The one-time free transfer has nudged up attrition rates, and while Michigan under Harbaugh has tended to have higher-than-optimal levels of churn anyway, the new rules are making losing 10 or more per year no longer an anomaly.
Furthermore, the roster currently sits at 100 for next year, so there's going to be a significant roster culling.
Here's a "power ranking" of the most likely Michigan players to see out their eligibility on another campus...
1. Cade McNamara - As expected. ✅
2. Louis Hansen - As expected. ✅
3. George Rooks - Unexpected ✅
4. Erick All - Unexpected ✅
5. Andrel Anthony - It was always possible after he didn't break out this season. ✅
6. Deuce Spurlock - Added to the list when Hausmann transferred in, making Spurlock #3 among 2022 LB's. ✅
7. Eyabi Okie - Did not see that one coming! Feels a little like Stewart's arrival may have made that position just a bit too crowded for him.✅
8. Jalen Perry - As expected.✅
9. RJ Moten - Could see this one coming. Outgrew safety, LB room crowded even without him. ✅
10. AJ Henning - Well down the pecking order at WR. Surely wants to be more than a return specialist. Surprised it took this long TBH.✅
11. Nikhai Hill-Green - Someone was going to be the odd man out at MIKE/WILL with Colson, Hausmann, Barrett, Rolder and NHG. It was NHG. ✅
12. Damani Dent - Didn't see this one coming - the safety depth chart opens up next year. But there are always a couple of these that just aren't quite working and they pull the plug early. ✅
***
13-20. Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones, Jeff Persi, Reece Atteberry, Greg Crippen, Tristan Bounds, Connor Jones - After adding 3 veteran OL from the portal along with Keegan and Zinter both electing to return, the OL is now over-filled with 20 bodies and there's a full-on logjam. Of these six, all of whom are headed into their 3rd, 4th or 5th years, only Barnhart is in line to start... and even he will have to fight off Myles Hinton and Trente Jones. Can't imagine fewer than 2 of these 6 leaving, and could be as many as 4. Our portal activity likely will end up chasing off some players who had been here.
21-22. Tavierre Dunlap & CJ Stokes - With Corum returning, Mullings shifting permanently from LB to RB and Benjamin Hall consolidating his eye-opening bowl practices with a strong spring game, and now news that Isaiah Gash is on scholarship... starting to feel a little like one or both could be gone soon.
23-25. Kechaun Bennett, Tyler McLaurin, TJ Guy - Even with Morris entering the draft and Okie/Upshaw the portal, still a logjam here with 11-12 bodies for 2-3 spots. Bennett and Guy have been praised by coaches as ready to play in their third season now, but represent the 3rd pairing at the EDGE position. And all of the 2-deep for this year (Harrell, Stewart, McGregor, Moore) have eligibility NEXT season.
26. Ike Iwunnah - Never a good sign when BOTH guys in the class behind you (Graham and Grant) pass you immediately, and then we take two more DT's this year. It was also suggestive when Cam Goode was brought in, signaling that Iwunnah in his second year was not even an option... and now Goode is back for a SIXTH season. Hard to see a path to playing time for him this year or next.
27. Marlin Klein - With Loveland, Barner, Bredeson and (maybe) Hibner on the roster, Klein's looking at a second year of not getting on the field. Could be starting to get restless.
28. Cristian Dixon - I know he tweeted an inclination to stay, but he remains at the very bottom of the depth chart, and had a really bad drop in the spring game. He may stubbornly stick it out - maybe he just knows he's never making the NFL, so might as well just get your degree and be on the Michigan football team? But he's the most classic attrition candidate you'll ever see.
29. Jaydon Hood - Won't play this year without multiple injuries, There is a path where he could potentially be on the 2-deep in his 4th year and getting some playing time, then starting as a 5th. Ergo, dropped him further down thew list.
30. Matt Hibner - Started to get some snaps in his third, season, and he contributes on special teams and is known as one of the better athletes on the team. But the addition of AJ Barner might make leaving and having two years elsewhere the smart play for Hibner.
31. Eamonn Dennis - Heading into his 4th year as a special teams regular but nowhere near the WR/CB 2-deep. Best guess is he gets his degree and does a 5th year elsewhere, but he's one to watch, anyway.
Furthermore, the roster currently sits at 100 for next year, so there's going to be a significant roster culling.
Here's a "power ranking" of the most likely Michigan players to see out their eligibility on another campus...
1. Cade McNamara - As expected. ✅
2. Louis Hansen - As expected. ✅
3. George Rooks - Unexpected ✅
4. Erick All - Unexpected ✅
5. Andrel Anthony - It was always possible after he didn't break out this season. ✅
6. Deuce Spurlock - Added to the list when Hausmann transferred in, making Spurlock #3 among 2022 LB's. ✅
7. Eyabi Okie - Did not see that one coming! Feels a little like Stewart's arrival may have made that position just a bit too crowded for him.✅
8. Jalen Perry - As expected.✅
9. RJ Moten - Could see this one coming. Outgrew safety, LB room crowded even without him. ✅
10. AJ Henning - Well down the pecking order at WR. Surely wants to be more than a return specialist. Surprised it took this long TBH.✅
11. Nikhai Hill-Green - Someone was going to be the odd man out at MIKE/WILL with Colson, Hausmann, Barrett, Rolder and NHG. It was NHG. ✅
12. Damani Dent - Didn't see this one coming - the safety depth chart opens up next year. But there are always a couple of these that just aren't quite working and they pull the plug early. ✅
***
13-20. Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones, Jeff Persi, Reece Atteberry, Greg Crippen, Tristan Bounds, Connor Jones - After adding 3 veteran OL from the portal along with Keegan and Zinter both electing to return, the OL is now over-filled with 20 bodies and there's a full-on logjam. Of these six, all of whom are headed into their 3rd, 4th or 5th years, only Barnhart is in line to start... and even he will have to fight off Myles Hinton and Trente Jones. Can't imagine fewer than 2 of these 6 leaving, and could be as many as 4. Our portal activity likely will end up chasing off some players who had been here.
21-22. Tavierre Dunlap & CJ Stokes - With Corum returning, Mullings shifting permanently from LB to RB and Benjamin Hall consolidating his eye-opening bowl practices with a strong spring game, and now news that Isaiah Gash is on scholarship... starting to feel a little like one or both could be gone soon.
23-25. Kechaun Bennett, Tyler McLaurin, TJ Guy - Even with Morris entering the draft and Okie/Upshaw the portal, still a logjam here with 11-12 bodies for 2-3 spots. Bennett and Guy have been praised by coaches as ready to play in their third season now, but represent the 3rd pairing at the EDGE position. And all of the 2-deep for this year (Harrell, Stewart, McGregor, Moore) have eligibility NEXT season.
26. Ike Iwunnah - Never a good sign when BOTH guys in the class behind you (Graham and Grant) pass you immediately, and then we take two more DT's this year. It was also suggestive when Cam Goode was brought in, signaling that Iwunnah in his second year was not even an option... and now Goode is back for a SIXTH season. Hard to see a path to playing time for him this year or next.
27. Marlin Klein - With Loveland, Barner, Bredeson and (maybe) Hibner on the roster, Klein's looking at a second year of not getting on the field. Could be starting to get restless.
28. Cristian Dixon - I know he tweeted an inclination to stay, but he remains at the very bottom of the depth chart, and had a really bad drop in the spring game. He may stubbornly stick it out - maybe he just knows he's never making the NFL, so might as well just get your degree and be on the Michigan football team? But he's the most classic attrition candidate you'll ever see.
29. Jaydon Hood - Won't play this year without multiple injuries, There is a path where he could potentially be on the 2-deep in his 4th year and getting some playing time, then starting as a 5th. Ergo, dropped him further down thew list.
30. Matt Hibner - Started to get some snaps in his third, season, and he contributes on special teams and is known as one of the better athletes on the team. But the addition of AJ Barner might make leaving and having two years elsewhere the smart play for Hibner.
31. Eamonn Dennis - Heading into his 4th year as a special teams regular but nowhere near the WR/CB 2-deep. Best guess is he gets his degree and does a 5th year elsewhere, but he's one to watch, anyway.
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