The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 41 RAHEEM ANDERSON OL ★★★★ Played in five games over two seasons and is com- peting for two-deep status on the interior of the offensive line this year. KECHAUN BENNETT EDGE ★★★★ Competed in four contests through two years, but hasn't recorded any statistics. He had a strong spring, per the coaching staff and his teammates, and could be a back-end-of-the-rotation player this season. RAYSHAUN BENNY DT ★★★★ By all accounts, he seems ready to break out as a junior, after making 13 tackles in as many games in 2022 and redshirting (3 tackles in 3 contests) in 2021. He's the projected backup to senior Kris Jenkins at tackle/end. TRISTAN BOUNDS OL ★★★ Played in three games at right tackle in 2022 and one in 2021. He is buried on the depth chart behind several experienced tackles heading into the 2023 campaign. JUNIOR COLSON LB ★★★★ The second-team All-Big Ten honoree by the coaches (third team, media) started all 14 games last season, playing through injuries and leading the Wolverines with 101 tackles, including 6 for loss and 2 sacks. He played in 14 outings with seven starts in 2021, logging 61 tackles and earning Freshman All-America status from ESPN and On3. He has a chance to be the first Michigan defender with 100-plus tackles in multiple seasons since Jarrett Irons (1994-95-96). GREG CRIPPEN OL ★★★★ Too good to keep off the field, he played in six games off the bench at center as a freshman. The Wolverines purposely held him to just one game to preserve his redshirt in 2022. He's pushing for the starting center job this fall, competing with Stanford graduate transfer Drake Nugent, and Harbaugh con - siders him "starting caliber." CRISTIAN DIXON WR ★★★★ He's seen time in just two games so far, but Har- baugh pointed to the 6-2, 197-pounder as one who could crack the two-deep of the depth chart at wide receiver this fall. He is a fall camp riser. TOMMY DOMAN K/P ★★★ Did not see game action in 2021, before convert- ing 2 extra points, punting once for 41 yards and kicking off 8 times in four contests last season. He's expected to start at punter for the Maize and Blue this season. TAVIERRE DUNLAP RB ★★★ Appeared in 12 career games, including 10 in 2022, rushing 16 times for 97 yards in mop-up duty and con- tributing on special teams. He's vying for a contributing role in a deep and talented running back room. DONOVAN EDWARDS RB ★★★★ "The Don" cemented legendary status, Harbaugh said, with a monster game in a 45-23 win at Ohio State last season, when the West Bloomfield (Mich.) High product put up a career-high 216 rushing yards and dashed for 75- and 85-yard scores to put the game away in the fourth quarter. He churned out 991 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 140 carries, plus caught 18 passes for 200 yards and 2 scores in 11 games. As a freshman in 2021, he ran 35 times for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns and reeled in 20 passes for 265 yards and 1 score. He already stands eighth all time among U-M running backs with 465 receiving yards (Anthony Thomas holds the record with 810). GIOVANNI EL-HADI OL ★★★★ Looking like Michigan's next great guard, El-Hadi played in 14 games with three starts on the left side of the line last season. He's pointed to as starting cali- ber and the next up behind graduate Trevor Keegan and senior Zak Zinter. He appeared in one contest at left guard as a freshman while redshirting. DOMINICK GIUDICE OL/DT ★★★ Officially made the move from defensive tackle to offensive line ahead of the 2023 campaign, after experimenting with playing both ways last fall. He appeared in three contests in 2022 and two in 2021, having seen time in all three phases. TJ GUY EDGE ★★★ Made 2 tackles, including 1 sack, in two appear- ances as a freshman, prior to playing in 10 outings (six at edge, also helping on special teams) and recording 5 stops in 2022. He's pushing for some rotational snaps this fall. LOUIS HANSEN TE ★★★★ Competed in three games over two seasons, be- fore transferring to Connecticut, closer to his Dover, Mass., hometown and where playing time and targets will come much easier. He's a projected starter for the Huskies this season. JAYDON HOOD LB ★★★★ One of the biggest "risers" of fall camp Harbaugh said in mid-August, Hood was in the two-deep at linebacker. The 6-1, 225-pounder has played in four games, logging 4 tackles and breaking up 1 pass, dur- ing his career. IKE IWUNNAH DT ★★★ Has not appeared in a game yet during his career and is a projected reserve this season. JA'DEN McBURROWS CB ★★★ The 5-11, 200-pounder impressed in limited action as a freshman, making 2 tackles and adding 1 pass breakup in four games, before missing all of the 2022 season with an injury. He's competing for a starting job at cornerback and playing time at nickel. J.J. McCARTHY QB ★★★★ Served as Michigan's backup quarterback but still had a role in 2021, appearing in 11 games. He com- pleted 34 of 59 pass attempts for 516 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while adding 124 yards and 2 scores on the ground. He beat out Cade McNamara for the starting job after Week 2 last sea- son and led the Wolverines to 13 wins, the program's most in a single season. He connected on 208 of 322 throws for 2,719 yards with 22 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, while also rushing for 306 yards and 5 scores. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. TYLER McLAURIN EDGE ★★★ Played in five career outings but hasn't recorded any statistics. ROD MOORE S ★★★ Made his first career start at Penn State in Novem- ber 2021 and never looked back. The Ohio native opened four of his 11 games as a freshman, register- ing 32 tackles and 1 pass breakup. He broke out as a sophomore, appearing in 14 outings with 13 starts and leading the defensive backfield with 71 tackles and 1.5 stops for loss with half a sack. He paced the team in interceptions, too, with 4, the most by a U-M defensive back since cornerback Channing Stribling in 2016 and the highest amount from a Wolverine safety since Dewayne Patmon in 1998 (both also had 4). GEORGE ROOKS DT ★★★★ Competed in six games in 2022, tallying 1 tackle, after seeing time in three tilts in 2021. He transferred to Boston College this offseason. ❏ TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE QB J.J. McCarthy Took Michigan to new heights when he won the starting quarterback job at the beginning of the 2022 campaign. The Wolverines scored 40.4 points per game last year, their most in a season since 1904, en route to another College Football Playoff berth. His physical traits and leadership skills make him a "generational" quarterback for U-M, Jim Harbaugh said. UNSUNG HERO S Rod Moore He gets plenty of praise around the program and within the fan base, but he doesn't receive as much love nationally as some of Michigan's other top-tier players. ESPN.com, for example, recently released its ranking of the top 100 play- ers in the sport and omitted Moore. The 6-0, 198-pounder is a key player in the secondary, both against the run and pass. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL DT Rayshaun Benny He was in the game in some big-time moments last season, and his playing time should increase this fall. He has shown flashes, notching 13 tack- les in 2022, but should put it together more consistently this year. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter listed him first when asked which defenders will break out this season.