After a 2017 campaign that was a stumble away from being national champions, the Wolverines are ready to fight back into the same position. With a lot of starters needing to be replaced, Michigan will need to have a strong spring workout to bring young players up to speed.
*As always, ratings are pre-training results.
Quarterbacks
After a stellar season by outgoing senior Bryan Weaver, whoever steps into the QB role for the Wolverines will have big shoes to fill; in steps Redshirt Senior Michael Coleman. Coleman has excellent speed and an accurate arm though don't expect him to win any distance throwing competitions anytime soon. Behind him will be a bulldozer of a QB in Cedric Clement. Clement likely won't see any significant playing time though could find himself playing in certain packages such as goalline situations. In addition to those two are 3 true freshman, each different from the next. Pat Robinson is the electric speedster, Eric Webb is the bruising runner and James McLaughlin is the statue with a million dollar arm. All three will redshirt but will all provide a bright future.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR THP THA SPD AGI ACC BTK ELU CAR QB Michael Coleman SrRS 86 82 92 94 83 88 72 73 69 QB Cedric Clement SoRS 81 88 82 85 87 85 81 84 71 QB James McLaughlin Fr 80 93 87 59 67 73 62 71 51 QB Eric Webb Fr 76 84 81 77 80 83 79 75 82 QB Pat Robinson Fr 74 80 85 88 87 92 64 73 66
Halfbacks
For the first time in four years, Michigan is tasked with finding a new ball carrier as four year starter Jake Marks has departed to the NFL. Leading the way will likely be bruiser Reggie Stallings. With excellent ability to run through defenders and knock their heads off with a monster stiff arm. Complimenting his thunder will be lightning HB Andrew Childs; with his top-end speed, Childs was the returner of the year but now looks to earn his stripes with the offense.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD AGI ACC BTK TRK ELU CAR SPM JKM HB Reggie Stallings JrRS 90 92 92 97 87 98 67 84 80 77 HB Andrew Childs SrRS 85 98 90 93 79 61 99 81 84 99 HB Anthony Thompson SoRS 84 89 91 95 74 72 89 81 91 78 HB Justin Bradley Fr 79 91 84 86 73 85 71 72 85 83 HB Cedric Austin Fr 74 96 88 89 73 63 85 59 82 82
Fullbacks
While FB is not a major position for the Michigan offense, when called upon, big bruiser Kellen Smith is the perfect man for the job. With great strength and blocking abilities, he'll clear a path anytime he's asked, though don't expect him to pick up more than a few yards a carry.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD STR BTK TRK CTH PBK RBK IBL FB Kellen Smith SrRS 82 64 87 70 81 69 79 83 87 FB Ryan Branch So 78 75 78 60 61 71 81 81 82
Wide Receivers
In Michigan's offense, there are three distinct types of receivers… the chain-moving possession receiver, the speedster to extend the field, and the bruiser to clear out Nickel corners in the run game. The leader of the group for 2018 will be Frank Wiggins, a man that possesses all three traits with good speed, good hands, all while still being able push the occassional linebacker around. Complementing him as the speedster will be Sean Garrett and the bruiser as true freshman Cedric Campbell. Rounding out the top four will be Lukas Wood.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR Ht SPD AGI ACC STR CTH SPC CIT RTE REL WR Frank Wiggins JrRS 87 6-5 90 80 96 72 86 77 76 95 83 WR Sean Garrett JrRS 86 6-2 95 80 96 56 85 75 74 91 81 WR Cedric Campbell Fr 81 6-4 84 78 86 73 86 85 73 80 78 WR Lukas Wood FrRS 79 5-11 94 92 91 63 80 84 66 66 68 WR Maurice Underwood Fr 78 6-6 85 76 98 72 81 82 74 80 71 WR Brandon Black So 78 5-11 85 83 83 59 75 88 83 85 82 WR Jason McLaurin FrRS 73 6-5 82 68 86 71 83 77 77 76 74
Tight Ends
Much like the FB, Tight Ends are primarily just used in certain situations as either extra blockers or a decoy; Eric Capps will fill that role when needed. Capps has decent hands but is a better blocker and can help seal the edge for outside running. Behind him will be newcomer JUCO Ryan Bell who fits a similar mold as Capps.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR Ht SPD STR CTH SPC CIT RTE PBK RBK IBL TE Eric Capps JrRS 83 6-5 77 79 74 71 75 76 78 80 80 TE Ryan Bell Jr 78 6-6 75 79 68 71 80 81 76 77 81
Offensive Lineman
As far as Offensive Lineman go, Michigan requires a mix of both pass blockers and run blockers to clear the way; leading the charge will be senior Trey Hall. Hall has spent the last three years at the Center position but this year moves out to the Right Tackle position to hopefully sew up that side of the ball. Opposite him will be Mike James as he expects to keep QB Coleman's blindside clean. Inside will be stud run blocker John Hunt to lead the way while redshirt Sophomore Ryan Martin takes over the center position for Hall. That leaves the Left Guard position open and currently it looks like that won't be decided until players arrive to campus in the fall. Competing for that job will be Kevin Gray, Eric Anderson, and Adam Raymond, all vying for a chance to break into the starting lineup.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR Ht Wt STR AGI ACC PBK RBK IBL LT Mike James JrRS 85 6-3 279 85 62 95 92 85 82 LT Derek Edwards SoRS 81 6-0 281 85 61 90 88 83 81 LG Kevin Gray SoRS 78 6-3 287 85 70 88 80 86 82 LG Eric Anderson FrRS 77 6-2 261 90 69 89 82 83 75 LG Adam Raymond FrRS 76 6-3 315 82 60 92 86 81 77 C Ryan Martin SoRS 88 6-8 297 88 58 93 89 86 87 C Raymond Martin Fr 78 6-3 315 87 67 88 86 77 79 RG John Hunt SrRS 92 6-1 305 93 65 95 86 96 86 RT Trey Hall Sr 87 6-4 306 94 70 91 89 90 80 RT Lance Shelton JrRS 79 6-6 287 87 63 89 83 83 80
Defensive Ends
Returning at the Defensive Ends are two stellar seniors. At the Left End, Paul Pollard returns after an excellent 2017 campaign that saw him second in the nation in sacks with 22. Opposite him will be Fred Levine who is just as solid as Pollard but rarely has QBs scramble directly towards him. Behind them will be a mix of young talent that will be able to contribute but none ready to take over the reigns just yet. The leader of that backup pack will be Jamey Charles as he has a wide skillset that allows him to rush the passer but also drop back into coverage from time to time.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR Ht Wt SPD STR PMV FMV BSH TKL HPW PUR PRC LE Paul Pollard SrRS 91 6-2 279 86 84 85 81 92 88 91 82 86 LE Jamey Charles SoRS 83 6-5 253 73 79 78 63 83 88 84 83 87 LE Raymond Fields SoRS 78 6-4 250 77 76 83 71 85 85 83 84 65 RE Fred Levine Sr 88 6-3 257 74 84 93 93 90 86 90 86 87 RE Gary Landry SoRS 81 6-5 261 71 80 85 78 84 84 88 79 77 RE Adam Martin Fr 77 6-1 225 74 81 80 82 87 78 76 76 80
Defensive Tackles
The interior defensive line sees their bowling ball returning to campus; short and stout Chris Martindale returns after having a solid season in 2017 and is expected to do the same in 2018. Complimenting him will likely be redshirt Junior Jason Jones. Jones has excellent ability to not only play the ball but also play the blocker opposite him. Much like the DE position, the DT position has quite a bit of young talent that will be mostly on the sidelines in 2018 but will contribute significantly in 2019 and beyond.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR Ht Wt SPD STR PMV FMV BSH TKL HPW PUR PRC DT Chris Martindale Sr 87 6-0 318 58 86 92 78 91 82 88 86 85 DT Jason Jones JrRS 79 6-1 260 51 79 87 86 88 75 79 90 87 DT Brandon Meyers So 79 6-3 260 70 84 75 63 76 82 77 77 86 DT Dallas Bryant Fr 75 6-3 275 53 84 79 78 80 74 78 77 77 DT Mark Rouse SoRS 74 6-1 282 56 84 83 80 80 69 73 76 76 DT Courtney Shuler Fr 73 6-1 280 61 85 77 71 77 78 74 71 76
Linebackers
After a switch to the 4-2-5 in 2017, Michigan concentrated on finding two stud LBs that can handle every down. In 2018, they found a perfect duo in OLB Todd McCoy and MLB Justin Lane. McCoy is an excellent all-around LB with speed, strength, pass rushing, ball tracking and perhaps the best coverage skills of any LB in the country. Lane is a great partner in crime has he can quickly launch off the line in pursuit of the ball and then punish the ball carrier. Like the defensive line, the starters at the Linebacker are top notch but the players behind them are young and raw. The best of the bunch will be OLB John Foster. Expect Foster to backup both roles though he's not quite ready to hold his own on every down.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD STR AGI ACC TKL HPW PUR PRC PMV FMV BSH MCV ZCV MLB Justin Lane SrRS 91 88 82 75 99 83 95 89 89 84 83 89 73 76 MLB Dane Butler So 79 85 81 78 89 77 85 86 80 72 72 80 71 64 MLB John Smith FrRS 76 82 80 81 92 78 83 74 74 75 74 76 72 73 OLB Todd McCoy JrRS 88 86 78 74 94 81 81 91 86 77 83 80 87 90 OLB John Foster SoRS 81 86 82 88 82 77 80 84 73 71 70 91 76 75 OLB Justin Marshall SrRS 78 90 71 71 94 80 82 74 79 56 60 72 81 73
Cornerbacks
With two departing shutdown cornerbacks leaving in Thomas Torres and Junior Carter, Michigan will have a tough time finding the same capacity of players to start; step in Ryan Banks and Nate Montgomery. Banks has contributed already in his career thus far and is now ready to step into a starting role and Montgomery is a developing stud in his own right. Rounding out the starters at the nickel position will be Antwain Vinson who has been patiently waiting in the wings.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD AGI ACC MCV ZCV PRS TKL HPW PUR PRC CTH CB Ryan Banks JrRS 84 93 82 87 95 90 85 63 71 86 89 69 CB Nate Montgomery SoRS 83 94 91 93 88 87 80 69 67 87 87 68 CB Antwain Vinson JrRS 81 94 81 84 90 90 81 61 74 81 86 72 CB Zach Johnson SoRS 78 90 81 92 89 82 81 58 62 79 84 66 CB Danny Moss Fr 76 92 91 90 79 84 79 66 70 79 77 67
Free Safeties
Just like the Cornerbacks, the Free Safety position loses a four year starter in Bryan Dean. Competing for the job will be redshirt Junior Antonio Cannon and redshirt Senior Joe Bean. Bean has been waiting in the wings since his freshman year on campus and now looks for an opportunity to start. Cannon was a JUCO recruit that redshirted last year but came to campus ready to play. Expect Cannon to likely get the nod but with Bean's speed, nothing is set in stone.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD AGI ACC MCV ZCV TKL HPW PUR PRC BSH CTH FS Antonio Cannon JrRS 81 93 91 92 85 84 68 61 82 85 57 69 FS Joe Bean SrRS 81 97 76 91 86 87 67 60 85 77 60 64 FS Donnie Rogers Fr 75 93 90 89 79 80 63 62 73 72 55 70
Strong Safeties
Michigan's defense typically utilizes two distinct types of Strong Safeties, the Predator safety and the Coverage safety. Losing stud Coverage safety Dominique Wilson, in 2018, the Wolverines will have two excellent Predtor-style safeties causing them to consider using the Coverage safety less and instead have two guys on the field that can each attack the ball carrier or blitz the QB. As a giant, Predator safety Orlando McAfee towers over not only essentially all WRs but also practically all TEs, all the while he still has the ability to play coverage or attack the football. Fellow Predator safety Clint Ferguson doesn't have quite the same height as McAfee but he has top-notch speed and shares the ability to attack the football. In addition to the Predators, Coverage safety Derek Barry will also find playing time in certain packages, particularly in 3rd & long situations.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR SPD AGI ACC MCV ZCV PRS TKL HPW PUR PRC BSH SS-P Orlando McAfee SrRS 89 91 90 89 75 85 83 88 82 85 82 82 SS-P Clint Ferguson SrRS 84 96 87 98 74 77 81 84 80 80 78 80 SS-P C.J. Robertson JrRS 82 91 91 91 74 79 77 85 80 78 76 65 SS-P Damien Cason SoRS 79 84 72 86 71 86 83 78 88 83 68 76 SS-C Derek Barry SoRS 82 94 91 93 88 86 79 69 65 86 90 60 SS-C Tim Watson Fr 79 95 82 93 84 84 80 73 70 75 79 41
Kickers & Punters
It's tough to replace a player that is an award winner anytime you have to do it. Imagine trying to replace one player that won the most prestigious award for his position three times, then imagine at the same time trying to replace a player that won his comparable award all four times he was eligible. With Kicker Brian Washington and Punter Marcus Jackson leaving at the same time, Michigan coaches have to do just that. That said, the coaches have been able to train players to bring out the best in them. In comes Kicker Dominique White who has spent one year on campus and true freshman Punter Matthew Jude. Only time will tell how they compete with Washington and Jackson.
Pos Player Name Yr OVR KPW KAC K Dominique White FrRS 83 85 84 P Matthew Jude Fr 80 86 76
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Originally Posted by JeffHCross
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