The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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1 Offensive line — Several groups were in contention here, and that speaks to the strength of the roster from top to bottom. Last year's quintet won the Joe Moore Award given annually to the nation's top collegiate line, and in the spring head coach Jim Harbaugh said this year's has a chance to be even better. Newcomer Olu Oluwatimi, a grad transfer from Vir- ginia, was a Rimington Trophy finalist and second-team All-American (per several outlets) last year. Returning starters Ryan Hayes (LT), Trevor Keegan (LG) and Zak Zinter (RG) will be a year bigger, stronger and better, and we love Trente Jones' potential replacing An- drew Stueber at right tackle. Veteran Karsen Barnhart also will be in the mix and provides even more depth. 2 Wide Receivers — Grad student Ronnie Bell, who is coming back from a season-ending injury, will lead this group, and there's outstanding depth and potential here. There are young guys who are future pros in sophomore Andrel Anthony (12 receptions, 248 yards, 3 TDs in 2021) and incoming frosh Darrius Clem- ons, among others, but don't discount the veterans. Senior Cornelius Johnson led the team with 39 receptions for 620 yards and 3 TDs last year, and junior Roman Wilson added 25 for 420 yards and 3 TDs. Junior A.J. Henning (10 catches for 79 yards; 9 carries for 167 yards and 2 TDs) is another proven weapon, and he will be used out of the backfield in addition to slot receiver. Senior Mike Sainristil (22 grabs for 312 yards and 2 scores) is expected to play both ways at receiver and defensive back, where he shined this spring. 3 Running Backs — Hassan Haskins became the bell cow last year, and his 270 carries for 1,327 yards included a Michigan season-record 20 TDs. His yards after contact were what set him apart from most running backs. According to Sports Info Solutions, Haskins gained 717 yards rushing after contact (54 percent of his total) and that included 19 broken tackles and 16 missed tackles. While junior Blake Corum (952 yards, 11 touchdowns, 6.7 yards per carry last year) and sophomore Donovan Edwards (174, 3, 5.0) have great potential, they aren't the big, bruising chain-movers Haskins was. At the same time, the duo has skills Haskins didn't. Edwards notched more receiving yardage in one game (170 at Maryland, a U-M running back record) than Haskins did all year (131). Corum also has the speed and quicks to get to the edge, and 404 of his rush yards (42.4 percent) came after contact. 4 Quarterbacks — Senior Cade McNa- mara had a solid spring, though he struggled in the actual spring game. He's still a Big Ten title-winning quarterback and an honorable mention all-conference selection after throwing for 2,576 yards and 15 TDs. But he'll be pushed by sophomore J.J. Mc- Carthy, and this battle will rage into the fall. McCarthy has special potential and better physical skills, and the playbook is bigger when he's on the field due to his running ability. A shoulder injury kept him out of spring ball but he is expected to be 100 percent by the fall. Add sophomore Davis Warren into the mix — the preferred walk-on had a great spring and spring game — and you've got a really deep QB room. 5 Tight ends — Veteran Erick All finally met his lofty potential last year, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention after catching 38 passes for 437 yards — one reception shy of leading the team. There will be huge expectations for the senior this year, and he should be a weapon in the passing game. Harbaugh believes All and grad student Luke Schoonmaker (17 catches for 165 yards, 3 TDs last fall) could be the best tight end duo in the country. The experienced depth, though, is what sets this unit apart from any on offense. Grad student Joel Honigford is back for a sixth year, as is fellow grad Carter Selzer. Junior Matt Hibner was on the verge of a breakout season last year, Harbaugh said, and sophomore Louis Hansen has all the tools. Harbaugh even sang walk-on Max Bredeson's praises this spring, and true frosh Colston Loveland looks like a future star. Michigan has several "breakout" candidates on both sides of the ball, and some have already produced on the field. That speaks to the depth of this year's team and why many are so bullish on this squad. Here are our top five: 1 Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy — Senior Cade McNamara took most of the snaps last year and played very well en route to the Big Ten championship. McCarthy, though, has a higher ceiling, and he showed it at times last year. He threw for 516 yards and 5 scores in limited action, and also averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a true dual-threat quarterback. It's clear the sophomore has the most potential in the room, and if he comes back healthy from a spring shoulder injury, he should push Mc- Namara for the starting job. Either way, expect even more of a platoon at QB this year. 2 Sophomore running back DONOVAN EDWARDS — The De- troit native showed his talent as a receiver out of the backfield when he set a Michigan running back record with 10 catches for 170 yards at Maryland last year, including a 77-yard TD reception. Now, we'll get to see what he can do carrying between the tackles while sharing time with junior Blake Corum. Edwards has the speed and drive to be a truly elite Big Ten back. If he makes the same jump Corum did from freshman to sophomore year … watch out. He could be a dynamic dual-threat back. 3 Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson— Colson emerged as one of Michigan's top young players last year, starting seven games and finish- ing fourth in total tackles with 61. He's got the size (6-2, 225) and speed to be one of the nation's top linebackers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh puts Colson in the Devin Bush Jr. (former U-M linebacker and consensus All-American in 2018) mold, noting it's better for the team that he doesn't realize just how good he is. He'll be a pro soon, and he has a chance to be one of the Wol- verines' best ever at the position. He's got that much potential. 4 Sophomore wide receiver Andrel Anthony — An- thony looked like Michigan's best receiver (and deep threat) when he lit up Michigan State for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns last season, and he looked like he belonged against the best of the best with a 35-yard TD reception against Georgia. The 6-foot-2 standout averaged an eye-popping 20.7 yards per catch and seems primed for a huge season, even in a crowded receiver room. 5 Junior outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell — The Tampa, Fla., native is one of the top candidates to fill the pass rush void left by David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson's departures. He was one of the best overall performers this spring, Jim Harbaugh said, including on special teams, and has put himself in position for a breakthrough season. The 6-4, 242-pounder notched 15 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss last year. Those numbers should rise significantly in 2022. THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 37 TOP FIVE STRONGEST POSITION GROUPS Senior guard Trevor Keegan (77) and graduate student tackle Ryan Hayes (76) return to anchor the left side of the U-M line. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 2022 SEASON PREVIEW TOP FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL