LOL as soon as I hit post Rivals broke the best news!

A source has informed The Wolverine that Michigan redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield will return to play for the Wolverines this upcoming season, despite previously declaring for the NFL Draft and signing with an agent.

I posted the offense earlier this week and meant this to go the next day but then FOOTBAWL BACK and now some of our guys might be returning too and this went from a lament to a prayer. Let's do it by position:

Defensive Tackle

What we want to hear: Kemp and Hinton are playing, Mazi Smith had a light go on. No more of this Jeter because we have nobody else hype.

What we're hearing: A very good sign for football in general is that Hinton's parents, who started Football Parents 24/7 to organize a voice for parents who don't want their kids' lives endangered like at LSU, are comfortable with the Big Ten's plans. The Michigan Daily:

Two months later, they’re still at the forefront of ensuring proper protocol is met in any football-related decisions. Now, though, they’re fully bought in on the Big Ten’s return to play. And when Michigan takes the field for the first time five weeks from, Chris Jr. will be playing. “Yes, he will,” Chris Sr. told The Daily on Thursday. “He’s excited and we’re excited.”

That desk-chair shattering fist pump was only 90% my football self excited about a breakout DT and 10% honestly encouraged about the availability of daily rapid testing because the Hintons are all over this.

A month ago, rapid antigen tests were $150 each, according to Chris Sr. Now, they’re less than 10 percent of that, at approximately $10 per test. That decrease in price, coupled with advancements in accuracy, helped make it feasible for the conference to provide daily testing.

Carlo Kemp didn't formally announce he's back but he was on the in-house podcast with Jon Jansen and made it sound like that's not even a question.

"The number of games isn't anything for me, it's just being able to play," Kemp said. "If it were eight games, nine games... I'll take it. I'm so happy. I'm so thankful that commissioner listened and was able to find a way to get us back in a safe way to play and thankful for President Schlissel to change his vote and let us play. I'm very thankful for this opportunity that those guys are giving us right now."

Kemp gets knocked for being the Jibreel Black on a DL that lacked a true nose, but he's a solid player you can roll with if you've got other solid players around him. Also the NCAA's decision means Kemp might be around in 2021 too.

In another episode Jansen mentioned Donovan Jeter as "the guy who's extremely motivated." Meanwhile Zach Shaw's depth chart still has the wrong name first($) if you're rooting for Year 2 Mazi to be better than a walk-on who was an offensive lineman not 300 days ago:

Inside, Hinton and Kemp still seem primed to be as good of a duo that Michigan has had since Mo Hurst was donning the maize and blue. Speight continues to impress after a strong fall camp, while Smith and Welschof continue to look like future key members Michigan’s line.

Several guys got some "Dude of the Day" and "Not a Dude but a Guy" recognition that has to be taken as relative but Julius Welschof got a Dude and a Guy recently. Mike Morris and Phil Paea got Guys, which is notable only because it confirms some insider intel I got that they've been impressed with Morris as a pass rusher.

What it means: The 2018-'19 bar isn't that high but we're back to where we were pre-COVID. In case your memory doesn't go back that far, it's "Hope Hinton is the bees knees and they get off the field."

Projected depth chart: Kemp/Hinton, Speight, Welschof, Mazi, Morris, with the doom line hovering to the left of Speight.

[After THE JUMP: good news, good news, good news, and hope for good news]

Defensive End

One last time. [Patrick Barron]

What we want to hear: Kwity and Aidan are gonna play. Somebody behind them is awesome.

Kwity Paye hinted to WolverineWire's Isaiah Hole even before the season was back on that he was leaning towards playing in fall if that happens, but it's still huge news that he is.

Let’s ride https://t.co/2j5sXcAwCJ

— Kwity Paye (@KwityPaye_19) September 17, 2020

Aidan Hutchinson has been even more vocal about wanting to play this year—his parents were at the forefront of the #LetThemPlay march—so he's back too. As for their backups, the delay in Scotland understandably set back David Ojabo, but the backups via Shaw($) are the correct ones:

While there’s a lot of optimism for Ojabo’s future, Upshaw and Vilain have taken the backup end roles for now.

Vilain was the most recent Dude and usually that doesn't mean much except when it sounds like it's consistent:

Two big time players showed up and showed out last practice, @Luiji_V has been on a roll, rushing the passer like a DUDE! @VinceGray_ made several huge plays, including a big PBU on third down, securing himself as a Guy! pic.twitter.com/MjlKuGi29R

— Don Brown (@FBCoachDBrown) September 16, 2020

As close as he came to losing his career this a rooting interest that goes way deeper than the team's prospects, but as much as they've struck out with the uber prospects at DE it's also a major rooting interest for Michigan's pass rush post-Uche.

I'm also filing Jaylen Harrell getting some run($) with the twos at SAM in the DE section because, like Frank Clark/Brennan Beyer, this what you do with future pass rushers when they're freshmen.

What it means: If Michigan escapes the pandemic with only a delay in Ojabo's development it's probably a best-case scenario. It's good that they like Harrell's pass rush enough that he's on the field, and very good to hear Upshaw and Vilain are where they're supposed to be. Can't expect too much excitement about that considering the two NFL prospects are going to eat up most snaps. Another year of Kwity after the NFL scouts had him a 1st rounder is exceptionally good news.

Projected depth chart: Kwity/Aiden, Vilain/Upshaw, Ojabo.

Linebacker

What we want to hear: This is pretty set but I've been waiting forever for Anthony Solomon hype so some of that please. Also tell me which of the freshmen are leading and please one of them be Mullings.

What we're hearing: Shaw said on the pod that Anthony Solomon is pushing pretty hard, hard enough that Michael Barrett would like the season to start ASAP. He went even harder on the depth chart update($):

Solomon has continued to exceed expectations, and would be our pick as Michigan’s No. 4 linebacker regardless of position. He and Barrett will continue to battle and share snaps at the VIPER role.

He mentions the starting three aren't changing, but BVS is way ahead of schedule in his transition to SAM and is going to factor this season. Also in VanSumeren news, HOLY BICEP BATMAN:

Josh Ross (a recent Dude as well as Guy the day McGrone was) spoke to the media and reiterated the same names we've been hearing this offseason:

“My expectation is that we’ll be the best linebacker group in the country, and Cam feels the same way,” Ross revealed. “One of the guys who has impressed me most is a freshman — Nikhai Hill-Green. He’s a great player, though he’s still learning. He’s instinctive and very smart, and will be a very good player for Michigan in the future. [Redshirt sophomore] Ben VanSumeren is another one who’s hard working and is a big weight room guy — that dude is so strong. You wouldn’t even understand how strong he is. He brings speed, intensity and hard work — he’s always around the ball and never stops. Ben will have our defense moving in a positive direction for sure.”

Rivals' EJ Holland said Hill-Green has been getting 2nd team reps at WILL. He also mentioned another freshman on the two-deep early($):

[Kalel] Mullings has been running with the twos at the Mike position and is up to 243 pounds. The Michigan S&C program has bulked him up quickly while maintaining his speed. Mullings actually went through a series of races against freshman defensive back Jordan Morant and beat him two out of three times. The video was featured on Dan Villari's Instagram. Remember, Mullings was recruited by some to play running back. Expect him to make an almost immediate impact at that Mike spot for Michigan.

/rubs hands together.

What it means: All good things unless you're one of the freshmen not mentioned. Mullings has the most potential of the freshmen and Hill-Green seems like a find, but until we see it on the field all that love has a Devin Gil "We're all about this guy from a huge program who is smart and coachable" vibe.

Projected depth chart: McGrone/Ross entrenched at ILB, Barrett-Solomon a 75-25 split at Viper, BVS at SAM when they need one, Mullings in the freshman Devin Bush role, and Hill-Green getting some run.

Safety

What we want to hear: Dax Hill is stepping into a leadership role even if he's just a true sophomore. More of that love for the freshmen practicing.

What we're hearing: Hawkins was the other guy made available to the media—no surprise there—and he gave us the requisite Daxton Hill hype.

“He’s growing as a player,” Hawkins said. “He got a lot bigger, a lot stronger, a lot smarter. He’s definitely a guy to watch out for. Seeing what he’s done in the previous year, he had a good year. He stepped up in a lot of big games for us. Looking forward to that with him. He’s growing every single day. He’s looking real good.”

That is some primo "Daxton is going to play" right there and I'm here for all of it.

They're really high on Makari Paige, who's "not a Dude but a Guy" to Don Brown. He seems to be ahead of Moten, who in turn seems to have passed every old safety except Sammy Faustin, who got a Dude of the Day and a Not Dude But a Guy recently. They're currently playing Paige at rover($) said EJ Holland, which is a bit of a surprise since we've all been saying "Jarrod Wilson;" Paige played the Wilson role at West Bloomfield the last few seasons.

Lorenz was willing to say on the podcast that Hawkins and Hill are the best starting duo at safety under Harbaugh. Daxton's potential is certainly higher than what we got from 2016 Dymonte Thomas but 2016 Delano Hill seems like a big ask for what I've seen so far from Brad Hawkins. The 247 guys think Brad is "underrated so much at this point that he's rated" and that Shoop should pay major dividends in coaching.

Shaw mentioned there's nothing untoward about Jordan Morant going home during COVID because he's still recovering from last year's injury and that's a common thing.

What it means: The name you didn't hear is the one you've been hearing all offseason: Hunter Reynolds. I like Hunter but I also like to hear that the star freshmen Partridge recruited are going to ensure the walk-on remains most famous for his player advocacy.

The safety positions at Michigan are so interchangeable now that I don't think it matters who's technically at Rover or Free. I could see them using Daxton as a follow-the-slot true Rover because he and Hawkins are on different levels athletically, but don't read much into Paige playing that spot except that he's got a lot of practice at Free and you have to be able to do both to play at Michigan.

I do think Bob Shoop should pay dividends in coaching because Chris Partridge wasn't really a safeties coach—he was our best recruiter, a genius on special teams, and should have success as a head coach sooner or later.

Projected depth chart: Hawkins/Dax, Faustin/Paige, Morant/Reynolds

Cornerback

What we want to hear: "Ambry Thomas not closing the door on Michigan return." Also the article is free. Also it's Peanut DJ Turner Time!, Peanut DJ Turner Time!, Peanut DJ Turner Time!

What we're hearing:

Also the article is free.

“I honestly don’t know how all that would work with me signing with an agent already,” Thomas said. “I’m hearing certain things that I could come back. I’m hearing other things that I can’t. A whole bunch of uncertainty still from my end and, right now, answers would clear everything up for me.”

The first we heard of it was on Sirius XM with Jon Jansen and Anthony Herron, which Hole picked it up from. Sam Webb has more on the VIP side($) that certainly sounds like Ambry is serious about it so the question is can it happen? This part sounds ominous:

Players who have opted out are expecting to receive more information on the potential restoration of eligibility after a Big 10 conference call reportedly set for today. During that call the topic is expected to be broached.

Coaches and administrators I’ve spoken to expect the “Student Athlete Reinstatement” process to be less restrictive due to the pandemic, specifically as it relates to signing with an agent. Those who haven’t received benefits pursuant to said agreements (like Mayfield) are expected to be best positioned to be reinstated. Again, more clarity on that is expected as soon as today.

The drop/add deadline at Michigan is Monday so this will have to move fast.

Also in Sam: Way yeah:

The player I continue to hear the most positive reviews on is sophomore DJ Turner. The Peach State native has put together a number of strong showings this fall, as evidenced by his recent anointing as the “Dude of the Day” by Don Brown. That serves as an escalation of the buzz that Turner generated during last year’s camp when Jim Harbaugh named him as one of the freshman standouts. It also an encouraging sign that he is over the glute injury that hampered him last year. He is one of the fastest guys in the corner room and is among the most technically proficient (a lot of credit to the offseason work he put in with former NFL all-pro Ray Buchanan). Of all the talented but inexperienced guys vying for enhanced roles, Turner is sounding like the most consistent. That has shaped my opinion that he is the current favorite for the corner spot opposite Gray.

There ya go! That article also has the first nice words in a long time about a Green twin:

Thomas made it a point to take Green under his wing to try to help bring more consistency to his play. Word I hear is he has made progress along those lines and has strung together more good days. Enough for the starting job opposite Gray to still be in doubt.

Jalen Perry also made a Guy.

Hawkins also commented on the depth at cornerback (pre-Ambry news) and this time I'll use 247's writeup:

“There’s a lot of guys," Hawkins said. "You got Green, you got DJ, you got Jalen Perry. There’s a lot of guys that are stepping up. There’s a lot of guys filling that role. During this time, of course all those guys are getting better.

The Dude/Guy relatively goes most for Keshaun Harris, a track star walk-on the program's been really high on. That presages usefulness…in like 2022.

What it means: Unfortunately we can't yet declare peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat, both because of this site's sketchy history with that, and because who else are they going to talk about? Still with Turner this is a good story—Michigan pursued him like he was a star above where the sites pegged him—held back by an injury last year, and they're saying exactly what they would be saying if he's going to work out.

But one of our offseason metrics is when they're talking about everybody they're really talking about having nobody (after Gray). That doubt shadow extends to Turner too. Gemon Green's talent was never in doubt so root hard for that to come to fruition. That they're mentioning him and Perry again is good news for those guys since they were going to get written off if they got passed by Seldon and Green-Warren. But here's the thing: if you're hearing all these names after they were behind Jaylen Kelly-Powell a year ago, it's probably darker news for the freshmen than good news for the position group. A lot could hinge on whether Ambry can get back and what Turner turns out to be. Given their 2021 recruiting is one commit who hasn't visited and a longshot, a scenario where we're breaking out the #NeverForget poster again is definitely on the table.

Projected depth chart: PLEASE OH PLEASE GIVE US AMBRY BACK, Vincent Gray, DJ Turner, Jalen Perry, with Seldon getting some run at nickel.

Shanah tovah.