The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 141 2018 CLASS RANKINGS On3 Industry Ranking — No. 22 ESPN.com — No. 20 247 Sports — No. 20 Rivals — No. 24 Starters (10) Michael Barrett, LB (20 starts) Ronnie Bell, WR (31) Vincent Gray, CB (21) Gemon Green, CB (24) Hassan Haskins, RB (16) Ryan Hayes, OT (30) Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE (30) Jalen Mayfield, OT (15) Cameron McGrone, LB (5) Luke Schoonmaker, TE (21) Specialists/Reserves (5) German Green, CB Griffin Korican, OT Jake Moody, K Taylor Upshaw, EDGE (2) Julius Welschof, EDGE (1) Departures (6) Sammy Faustin, S Joe Milton, QB (5) Mustapha Muhammad, TE Myles Sims, CB Christian Turner, RB Ben VanSumeren, LB YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD 2018: 10-3, 8-1 Big Ten, Peach Bowl vs. Florida (L, 41-15). Final Rankings: AP No. 14, Coaches No. 14 2019: 9-4, 6-3 Big Ten, Citrus Bowl vs. Alabama (L, 35-16). Final Rankings: AP No. 18, Coaches No. 19 2020: 2-4, 2-4 Big Ten, No bowl appearance. Final Rankings: AP un- ranked, Coaches unranked 2021: 12-2, 8-1 Big Ten, Big Ten Champions, Orange Bowl (CFP Semifi- nal) vs. Georgia (L, 34-11). Final Rank- ings: AP No. 3, Coaches No. 3 2022: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten, Big Ten Champions, Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifi- nal) vs. TCU (L, 51-45). Final Rankings: AP No. 3, Coaches No. 3 FIVE-YEAR RECORD Overall: 46-14 (.767 winning percent- age) Big Ten: 33-9 (.786 winning percent- age) Bowl Games: 0-4 Versus Ohio State: 2-2 Versus Michigan State: 3-2 Versus Notre Dame: 1-1 Top-20 AP Finishes: 4 – 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan's 2018 re- cruiting class was far from its most sterling from a rankings perspective, but it might have been Jim Harbaugh's most important in terms of pushing the program to fulfill its poten- tial. Its final ranking went down as the No. 22 haul in the land, per the On3 Industry Ranking, but the production far outweighed the lack of buzz. The Wolverines signed 21 prospects during the 2018 re- cruiting cycle but did not have a single top-100 prospect. The closest they got was defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson, who ranked No. 109 in the country, but he far outplayed his status. The future team captain and No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft goes down as the crown jewel of the class. Other foundational hits included offensive tackle Ryan Hayes, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, running back Hassan Haskins, wide receiver Ronnie Bell and Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Jake Moody. U-M's 2018 signees were juniors during the 2-4 pandemic season in 2020. The ones who decided to re-dedicate themselves to the program for 2021 and beyond were rewarded with a pair of Big Ten titles and the program's first two trips to the College Football Playoff in 2021 and 2022. Two players remain on the roster from the recruiting class in linebacker Michael Barrett and defensive back German Green, who hope to be part of a group that wins U-M's first bowl game since the 2015 campaign and first national title since 1997. TOP FIVE PLAYERS 1. Edge AIDAN HUTCHINSON The former star pass rusher is No. 1 with a bullet in this class and might be one of U-M's all-time greats as time moves on. The two-time team captain left Michigan with a laundry list of accolades, including consensus All-American (2021), Michigan's Male Athlete of the Year (2021), two-time All-Big Ten honoree (including consensus first team in 2021), Rotary Lombardi, Ted Hendricks and Lott IMPACT awards, Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year and Heisman Trophy finalist (all in 2021). Hutchinson appeared in 43 career games with 30 starts for the Wolverines, and he set the program record for most sacks in a single season with 14 as a senior. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, going to the hometown Detroit Lions. 2. K Jake Moody It is not often that a kicker is considered one of the best players in a recruiting class, but that came to pass for Moody. The 2021 Lou Groza Award winner was extremely clutch and reliable during his five seasons with the Wolverines after starring at nearby Northville (Mich.) High School. Moody converted all 56 of his extra point attempts and 23 of 25 field goal tries during his award-winning season in 2021, also earning first-team Associated Press All-America and Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors. He followed it up with second-team All-America recognition and repeated as the Big Ten Kicker of the Year in 2022. Moody went 60-for-60 on his extra points and hit an FBS-best 29 field goals on 35 attempts, while setting a school record for points in a season with 147, topping Desmond Howard's mark set in 1991 (138). He was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft of the San Francisco 49ers. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL