Best Guess 2020 Football Roster: Bye Week Edition

This is a periodic feature taking a look at how we project Michigan to manage its 85 scholarships for the following season. This considers several factors: potential early entries to the NFL draft, those who may transfer and/or not rewarded a 5th year, latest information on the incoming recruiting class, the transfer portal, and our own speculative analysis. This feature is intended to be a tool for those trying to keep track of who could be coming and going for the Wolverines. Obviously, that also means some names of players either currently on the roster, or currently thought to be committed, may not be on this list. Make of that what you will.

Quarterback (3)

Dylan McCaffrey, (R-Jr.), Joe Milton (R-So.), Cade McNamara (R-Fr.)

The medical retirement of J.D. Johnson leaves Michigan thin at this position from a numbers standpoint. The Wolverines are attempting to get in late on a couple of quarterbacks, one uncommitted and another committed to Washington State, but for now we’re not projecting they land either one. If they don’t, we could certainly see them hit the transfer portal after Signing Day for more depth. McCaffrey and Milton will battle for the starting job next season.

Running Back (7)

Chris Evans (Sr.), Ben VanSumeren (Jr.), Hassan Haskins (R-So.), Christian Turner (R-So.), Zach Charbonnet (So.), Blake Corum (Fr.), Eamonn Dennis (Fr.)

Based on recent Twitter activity, it appears the path is clearing for Evans to return to the program after serving an academic suspension. This will be a loaded position group with or without him. Charbonnet broke Mike Hart and Tyrone Wheatley’s record for touchdowns by a freshman. Talk about some elite company. Haskins’ emergence helped turn around the season. Corum is one of the jewels of the incoming recruiting class. He’s putting up spectacular highlights every week it seems. And don’t sleep on Dennis. He’s electric with the ball in his hands. 2020 recruit Gage Garcia is not counted here, because he’s also expected to wrestle at Michigan, and won’t count towards the football scholarship total until he plays in a game.

Wide Receiver (7)

Ronnie Bell (Jr.), Giles Jackson (So.), Cornelius Johnson (So.), Mike Sainristil (So.), George Johnson (R-Fr.), A.J. Henning (Fr.), Roman Wilson (Fr.)

This is another position the Wolverines could scour the transfer portal for more depth, because seven scholarship receivers in a spread offense doesn’t give you much margin. Especially when they’re as inexperienced as this group looks on paper. The good news is this appears more like the sort of receivers that thrive in Josh Gattis’ style of offense. Henning is one of the top overall recruits in the class, and Wilson is one of the fastest players Michigan has ever recruited. Furthermore, it’s hard to imagine the production being worse next season even with the obvious talent drop-off. As of the time this was written, Michigan’s leading receiver (Bell) has zero touchdowns, and Michigan’s best receiver (Nico Collins) has a meager 22 catches. There’s no way you can do worse than that production nine games into next season, unless you switch to a triple-option offense.

Tight End (4)

Ben Mason (Sr.), Luke Schoonmaker (R-So.), Erick All (So.), Matthew Hibner (Fr.)

Another unit it shouldn’t be ruled out mining the transfer portal for a potential depth player, unless Michigan can pull a minor upset and land top tight end prospect Theo Johnson in the 2020 class. Taking a flyer putting Mason here, but he’s a man without a position and could certainly be an in-line blocking asset at the very least. Schoonmaker is a top athlete, and All is a player the coaches have been high on from the day he arrived in Ann Arbor.

Offensive Line (17)

Stephen Spanellis (R-Sr.), Cesar Ruiz (Sr.), Chuck Filiaga (R-Jr.), Joel Honingford (R-Jr.), Andrew Stueber (R-Jr.), Ryan Hayes (R-So.), Jalen Mayfield (R-So.), Karsen Barnhart (R-Fr.), Zach Carpenter (R-Fr.), Trente Jones (R-Fr.), Trevor Keegan (R-Fr.), Nolan Rumler (R-Fr.), Jack Stewart (R-Fr.), Reece Atteberry (Fr.), Micah Mazzccua (Fr.), Jeffrey Persi (Fr.), Zak Zinter (Fr.)

The Wolverines will have to replace a lot of experience up front in 2020, but thankfully the recruiting and development is now in position to do exactly that. With players spending 2-3 years being developed in the program ready and waiting in the wings, rather than being rushed into the lineup out of necessity. We could potentially see a starting lineup of Mayfield-Stueber (moved to guard)-Ruiz-Spanellis-Hayes in the opener at Washington next September, with lots of depth behind them. We are projecting top prospect Andrew Gentry to eventually sign with Michigan, but he won’t count until the 2022 class because of a two-year Mormon mission.

Defensive Line (14)

Michael Dwumfour (R-Sr.), Kwity Paye (Sr.), Luiji Vilain (R-Jr.), Aidan Hutchinson (Jr.), Taylor Upshaw (R-So.), Julius Welschof (R-So.), Chris Hinton (So.), Mike Morris (R-Fr.), Gabe Newburg (R-Fr.), David Ojabo (R-Fr.), Mazi Smith (R-Fr.), Kris Jenkins (Fr.), Aaron Lewis (Fr.), Braiden McGregor (Fr.)

This would likely be the deepest and most talented defensive front returning in the Big Ten. Among the newcomers, McGregor might be the top overall recruit in his class, but he’s going to be coming off knee surgery so probably wise to temper expectations for next fall. Much will be expected of Hinton and Smith. A full year of development makes Ojabo and his eye-popping athleticism an intriguing option down the road. But he’s not alone. Michigan could also potentially apply for medical redshirts for Josh Uche and Carlo Kemp, although Uche’s NFL Draft stock should be high so he probably thinks it’s time to move on. Kemp would obviously be welcomed back with open arms if he wants to apply for it.

Linebacker (8)

Devin Gill (R-Sr.), Josh Ross (Sr.), Cameron McGrone (R-So.), Charles Thomas (R-Fr.), Nikhai-Hill Green (Fr.), Kalel Mullings (Fr.), Osmane Savage (Fr.), Cornell Wheeler (Fr.)

Michigan emphasized this unit in the 2020 class, and the combo of Ross and McGrone could be the best inside duo the Wolverines have had in recent memory. Gill could be a surprise bring back for a fifth year. He’s dynamite on special teams, and there’s a lack of experience behind Ross and McGrone. Mullings is the highest-rated prospect among the incoming freshmen.

Viper (4)

Michael Barrett (R-So.), Anthony Solomon (So.), Joey Velazquez (R-Fr.) William Mohan (Fr.)

Barrett looks to have finally found a permanent home here, and has the athleticism you’re looking for. However, by burning Solomon’s redshirt on special teams, Michigan is revealing it has big plans for him next year. Mohan was Michigan’s top Viper prospect on their 2020 recruiting board. He’s still a little under-sized even for this tweener position, so it’s iffy how much he’ll be able to contribute right away.

Defensive Back (14)

Brad Hawkins (Sr.), Ambry Thomas (Sr.), Sammy Faustin (R-So.), Vincent Gray (R-So.), Gemon Green (R-So.), German Green (R-So.), Daxton Hill (So.), Quinten Johnson (R-Fr.), Jalen Perry (R-Fr.), D.J. Turner (R-Fr.), Jordan Morant (Fr.), Makari Page (Fr.), Andre Seldon (Fr.), R.J. Moten (Fr.)

Michigan is still looking to add one more corner down the stretch here if it can. A starting unit of Thomas and Gray at corner, and Hawkins and Hill at safety, would likely be the best secondary returning in the Big Ten. Look out of for Turner next season, the coaches are very high on him. Coming up with quality depth shouldn’t be an issue, either, given all the competition.

Specialists (3)

Quinn Nordin (R-Sr.), Brad Robbins (Sr.), Jake Moody (Jr.)

Moody having a redshirt available makes it possible to justify a second scholarship kicker on the roster, if the strong-legged Nordin excels down the stretch this season. Because Nordin could handle the duties next season, thus prolonging Moody’s availability through 2022. Robbins, the nation’s top-ranked punter in the 2017 class, will take over for Will Hart as it stands now.

Notes:

This roster projection puts the Wolverines four under the 85-scholarship limit, which gives Michigan ample space for the transfer market, which schools now need to annually account for with the portal.
Eligibility is how each player would be classified in 2020.
This projected 2020 roster would be given a score of 287 points in my team total talent ratings. The 2019 roster scored 310 points when the season began. However, with four available scholarships, the Wolverines should fill those with players that puts the 2020 roster on par with 2019.