has "coach" written all over him.  I could see him breaking in as a GA in the next couple years and climbing the ranks.

I hope Smith and Hinton both come back. They both had way better years than most probably projected, d-line would be really good with them back next year.

That's an interesting point and one that I hadn't considered before. I wonder if NIL money is greater for a G5 starter or a premier Power 5 rotation player?

And, stay to earn a degree at Michigan

He gone, perhaps straight to #1 overall!

Wait for the "I hope he values his degree and comes back" crowd to chime in.  

Pointless might be an understatement.  We were lucky to have him back this year, and thank goodness we did.

Technically he's eligible to return, but if he did it would indicate that he's less motivated by money than any Michigan grad since the Unabomber.

Didn't mention Dax either. I'm not so sure he's as slam dunk out the door as Hutch and Ojabo. I think, last I saw Dax was projecting in the 3rd round. It doesnt seem impossible to me that he sticks around for another year, takes over some of that leadership role on the Defensive side of the ball and tries to show out for a better draft spot next year. He's grown a lot this year and I think another year could really do him some good. 

Maybe I'm being too optimistic though. 

My steaming hot take is that it is in Hutchinson's best interest to return for another year - by playing another year at Michigan, he EXTENDS his pro career by another few years because he doesn't get drafted by the Lions this year and contemplates retiring early like Barry and Megatron did.

Don't forget Mike Morris! Very bright future for that guy

I’m really interested to see the snap count chart. Harrell and Jenkins played a lot. I think the defensive coaches like what Harrell brings in stopping the run even more than Ojabo

I was thinking about that, too.  The team has gotten a lot better throughout the season and a lot of that is attributable to the development of our young players. 

I can't remember a season that has had this many freshmen play pivotal roles.  Colson, Hill-Green (RS Fr.), Moten, and Moore are all freshmen starterish players.

McCarthy, Edwards, and Anthony are all true freshmen.   

OL should have a strong nucleus with Zinter, Keegan and Barnhart - all have played a lot snaps even though Barnhart’s tailed off the last month.  Anderson and Atteberry are apparently showing high potential at C.  Tackle is the real challenge - but Barnhart has the ability to slide out there and then the staff needs 1+ from Jones, Persi and Bounds.  My bet is Jones for next year.

DT was the great concern entering this year. If Smith and Hinton return, then it could be a strength for 2022.  Speight, Welschof and Whittley could head out, so need some young guys to step up. Jenkins is playing a lot and Berry looked the part when he had a tackle at the end of the B1G game. Is there any scuttlebutt about other DTs ascending for 2022?

Some of the guys forwarding that meme about Old Michigan seem to think Dax Hill is a seventh-year player, so it's safe to say they don't know what they're talking about