josh myers

Previously: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver & Tight End

I'm bringing back this preview feature from before my time off; the exercise is to rank Michigan's opponents, as well as the Wolverines themselves, in each position group. This is particularly useful to do in a year when roster turnover and late-offseason changes (laaaaaaaaaaaaaate-offseason changes) are so prevalent; I'll do my best in these posts to highlight significant opt-outs, opt-ins, and the like.

I'm not gonna bother bolding starters and italicizing backups because this is the offensive line; we're only discussing starters or this would be 10,000 words. 

Tier I: Nationally Elite

the holes will continue to be depressingly large [Fuller]

1. Ohio State. The Buckeyes got a major boost, as if they needed it, when All-American junior right guard Wyatt Davis opted back into the season when the Big Ten announced they'd play. Davis, who'll likely be the first interior lineman off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft, leads a unit featuring two other returning starters: senior left tackle Thayer Munford and junior center Josh Myers, both All-Big Ten players and touted NFL prospects themselves; Myers is an All-American candidate.

How does OSU fill in the gaps? With five-stars, of course. Harry Miller, who saw time last year as a true freshman backup center, has secured the left guard position. At right tackle, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Paris Johnson Jr. are in a battle. Johnson is a true freshman, sure, but he was also the #9 player in the country and enrolled early; you're in good shape if that's the biggest question mark on your line.

This line isn't impenetrable; they allowed the #98 sack rate in the country last year. Some of that had to do with Justin Fields keeping plays alive with his legs, though, and the Buckeyes were a dominant run-blocking team. This is one of the most talented lines in the country, perhaps even the most talented.

2. Wisconsin. The entire theme of my Wisconsin HTTV preview was "it's Wisconsin" and that applies to the perennially dominant line. From that preview:

Another early entry to the NFL, center Tyler Biadasz, left yet another hole. But it’s Wisconsin. Second-team all-conference left tackle Cole Van Lanen spurned the NFL to anchor the offensive line for his senior season. Redshirt junior Logan Bruss made honorable mention All-Big Ten and can line up at either guard or tackle; classmates Kayden Lyles and Tyler Beach also have plenty of on-field experience. Five-star 2019 OL Logan Brown battled injuries in his redshirt year but has the talent to start. It looks like business as usual up front.

Yes, Wisconsin pulls in the occasional five-star OL these days, which is a terrifying thought. While the overall talent level isn't on par with OSU, their track record speaks for itself. They were nearly on OSU's level in the ground game and were the best sack-preventing line in the conference outside of MSU, which was getting the ball out as fast as humanly possible to hide a terrible line. While Wisconsin likes the quick-passing game themselves, they weren't hiding anything.

That's a major comfort for UW as they suddenly must replace not only record-setting back Jonathan Taylor but also starting quarterback Jack Coan, who underwent foot surgery after a practice injury and is out indefinitely.

[Hit THE JUMP for two good lines, two questionable ones, a chasm, and some laughs.]

Resources: My charting, Ohio State game notes, Ohio State roster, CFBstats, Last Year

The film: Ohio State-Penn State last week obviously.

Personnel: My diagram:

PDF version, full-size version (or click on the image)

You will of course note that Ohio State gets first pick out of the guys they want from high school, and if that's not enough they can raid other teams. QB Justin Fields, #2 overall on the composite in 2018 and the eighth-highest ranked recruit in all of 24/7's database, was able to transfer immediately because Georgia didn't contest it (a UGA fan yelled racial slurs at a baseball game, so: yeah). You can argue if this was really the best thing for Ohio State since Joe Burrow left for LSU, but it's quite obviously not a bad thing. There was a dubious rumor going around about Fields's thumb, which he injured when fumbling on the goal line in the 1st quarter against Penn State. While he had two more fumbles in that game, they were from his other (throwing) hand. There was a scarier moment on OSU's last real snap when Fields appeared to roll his ankle, but he got up and was fine. In the unlikely event of someone other Fields going under center, West Virginia grad transfer Chris Chugunov is the #2 guy; most recently he was 5/14 and 4.4 YPA against Rutgers. It will be Fields.

You'll certainly remember RB JK Dobbins (1446 yards, 15 TDs, 6.6 YPC, +20.5/-8, –2 pass pro), who now leaves just a bare handful of carries for backup Master Teague (6.5 YPC), who's a bowling ball type.

Their best outside receiver, Chris Olave (+4/-1), is a shoulda-been-a-five-star version of Ronnie Bell whom Michigan wanted almost as badly as we want this game. Slot KJ Hill (469 yards, 9.2 YPT, 82% CR, 7 TDs, +5/-0 blocking) is the fastest guy in college football and had no business staying in college football after three years of siphoning Parris Campbell's snaps away. Not only is he getting far less usage in the Fields offense than last year's crossing route-a-thon, but his understudy Garrett Wilson (250 yards, 8.1 YPT, 68% CR), the 20th overall player in this year's composite, is KJ Hill'ing KJ Hill's snaps away. The difference: Hill's hands are the most reliable in the conference; Wilson will drop some routine things. You should be familiar with the outside starters: Austin Mack (234 yards, 8.7 YPT, 63% CR), who returned against Penn State from a broken foot, and tall leaper Binjamin Victor (480 yards, 12.3 YPT, 74% CR). Both are seniors who were just inside the composite top-100 four years ago. I know they got rid of Zach Smith but of all these guys only Olave seems to have a pro degree of complexity in his routes. The others just out-athlete everybody, which: fair enough.

[Hit THE JUMP for the rest of the breakdown.]

Junior Day: No Commits, Still A Success

Shaun Crawford (left) and Tyree Kinnel at the MSU game [Fuller]

Brandon continues to round up reactions from yesterday's Michigan State game/Junior Day, which featured high-profile visitors such as Damien Harris and Brian Cole. Michigan nearly secured their second commit of the 2016 class; while Traverse City West OL Thiyo Lukusa ultimately decided to take his time, the Wolverines are his team to beat:

OL Thiyo Lukusa – It was sweet, super fun! I decided to put my commitment on hold for now. I just have to be 100% sure. The visit and the activities were 1st class as always. I’m still all Michigan right now but I just want to enjoy my recruitment.

Lukusa understandably wants to see more schools before he makes a commitment at this early juncture; it's tough to see a school overcoming Michigan even with so long to go until he signs an LOI. Hit the link for more reactions from yesterday's visitors.

More Offers

After hosting him last weekend for their Underclassmen Day, Michigan offered 2017 Orchard Lake St. Mary's LB Josh Ross, the younger brother of Michigan LB James Ross. The younger Ross already holds offers from Oklahoma and Michigan State, and he told Steve Lorenz that U-M provides a point of comparison for the other schools pursuing him ($):

"I hear stories about [James's] work in the weight room and he is definitely enjoying his time at Michigan," [Ross] said of his brother. "It does give Michigan a bit of advantage because I've been around it a lot and know everyone in the program so well, whether it be players, coaches or even parents and all of that stuff. I know exactly what Michigan is all about and what they have to offer me. They give me something to compare other programs to going forward."

With his early offers and pedigree, Ross has the look of a national-level prospect—expect Michigan to have plenty of competition for his signature.

Offers keep going out to 2015 prospects, as well; four-star DC CB Marcus Lewis got one late last week and told Lorenz he plans to visit Michigan and MSU either this spring or summer ($). Curt Mallory has already established a strong connection with Lewis, including multiple in-school visits, which should help the Wolverines moving forward.

Michigan Adds Walk-On Long Snapper/Potential YouTube Sensation

Allen Trieu reports Michigan has added 2014 Troy Athens long snapper Andrew Robinson as a preferred walk-on:

"It is great to be given this opportunity. I have worked so hard and put so much time into my snapping, i would have never thought it could get me this far and especially to a school with such football tradition like Michigan. I never doubted myself, I just knew it was going to be a long process and I didn't know where I would end up at the end."

As you can see from the video above, Robinson has some skills—the coaches said he'll have the opportunity to compete for a starting job this fall.

Etc.

Michigan's first 2017 offeree, OH OL Josh Myers, told Tim Sullivan about his reaction to getting offered by the Wolverines ($):

"My expectations were to meet the coaches, and have a good time and get to meet some of the other players that are getting recruited and are committed. I wasn't quite expecting an offer or anything going into it. With that being said, it surpassed my expectations bigtime. I couldn't really believe it to be honest. I had tears in my eyes. I thanked them - I couldn't thank them enough - and I was just really excited."

Michigan is the best program among Myers's five offers, though there's a long time to go, of course. He's still open to all schools and planning to visit Kentucky, Ohio State, and Tennessee over the new few weeks.

Fast-rising 2015 IN LB Josh Barajas put Michigan among his top schools after receiving an offer, per Allen Trieu ($):

Barajas also visited rival Michigan State and several new offers have come since. Even though he remains open, he does have a few programs he is liking.

"For the most everyone is on the same level but I'd say Michigan, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Ole Miss are my top right now."

In variations on the same theme, coveted 2015 CA DE Keisean Lucier-South won't name leaders but did note the schools pursuing him the hardest, per Scout's Anna Hickey ($):

Though Lucier-South does not have any favorites at this point, he did name five schools that were recruiting him the hardest.

"UCLA, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee," Lucier-South said.

This one won't end any time soon, as KLS plans to take all his officials before making a commitment. LSU just put forth an offer, as well.

If you missed it, Brandon got an offer reaction from VA CB Garrett Taylor, who's got Michigan among his top schools.