Very Visual Podcast Tonight: Next MGoPodcast is a Zoom call with the U-M Club of Greater San Francisco, at 8pm EST tonight, with a Q&A afterwards for those who sign up and pay the gate. Mo Hurst is going to try to stop in. Taking suggestions for Gimmicky Top Fives that aren't depressing.

Previously: Offense and our hopes for Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream to save society were covered yesterday.

Defensive Tackle

A lot to carry. [Bryan Fuller]

What we want to hear: The super sophomores are KILLING IT. In Mazi Smith's case this was almost literal: a bear broke into his apartment, and by the time the DNR arrived Mazi had the beast pinned and thoroughly ridiculed for atrocious pad level. Also Hinton looks like an All-American. Also the bear was returned to the wild but is going to work on that pad level and Wiltfong recently crystal balled it to Michigan. Plus some of the grow-a-tackle projects have gained a ton of weight, and that's before the CDC learned ice cream is the answer to COVID-19.

What we're hearing: Kemp was the other guy, along with Eubanks, who was made available to the press, and Kemp's lament for the line that would have been is sort of telling:

"Being able to play with [junior defensive end] Aidan [Hutchinson] and [senior end] Kwity [Paye] again — the people we have on defense, the guys we have on our offense — it’s definitely something that a lot of us were excited for."

This is some major reading between the lines but when the first team DL comes up it's always about those three guys, at least regarding any 2020-'21 action. Via an insider I email with, Kemp is probably not sticking around for a sixth year if the NCAA, as the D-I working group recommended, gives everyone this year back.

The only Hinton news this summer was his parents are behind the College Football Parents 24/7 organization that's been trying to pressure the NCAA to not be a bunch of dipshits, making them the second-most doomed organization in America today.

The only non-Kemp DT to get a mention so far this year is last year's offseason favorite hype topic Donovan Jeter, who is up 28 pounds—from 290 to 318—and for it earned mention, along with one of the freshman safeties, by Jim Harbaugh as the two "quarantine warriors."

“Another example is (defensive tackle) Donovan Jeter. Donovan probably played last year at 290-295 (pounds), and he’s up to 320-325 this year. He’s moving faster, quicker, side-to-side and forwards. That stands out.”

Jeter has sacrificed some acceleration upwards, but is still reportedly moving downwards at about 9.8 ms2. If he can get that up to 10M_☉ and become the type of doubles-sucking nose who can't be moved backwards, I'd take it.

As for the growers, Balas did a Q&A recently($) and answered Gabe Newburg "is getting huge" to a question asking which DEs might be enlargening into DT territory. If you want to read Mike Morris switching from and end's #80 to a definitively lineman #90 as proof he's going to outgrow anchor you are right where you belong.

247's Zach Shaw noted Brown University grad transfer Elijah Pierre—who replaced Mo Hurst at Xavierian Bros—was the only player on the MGoBlue.com roster listed as "DI" for "Defensive Interior":

But if you copy-paste that position into Word and change the case you'll see that's a lowercase 'L'. This is the in-depth analysis you can't get anywhere else.

[After THE JUMP: More goings, and it's too early for knowing who's coming up behind them]

Defensive End and SAM

You're the Dude now, Guy. [Eric Upchurch]

What we want to hear: Everybody's going to stick around until their eligibility runs out because the new kids are so crazy good that the established guys are comfortable they'll be able to sub off the field. Braiden McGregor's and Luigi Vilain's injuries are perfectly healed and they're going to be the five-stars we dreamed of. This highlight video is reflective of reality.

What we're hearing: The worst-kept secret around the program is that Kwity Paye is about to go pro, which you can gather from his comments to Orion Sang:

"I don’t think I’d even wait another year to come back in the fall of next year," Paye said. "It’d be more than a year without football. Ah, I don’t know about that one. It’s not looking too good for that scenario.”

Guys expected to play in the NFL in September 2021 aren't going to be out there in March 2021 with their bodies on the line, and Kwity recently earned a 1st round grade to PFF.

The good news is Aidan Hutchinson, who was the #4 EDGE returning this year, is planning to stick around after some speculation that he was going to test the 2021 draft. His dad makes it sound like one more year was going to happen whenever it happened:

"Honestly, I was expecting Aidan to be an All-American this year, to be quite honest with you. The way he changed his body and his mind, this kid was ready to take the Big Ten by storm and he was going to be able to do it and potentially set himself up to succeed and fulfill his goal of being a first-round draft pick."

The other good news is they think they have a new Uche (NUCHE!) in completely healed and operational Braiden McGregor. From my insider:

McGregor will get a long look in the Uche role. Very athletic and SMART!

The health front is about 10-15% short of perfect from a football standpoint but way beyond reasonable expectations for life, is what Braiden's dad told Rivals' Austin Fox in June:

“We started going down to Schem[bechler Hall] a couple weeks ago a few days a week to get treatment, and Braiden asked [U-M Director of Athletic Training] Phil Johnson where he thought the knee was at. Johnson said Braiden was 110 percent healed in life, but at 85-90 percent from a football standpoint. He also said he doesn’t see Braiden having any restrictions once he gets back to playing, so he should be good to go soon.”

Braiden's been playing SAM and WDE per everybody. Also picking up SAM quickly is RB/FB convert Ben VanSumeren via Sam($):

The biggest takeaway from that news is it was encouraging that VanSumeren wasn’t lost in space nor was he drowning in the playbook. He’s looking like a two-deep player at SAM next season (whenever that is).

So has David Ojabo. And like everybody:

“What I’ll say to you is I do feel very strongly about (Taylor) Upshaw,” Don Brown said in a mid-May Zoom conference. “I do feel strongly about Luiji Vilain. David Ojabo, I think has a lot of similar traits that Josh Uche has.”

What it means: The WDE/SAM list hasn't included Luigi Vilain, which might be a bit of a concern since the hope was he'd be leading that job. The talk also seems to make it clear that Michigan's plan in a post-Kwity world is to go back to four down linemen and use the edge guy as a quasi-linebacker in their 3-3-5 sets instead of the same person playing 3-4 DE and 4-3 weakside DE.

Linebacker

Keep the Devins coming. [Patrick Barron]

What we want to hear: Devin Bush comps. One or more of the true freshmen are playable immediately. Not even a whiff of McGrone considering the NFL.

What we're hearing: The first name to emerge from the four freshmen is honestly the last I was expecting when I heard it from Lorenz($):

LB Nikhai Hill-Green: Have consistently heard good things about the Pennsylvania native who transferred to Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Academy for his senior season. Could be a name to potentially enter the two deep with a good fall camp as Michigan will have to rely on some young players for depth at the position. May be an early safe bet to outplay his 247Sports Composite ranking (88).

…until I remembered that Nikhai Hill-Green is the one that enrolled early.

There hasn't been a whiff of McGrone leaving early talk, but he's on the Butkus Watch list, which is a useless list but the article by Sang has a good Brown quote on his two projected starters:

“I think having Cam McGrone and Josh Ross to start with is an excellent place to start," said defensive coordinator Don Brown this spring. "I’ll bet there aren’t many inside linebacker coaches in the country that want to trade places with me. Those two guys, I think, can play anywhere in America. I really do. They can play in any system. Ross is not only a physical guy, he’s an athletic guy. He is one bright guy.

What it means: I don't know if Don Brown's reputation will be defined by those two Ohio State games or every other game, but in ten years people are going to look back on his position group and be amazed all those guys played together.

Safety

Sounds like we'll be meeting Makari on the field sooner rather than after a year to figure it out. [David Nasternak]

What we want to hear: Dax is the most incredible human since a guy named Sullivan Anthony, Hawkins is a Dude, and depending on where your towel's at, either the redshirt sophomores are ready to make their mark or the true freshmen are.

What we're hearing: Via multiple insiders Dax Hill a) was a bit nicked up, and b) is going to be the best safety at Michigan since Tripp, period. That's not really surprising. Mostly this is said with a big helping of sadness, IE it's unfair we'll only get to enjoy one season of a full-go Dax. The coaches talk about how he's so versatile. Fortunately he's not going anywhere just yet so we'll get to Neck Sharpie what this versatility looks like.

As for the depth chart, it's going to be the true freshmen. You probably don't need it spelled out but Balas very nearly did so in a Tuesday chat($) that I'm sharing because it so succinctly states what Sam's been hinting on the radio and emailers keep telling me:

Perry has some work to do. Faustin needs to step up this year. They need depth. And it's now or never for the Greens.

RJ Moten is the guy that people around the program seem super stoked for($) including Jim Harbaugh:

“The guy that stands out the most is RJ Moten, who’s an incoming freshman,” he said. “He would text me his bike-riding workouts. He had a workout where he was riding with a trainer (and went on) a 52- or 53-mile bike ride, 3,100-(plus) calories that he burned, and he was doing it a couple of times a week. When he finally did show up, he just looked great.

Early enrollee Makari Paige however seems like he'll be the first to make the two-deep via Brice Marich($):

In fact, I’m even told he was getting some run with the ones as Brad Hawkins and Daxton Hill were nicked up during some time. The former four-star prospect out of West Bloomfield had been receiving high praise early on in his Michigan career and it sounds like it only has continued.

Third newcomer Jordan Morant opted out of these optional practices to go back and see family in Jersey. That's been over-reported as a guy not all-in; he's also been doing a video blog of a day in the life of an athlete, and like: there's a lot of time.

What it means: Holding steady. We expected Paige to be ready pretty early because West Bloomfield plays the exact same defense.

Cornerback

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA [Barron]

What we want to hear: Jourdan Lewis clones as far as the eye can see. Like DJ Turner II.

What we're hearing: Senior Ambry Thomas isn't practicing and is likely done at Michigan via my insiders and Balas's($) and everybody. That's a big big blow but also very understandable considering his history.

That sucks but you know who doesn't? The next little cat out of Detroit, Andre Seldon, via guy I email with:

Seldon will see time early at the CB spot. Very good hips and a quick study. Does everything he is told and executes.

When we did the WTKA show with Sam he jumped on my mention of DJ Turner II as the guy he thinks is going to break out from people who were on campus and weren't on the field last year. That's it from the position so far except Eamonn Dennis had the team's fastest 40 at 4.37.

What it means: Whenever there is football again we'll hopefully have some guys popping up here. When I read "Roman Wilson is maybe Michigan's best receiver after Nico" from insider chatter, I think about the guys Michigan has to cover him before I entertain the idea that a true freshman receiver is already that good.