Even with McCaffery behind him and plenty ahead, we're still seeing Brandon Peters in our futures. After a shirt. [Upchurch]
The Question:
Who redshirts from the 2016 class? Which of those has the biggest impact down the road?*
The Responses:
Ace: Michigan is finally in a position where they can default to redshirting freshmen unless they’re too talented not to see the field (Rashan Gary), happen to fit at one of the couple positions in serious need of depth (Devin Bush), or auditioning for a starting job next year (David Long, LaVert Hill). As such, the list of players I expect to redshirt is long, especially on offense.
OFFENSE: QB Brandon Peters, RB Kingston Davis, RB/SLOT Chris Evans, WR Brad Hawkins, WR Eddie McDoom, TE Nick Eubanks, TE Sean McKeon, OL Ben Bredeson, OL Mike Onwenu, OL Stephen Spanellis, K Quinn Nordin
DEFENSE: DT Michael Dwumfour, DE Carlo Kemp, DE Ron Johnson, DE Josh Uche, LB Devin Gil, S Josh Metellus
A few of those guys might end up seeing spot snaps or special teams duty, and I guessed a bit with the receivers; Dylan Crawford, Nate Johnson, and Ahmir Mitchell aren’t locks to play, either, but it’s probably safe to assume the coaches won’t keep all six receiver-types in the same class. Even Devin Asiasi, who’d see the field right away under normal circumstances, might sit a year given TJ Wheatley’s emergence and the overall depth at tight end.
As for which redshirting freshman I expect to have the biggest impact, those who listen to the podcast probably won’t be surprised that I’m going with Brandon Peters, even with a few really talented linemen on this list. Peters was lights-out as a senior and is an ideal fit in Harbaugh’s offense. Even with Dylan McCaffrey coming in a year behind him, I have a really difficult time not seeing Peters as a very successful multi-year starter.
[After THE JUMP we tweak Ace's answer]
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Seth: I'd like to see them get Ahmir Mitchell a redshirt; he may be in the running right now by default but he's pretty raw at receiver. Extending his timetable also would dramatically increase the payoff for the kind of time investment it would take to make him a free safety. Harbaugh isn't averse to 3-wide sets but Michigan will have fewer snaps for WR types than all but a handful of triple-option offenses. Single-wide sets will be as common as Perry's appearances, and they need only two of the freshmen to play to go seven deep.
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| I wanted to play early too, son, and I walked in here looking a lot more polished (and a lot more middle-aged) than you. Let me tell you if I could go back and do it all over again I'd rather start in 2017. [Fuller] |
Peters is justly off the board but the most important guy we won't see this year (probably) is Bredeson. Michigan graduates most of the Hoke guys who've seen a snap this year, and early returns on the rest have been dodgy, especially at tackle. If Bredeson is pretty good, the path is clear for him to be a four-year starter at RT.
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Brian: I more or less agree with Ace's list of redshirts, give or take a wide receiver. If Hawkins or Evans ends up in the secondary they instantly become much more likely to play this year.
There's also been enough chatter about the early-enrolled McKeon to assume he'll get some scattered snaps.
And Metellus will probably play just because Michigan needs safeties badly next year.
Assuming the latter two play but the WR redshirts are correct, my guy is Joshua Uche. Uche was just named co-sleeper of the year and the other guy isn't on Ace's redshirt list; he's a tremendous fit as a blitz-mad LB under a guy who covets blitz-mad LBs. It is highly likely he emerges into a major role next year if and when Peppers heads to the draft; no offense to the linebackers on the roster but I have a hard time seeing Brown pick one of them at SAM when he's got a premium edge rusher available.
I expect Uche to have a Jake Ryan kind of career, hopefully minus the shift to MLB late.
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David: I also agree with Ace, for the most part. On offense, I unfortunately would not be surprised to see Bredeson play some. While he does not have the frame that Newsome has, it seems that Harbaugh will throw guys out there in certain packages and see what happens. Plus, he's the most college-ready of the three OL and probably the most versatile. I think Bredeson could be the 2016 candidate for "Ugh, Why No Redshirt?!" Perhaps, that will be an upcoming TWO. The rest of Ace's list should be correct. It would be nice to possibly save a year with another WR or Asiasi, but I don't think Harbaugh is going to keep all of his new toys off of the field.
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| Running backs don't typically wait. [Upchurch] |
On Defense, Bush, Long, and Hill are shoe-ins to play. Hudson is almost certain to get snaps, as well. EMB could get a shot if the line-backing goes worse than expected. After that, no one else seems ready or needed. Brian says Metellus and I suppose there is a case for that...hopefully not just downing kicks, if so. Obviously, Rashan Gary will not redshirt.
Biggest impact because of a redshirt? Let's go with Michael Onwenu. That man might actually be a real beast. I have never seen a dude of that size move the way that he does. There was a clip of him playing left tackle, sealing the end, and then caving him into the rest of the line like a bulldozer...and he is not even a true left tackle! He will obviously need some weight training and technique-sharpening, but the potential is certainly there. I think Onwenu's ceiling is crazy high, and if he comes close to hitting it, he could single-handedly cause more people to watch line play in football because they'll be scared of missing him consume a defender.
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Adam: Here's my redshirt "hot" take: Asiasi won't get one. Jay Harbaugh has brought up Michigan's use of a four-tight-end set in a non-goal-line situation multiple times, which is indicative of the ample opportunity for guys in that position group to see the field; there's also a bevy of pretty large, pretty fast dudes vying for those opportunities. I think Devin Asiasi's too talented to not be utilized in 2016, especially since his size and recruiting profile seem to indicate that he's a blocky catchy type who should be more advanced at the blocky part than most young players. Otherwise, I think we've plowed the "who will redshirt" ground thoroughly.
As for who's going to benefit most from not playing in 2016, I'm going with Nick Eubanks. He's pretty Devin Funchess-y right now: tall, lean, athletic, dozens of pounds from holding up at the point of attack. Eubanks' senior highlight tape starts not with a long touchdown catch or one-handed grab but a leveling of an unblocked DE opposite where he lined up and, two plays later, him ripping a DB to the ground in the red zone; he's already a quality receiver, and his penchant for blocking should help turn him into a very productive H-back if he's able to put some weight on during his year as an understudy.
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Seth: So some kind of consensus:
Playing immediately: Gary, Walker, Bush, Long, Hill
Probably no shirt for depth: Walker, two or three out of Crawford, N.Johnson, Mitchell, McDoom (in that order), Metellus
Might have to burn: Asiasi or McKeon, EMB
Probably redshirt: Peters, Evans, Davis, Eubanks, Spanellis, Onwenu, Dwumfour, R.Johnson, Uche, Kemp, Gil, Hawkins, Hudson, Nordin