The Wolverine

November 2020

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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NOVEMBER 2020 THE WOLVERINE 23 16. Christopher Hinton, So., DT Hinton remains at No. 16 but has as much potential as anyone to climb this list. He will likely start at the defensive tackle spot next to Kemp after chang- ing his body and adding some strength and quickness, though he's still listed at 305 pounds. Hinton notched 10 tackles (0.5 for loss) in his 12 appearances as a rookie last year and saw his role increase as the season progressed. He's one of the keys to the overall improvement of the defense this year. 17. Giles Jackson, So., WR Up two spots from No. 19, Jackson has a chance to be one of the Wolver- ines' breakout performers on offense this year. He teased his potential with nine catches for 142 yards — includ- ing a 50-yarder against Indiana — and a touchdown last year, rushed 10 times for 69 yards and a score (the latter against OSU), and averaged an impressive 25.9 yards per kick return with a 97-yard house call at Maryland. He has said this fall he's ready to put his speed on full display. 18. Michael Barrett, R-So., LB The viper linebacker/safety hybrid has been waiting his turn the past three seasons, and now the 6-0, 227-pounder seems ready to shine in this role. The former prep quarterback is battling with redshirt freshman Anthony Solo- mon and true freshman William Mo- han to start, and he's the leader head- ing into mid-October. Barrett played in 12 games last year, notched seven tackles and excelled on special teams. He ran a fake punt 14 yards for a first down and threw a 25- yard pass off another fake in proving his versatility. Barrett moved up one spot from our August rankings. 19. Mike Sainristil, So., WR The somewhat forgotten man of the receiving corps wasn't ranked on our previous list, but several close to the program say he's elevated his game and remains one to watch closely. Sainristil caught eight passes last year for 145 yards, including three grabs for 73 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over Notre Dame, and hauled in a 35-yarder in a big win at Indiana. Sainristil had some issues with drops last year, especially in practice, but there's a reason he was one of last sea- son's camp standouts. He's talented. 20. Ryan Hayes, R-So., OT Hayes continues to get bigger and stronger, and is now up to 6-7, 302 pounds. He's the heavy favorite to se- cure the left tackle spot with redshirt sophomore Jalen Mayfield set to re- main on the right side, creating a set of bookends that would make most programs jealous. The lean-looking tackle started twice and played in 12 games last season, and earned Offensive Player of the Game honors against Middle Tennes- see State after an impressive debut subbing for the injured Jon Runyan Jr. Up a spot from No. 21 on our Au- gust list, he enters the 2020 campaign with high expectations. 21. Andrew Stueber, R-Jr., OL A serious knee injury sidelined the 6-7, 339-pound Stueber a year ago, but his rehab has gone well, and he's in line to start at right guard. He's a technician who gets the most out of his ability, and he's earned praise for his work ethic and leadership during summer and early fall workouts. Stueber played in all 13 games two seasons ago and made his first of two career starts at Ohio State, at right tackle. A mauler who should thrive inside after spending some time on the edge in his earlier years, he moves up two spots from our August rankings. 22. Andrew Vastardis, 5th-Sr., C Many believed redshirt freshman Zach Carpenter would snatch the start- ing job, but Vastardis has continued to improve. The former walk-on is in the mold of Graham Glasgow, another former Michigan walk-on center now in the NFL, in that he wasn't content to just make the squad. He wants to play, and he'll likely get the nod in the middle. The 6-3, 296-pounder was not on our previous list, but he's earned it. He is extremely smart, a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection, and played in four games last year as an offensive lineman, including in rivalry blowout wins over Michigan State and Notre Dame. 23. Erick All, So., TE All, not previously ranked, is one of the more violent blockers Michi- gan has seen at tight end in some time, a player who craves contact and brings the fight to tacklers. He's now up to 242 pounds and is much better with his assignments, something that plagued him last season. The sophomore caught only one pass last year, a 10-yarder at Penn State, but he's got great hands and fig- ures to have a bigger role in the pass- ing game this season. 24. Blake Corum, Fr., RB The deep running back room got another talented addition when the freshman Corum arrived in winter. A new addition to this list, the 5-8, 200-pounder is built like former great Mike Hart and has similarly incred- ible feet. "He's going to get some carries for us," running backs coach Jay Har- baugh said Oct. 7 in praising Corum's ability to make defenders miss. 25. Quinn Nordin, 5th-Sr., PK Nordin (previously No. 22) sepa- rated himself from Jake Moody last season and made his last 10 kicks, in- cluding a key 47-yarder against Michi- gan State and a pair of field goals against Ohio State. He also tied a Mich- igan record with a 57-yard field goal in the Citrus Bowl against Alabama. The veteran had created some sepa- ration by early October, special teams coach Jay Harbaugh said, and is the favorite to handle field goals this fall. He also wants to kick off, though that remains to be seen. ❑ Sophomore Mike Sainristil caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame last year and wound up on Pro Football Focus' Big Ten Team of the Week after that performance. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN

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