The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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20 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW timately decided to stick it out for another year, there's no hiding now that the marriage is on the rocks," Athlon opined. "The bid for a resurgence rests largely on a new, as yet undetermined quarterback and a first-time defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald. … The line between landing in a major bowl game in December and launching a coaching search is as thin as it can be." They went on to say in their team preview that "the Wolverines are entering a season with more questions than answers. While the talent is certainly there, it's up to Harbaugh and his re-tooled coaching staff to put that talent in the best position to win in 2021 in what is shaping up to be a critical season for Harbaugh's tenure in Ann Arbor. His future may ride on how successfully Macdonald can implement his new defensive scheme." Lindy's even listed Harbaugh No. 1 on its annual coaches on the hot seat countdown. "In six years [and signed through 2025], he hasn't been able to solve the simple math of today's game: If you've got a quarterback, you've got a chance," they noted, before later asking the million-dollar question: "When will Harbaugh develop his own QB?" Bullish On The New-Look Defense One of the most concerning position groups coming into the season for the Wolverines is the defensive line, because of how it got bul- lied last year and a general lack of experience. However, Athlon actually deemed U-M to have the second-best defensive front in the Big Ten. If true, that would provide a huge boost in Macdonald's new-look scheme, the specifics, which they noted, are "under lock and key." "While Macdonald has pieces to work with, now it's about making them all fit," they continued. "The biggest piece is defen- sive end Aidan Hutchinson." Meanwhile, Lindy's felt another defen- sive unit was not only among the best in the league, but anywhere, ranking the U-M de- fensive backs eighth nationally, trailing only No. 3 Ohio State in the Big Ten. They did not list either of the Wolverines' starting safeties among the top 12 in the land, but noted they make a formidable duo collectively. "This unit has teeth," they wrote. "Daxton Hill is a top safety who someday will be cashing NFL paychecks, while safety Brad Hawkins is savvy and a hitter. Cor- nerback Gemon Green made great strides in 2020. Ditto fellow cor- ner Vincent Gray." In the team preview, Wolverines On Preseason All-Big Ten Teams DL Aidan Hutchinson — first team per Athlon and Lindy's S Daxton Hill — first team by Lindy's and third team per Athlon RB Hassan Haskins — second team by Lindy's and third team per Athlon C Andrew Vastardis — second team according to Lindy's OL Andrew Stueber — second team per Lindy's and third team by Athlon DT Chris Hinton — second tea m by Lindy's LB Josh Ross — second team according to Lindy's WR Ronnie Bell — third team per Athlon Sophomore Chris Hinton was ranked the No. 7 defensive tackle in all of college football by Lindy's. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Players To Watch Some expected and perhaps surprising players were highlighted in the various preview magazines: DE Aidan Hutchinson A third-team preseason All-American accord- ing to Athlon, Hutchinson is probably the Wol- verine both outlets were highest on. Athlon noted he was "a likely high pick in the 2021 NFL Draft had he entered his name." Instead, he's back at Michigan poised to be one of the country's best defensive ends. Lindy's listed him the sixth-best player at his position in college football this season. He also checked in at No. 8 on its countdown of the top 10 players in the Big Ten in terms of NFL talent, noting that he "looks the part; needs consistency to be a first-rounder." He was the third-highest non-Buckeye in the countdown, trailing Penn State offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (No. 2) and Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis (No. 4); the other five in the top seven play for Ohio State. DT Chris Hinton Lindy's absolutely loves Hinton, the former five- star recruit, despite the 6-4, 305-pounder having just five starts and 22 tackles to his credit. He claimed the last spot on the magazine's ranking of the top 10 Big Ten players for NFL talent, and they listed him as the No. 7 defensive tackle in all of college football, noting his "strong spring portends a 2021 coming-out party." They even went as far as calling him an "antici- pated first-round" pick, and he was listed even higher in their 2022 NFL Draft rankings, check- ing in No. 4 among defensive tackles. QB Alan Bowman The former Texas Tech starter is one of the top transfers at the game's most important position, according to Lindy's. In its national preview section, the outlet named 15 transfers that would make the biggest splashes at their new schools, breaking them down into three categories: maximum impact, massive impact and major impact. Bowman was listed in the middle category, and also fourth among the top 10 quarterback transfers by the magazine. "Oft-injured at Texas Tech, but he does have a 605-yard passing game and brings 5,260 career passing yards to the Wolverines' quarterback room when he crashes the party in the sum- mer," they noted. " The pro-styler has three years of eligibility left, too." RB Hassan Haskins In Lindy 's national position rankings, he checked in as the No. 21 running back, which was fourth among Big Ten backs, trailing Min- nesota's Mohamed Ibrahim (No. 4), Iowa's Ty- ler Goodson (No. 14) and Ohio State's Master Teague III (No. 16). He was also listed as a pre- season All-Big Ten pick by both magazines, with Lindy's awarding him a second-team nod and Athlon giving him a third-team mention in one of the league's deepest position groups.