The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
142 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW CLASS RANKINGS On3 Industry Ranking – 7th ESPN.com – 8th 247 Sports – 10th Rivals – 10th Starters (10) OL Karsen Barnhart (31 career starts) DB Daxton Hill (23) DL Chris Hinton (19) WR Cornelius Johnson (45) OL Trevor Keegan (37) EDGE Mike Morris (16) EDGE David Ojabo (8) DB Mike Sainristil (36) DL Mazi Smith (28) DB DJ Turner (28) Specialists/Reserves (2) OL Trente Jones (12) DB Quinten Johnson (1) Departures (14) TE Erick All (12) OL Zach Carpenter (2) RB Zach Charbonnet (9) WR Giles Jackson (3) WR George Johnson III WR Quintel Kent* QB Cade McNamara (16) EDGE Gabe Newberg* DB Jalen Perry OL Nolan Rumler LB Anthony Solomon OL Jack Stewart LB Charles Thomas LB Joey Velazquez * medical retiree YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD 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 unranked, Coaches unranked 2021: 12-2, 8-1 Big Ten, Orange Bowl (CFP Semi- final) vs. Georgia (L, 34-11). Final Rankings: AP No. 3, Coaches No. 3 2022: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten, Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semi- final) vs. TCU (L, 51,45). Final Rankings: AP No. 3, Coaches No. 3 2023: 15-0, 9-0 Big Ten, Rose Bowl (CFP Semi- final) vs. Alabama (W, 27-20 OT), CFP National Championship vs. Washington (W, 34-13). Final Rankings: AP No. 1, Coaches No. 1 FIVE-YEAR RECORD Overall: 51-11 (.823 winning percentage) Big Ten: 34-8 (.786 winning percentage) Bowl Games: 2-3 Versus Ohio State: 3-1 Versus Michigan State: 3-2 Versus Notre Dame: 1-0 Top-20 AP Finishes: 4 – 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Top Five Performances 1. CORNELIUS JOHNSON AT OHIO STATE, 2022 Johnson's production was not always consistent, but he saved his best for one of the biggest games of his life. With Michigan needing a spark against the Buckeyes in 2022, Johnson came up big with 4 catches for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns from 69 and 75 yards out, respectively. It was only the beginning of U-M's big-play blitz on that day, ultimately resulting in a 45-23 victory. 2. David Ojabo at Wisconsin, 2021 This was an announcement day for Ojabo that kicked his breakout campaign into overdrive. He finished the 38-17 win in Madison with 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and a fumble recovery to put his name on the national map. 3. Mike Sainristil at Maryland, 2023 Sainristil was a key factor in the 1,000th win in U-M history, a too-close-for-comfort 31-24 victory at Mary- land. He recorded 3 tackles with 2 critical second-half interceptions in the contest without head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline and with the offense struggling to put the Terrapins away. 4. Erick All at Penn State, 2021 Down 17-14 late in Happy Valley in 2021, All made the play of his career and the game when he grabbed a pass over the middle of the field and turned it up the sideline for a 47-yard go-ahead touchdown on a bad ankle. He finished the day with 4 catches for 64 yards. 5. Cade McNamara at Rutgers, 2020 Some would argue this is the game that started U-M's run, even if it came during the nightmarish 2-4 COVID season. Down 17-7 in the first half, Michigan benched Joe Milton and turned to McNamara, who went 27-of-36 for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns in the 48-42 triple overtime win. The next season he guided U-M to the 2021 Big Ten title and its first trip to the CFP. He lost the QB1 competition to J.J. McCarthy in 2022 and also suffered a season-ending knee injury before transferring to Iowa. Cornelius Johnson caught 4 passes for 160 yards, including touchdowns of 69 and 75 yards, in Michigan's 45-23 win at Ohio State in 2022. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL