transfers out

Michigan wasn't going to be immune to the portal as thick depth charts calcify and paths to reps and playing time close. That seems to be the case for CJ Stokes, who looked like a promising Karan Higdon type as a true freshman when Corum and Edwards were hurt, with 55 carries, 273 yards (5 YPC) and 1 TD. His best game was an 8-carry/68-yard slow blowout of Nebraska in '22, but his signature moment in a Michigan uniform was the moment that wasn't, when he tripped on a cutback that would have added to the 2022 blowout of Ohio State.

Stokes makes the cut, but he stumbles — tripped up by the turf monster or by Colston Loveland’s legs. He falls forward for a gain of two and pops back up to his feet with a gesture of frustration in recognition of the squandered opportunity.

“That run against Ohio State was the biggest disappointment for me,” CJ Stokes told The Michigan Insider. “If I would’ve broke that run, I would’ve been a household name. Because there was nobody there! After the D-line, the linebackers weren’t there.

“It was the perfect play. I just slipped in the backfield and didn’t make the play. … I’ve watched that run so many times.”

Same.

Stokes only got one more carry against OSU as one-handed Edwards took over, and Mullings moved over for the bowl. Stokes then struggled to find ways to contribute in a crowded 2023 backfield, finding a couple of carries that went nowhere late against ECU and UNLV.

Technically he began the season behind Donovan Edwards for the "Donovan Edwards" position, but redshirting Cole Cabana seemed to move ahead when he got healthy later this year. If Edwards were to leave for the NFL, Stokes was going to have to Cabana for that shrinking role, and was going to have a tough time battling Mullings, super-promising Benjamin Hall, 2021 RB Tavierre Dunlap, and two well-regarded recruits in Jordan Marshall and Micah Kaapana next year. It was time to move on, possibly back to hometown South Carolina. 

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This is a more significant one. Rotation edge Taylor Upshaw, who moonlighted as the Racecar package's rush DT this year, is hitting the portal as well:

Though he didn't generate many stats, Upshaw was the most responsible of Michigan's edges, started two games, and contributed 271 snaps spread out over the lot of them. Though not much of a pass-rusher, Upshaw was solid against the run, trustworthy enough that he rarely got out of his lane, and present for many of the season's highlights. At the start of this season we used the "Taylor Upshaw Line" to mean "Replacement Level." By the end of the season it meant "Guy who makes the game-sealing interception at Ohio State."

…unless it meant "Guy who makes the sack to seal a Big Ten championship."

Upshaw was also Michigan's defensive lineman most likely to sniff out and murderate a screen.

Arriving as a thin son of an NFL lineman to hopefully develop into a DT, Upshaw redshirted in 2018 but found his way on the field as a backup DE in 2019. Don Brown announced that "had a butt" by 2020 and promptly added him to the rotation. That role became that of a starter as injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Kwity Paye forced Upshaw onto the field, which many hoped meant that Michigan had found yet another excellent Anchor type.

Upshaw continued to grow into his body, and probably could have added a bit more to become a solid DT/DE in a 3-4 defense. However Michigan's needs were for a 5-2 edge, and Upshaw's pass rushing never progressed beyond that of "responsible." Even with the rush package snaps added in, Jaylen Harrell's linebacker versatility remained the program's preferred option at the spot opposite Morris that Upshaw nominally shared. Eyabi Okie, and younger prospects like Braiden McGregor and Derrick Moore, increasingly earned more playing time as the season progressed, largely at the expense of Upshaw. While he was a very useful and important member of the 2022 team, chances are the above crew and transfer Josiah Stewart were going to pass Upshaw by next fall, if not already.

Like his classmate Welschof, Upshaw still has a 6th year of eligibility thanks to a redshirt and the COVID year. May every Michigan end reach the Upshaw Line.

While we've been waiting out Harbaughwatch 2023, Michigan's depth chart of German mogul skiing factory workers who create incredible 1980s workout videos just took a 100% hit:

Welschof, affectionately referred to as "Juice" around these parts, stuck around for five years and tried several roles, ultimately landing on special teams. His largest contributions—and the majority of his 300 career snaps—were as a depth DT during the middle of 2021. He redshirted in 2018 and everybody got 2020 for free, so he has one year left to play.

Recruited as an Anchor prospect, Don Brown tried to turn him into a defensive tackle, and Welschof emerged in early 2020 as a rush specialist at the position. In mid-2021 he passed the walk-ons who'd been supplying regular 3rd string DT snaps. That went better than it had any right to—size was a constant issue and 100% of doubles moved him—because Welschof could spin off or slip through those doubles at any moment.

#96 the DT under the hash mark

#96 the DT on the bottom:

As the season progressed however the DT rotation solidified into Smith/Hinton/Jenkins/Jeter with Mike Morris as a rush guy, and the few snaps left for third stringers went to blooding freshmen Rayshaun Benny. MacDonald tried moving Juice out to Edge later in the season, his most memorable moment there getting edged by Stetson Bennett in the Playoff.

There was some hope, given the position lost Hutchinson and Ojabo in the offseason, that Juice's length and athleticism would translate better outside over an offseason to reshape and learn the position. However in limited 2022 opportunities Welschof never managed to get past even the elementary nuances of the position, and found himself buried behind a 6-man rotation at Edge that included a true freshman and a transfer who arrived after fall practice. He spent 2022 mostly on special teams; when he made the charting it was for blowing contain late against CSU and on Purdue's fake punt.

With everybody returning next year plus Coastal Carolina transfer Josiah Stewart there wasn't much likelihood of Welschof emerging again. In the past such guys were usually given a firm handshake and their careers would be over. Thanks to the portal (and an extra COVID year), Welschof has the opportunity to find somewhere he might have a chance to contribute.