Position Group Overview
Quarterback (Grade: A-)
Cade McNamara (4star #7PRO ’19) returns after starting every game for the Wolverine’s in 2021. He completed 64% of his passes for 2,576 yards and 15 TDs to 6 INTs. Although not a threat with his legs, McNamara has proven to be the most reliable quarterback Harbaugh has had at Michigan.
JJ McCarthy (5star #5QB ’21) has a bigger arm, a bigger frame, and is more athletic than McNamara. He carved out a role as a gadget-QB as a true freshman last year, going 34-59 for 516 yards, 5 TDs, and 2 INTs. He also added 166 yards and 2 TDs on the ground at 4.6 ypc. With another year under his belt, don’t be surprised if the fan-favorite McCarthy overtakes McNamara by November.
No matter who starts, Michigan is set at QB. Although neither of these two are among the top 5 quarterbacks in the Big Ten, the way these two quarterbacks compliment each other boosts their grade.
Running Back (Grade: A-)
Although they lose 2021’s leading rusher in Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum (4star #12RB ’20) returns after being the more efficient back last year. He rushed for 962 yards and 11 TDs on 6.7 ypc (better than Haskin’s 4.9 ypc). Now the lead back, Corum has an opportunity to put up elite numbers.
Donovan Edwards (4star #4RB ’21) will be the primary backup after rushing for 178 yards and catching 20 passes as a true freshman last year. He seems more than capable of stepping up into a bigger role and can be a dependable, dynamic running back if Corum goes down.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan runs near 50/50 split like last year or if Corum will be a bell-cow. Either way, this is one of the Big Ten’s best running back duos.
Receivers (Grade: A)
Wide Receivers
The only loss from this talented room is Daylen Baldwin, who started 5 games and was the Wolverine’s 6th-leading receiver last year. Ronnie Bell (3star #212WR ’18) might actually be the team’s leading receiver in 2022 after missing the entire 2021 season with an injury. Bell put up 74 receptions, 1,159 yards, and a couple TDs between the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He can be electric with the ball in his hands so it will be exciting to see what he can do with QB play that tops anything he’s played with before.
The big-sizes Cornelius Johnson (4star #26WR ’20) returns after pacing Michigan with 39 receptions, 620 yards, and 3TDs. Fellow third-year Roman Wilson(4star #40WR ’20) hopes to take yet another step forward after improving last year, putting up 25 receptions for 420 yards and 3 TDs.
Darrius Clemons (4star #24WR ’22) and AJ Henning (4star #18WR ’18) help provide solid depth behind the starting trio of Bell, Johnson, and Wilson. Although there isn’t incredible playmaking ability behind Bell, there is ample depth and talent considering Michigan’s run-first approach.
Tight Ends
Both Luke Schoonmaker (3star #39TE ’18) and Erick All (4star #13TE ’19) return for 2022. Schoonmaker is the primary blocker of the two (although he managed to haul in 17 receptions and 3 TDs last year). Erick All, the more talented pass-catcher, was Honorable Mention with 38 receptions for 437 yards and 2 TDs.
With the competition for targets it is not guaranteed these two will see improved numbers. Nonetheless, Schoonmaker and All make an elite and complimentary duo at tight end.
Offensive Line (Grade: A+)
This group won the Joe Moore Award for best offensive line last year and might be even better this year. Although they lose their C and RT, they add C Olusegun Olutwatimi (2star #160OG ’17) from Virginia. He was 2nd-team All-America and one of the three finalists for the Rimington Award in 2021, making him an immediate impact player at a position Michigan needed to fill.
RG Zac Zinter (4star #10OG ’20) and LG Trevor Keegan (4star #16OT ’19) were each Big Ten Honorable mention last year and solidify the best interior offensive line in the entire country. RT is the only position they need to fill and it will most likely be done by Trente Jones (4 star #11OT ’19).
There is a decent group of game experience behind this incredibly strong starting five. Michigan could very well win the Joe Moore Award for the second consecutive season.
Defensive Line (Grade: B+)
Although this group stays largely in-tact, All-American DE Aidan Hutchinson leaves an impossibly big hole along the Michigan defensive line. The only other loss is NT Chris Hinton, who started each game in 2021.
The top defensive ends look to be Mike Morris (3star #27SDE ’19) and Kris Jenkins (3star #21SDE ’20), who combined for 12 starts and 39 tackles last year. Taylor Upshaw (3star #35SDE ’18) offers good experience and is one of only two returning players with any career sacks, getting 2.5 last year. Derrick Moore (4star #8DL ’22) may be expected to step into a big role as a true freshman given the lack of elite talent on the edge.
On the interior, the Wolverines get a key return in Mazi Smith (4star #11DT ’19) who earned Big Ten Honorable Mention last year. Michigan has a few options to fill the other spot with Rayshum Benny (4star #29DL ’21), Julius Welschof (3star #28SDE ’18), and UCF-transfer Cam Goode (3star #40DT ’18).
What this group lacks in top-tier talent it largely makes up for with great depth. Young players are bound to step up, but Hutchinson’s production can’t be matched by any number of players on this team. Michigan’s defensive front is sure to come back down to Earth in 2022.
Linebacker (Grade: B)
They lose their top linebackers from last year in John Ross (their leading tackler) and David Ojabo (11 sacks). Like Hutchinson along the defensive line, the talent and production these two brought is going to be nearly impossible to replace.
Nikhai Hill-Green (3star #25OLB ’20) and Junior Colson (4star #10LB ’21) both split the 3rd starting spot in 2021, so they should each step up into starting roles this year. Colson seems primed to breakout as the leader in this group after tallying 61 tackles as a true freshman.
Michael Barrett (3star #61ATH ’18) is likely to fill in the 3rd spot. He started all 6 games of 2020, putting up 44 tackles. But he was buried in the depth chart left to mainly special teams duty last season.
Although Hill-Green and Colson are two good pieces to build around, the loss of their top three guys in the front-7 leaves Michigan with too many questions to be considered one of the conference’s best.
Defensive Backs (Grade: B)
The secondary lose about as much as the front-7 with their top cornerback and two safeties gone.
The other starting cornerback spot was split by DJ Turner (3star #40CB ’19) and Gemon Green (3star #35CB ’18). Turner was Big Ten Honorable Mention last year with 33 tackles and 7 PBUs. He possesses the most raw talent of the two and hopes to develop into a lockdown corner for the Wolverines. However, there is little to no experience behind these two.
RJ Moten (4star #26S ’20), who started 5 games last year, and Rod More (3star #40S ’21), who started 4, are a solid pair of safeties and should help keep the top on this defense. However, like the cornerbacks, there is almost no experience behind these two.
While Turner, Green, Moten, and More make up a solid secondary, it could turn ugly real quick if the injury bug hits.
Schedule & Game Prediction
Projected 2022 Record: 12-2 (8-1 BIG)
| Opponent | Date | Time (EST) | Prediction |
| BYE | – | – | – |
| vs Colorado State | Sept 3rd | 12:00pm | W |
| vs Hawaii | Sept 10th | 8:00pm | W |
| vs Connecticut | Sept 17th | 12:00pm | W |
| vs Maryland | Sept 24th | 12:00pm | W |
| at Iowa | Oct 1st | TBD | W |
| at Indiana | Oct 8th | 12:00pm | W |
| vs Penn State | Oct 15th | TBD | W |
| BYE | – | – | – |
| vs Michigan State | Oct 29th | TBD | W |
| at Rutgers | Nov 5th | TBD | W |
| vs Nebraska | Nov 12th | TBD | W |
| vs Illinois | Nov 19th | TBD | W |
| at Ohio State | Nov 26th | 12:00pm | L |
| Rose Bowl vs Utah | Jan 2nd | 4:00pm | L |
Coaching Changes
Jim Harbaugh enters his 8th year as the head coach of Michigan, accumulating a 61-24 record so far. Although there aren’t a high number of coaching changes entering 2022, the losses they took are big.
Offense
OC Josh Gattis has been a big part of Michigan’s offensive evolution, culminating in one of the country’s best run games in 2021. But Gattis left this off-season to take the same role for Miami. He has been Michigan’s OC and WR coach since 2019.
Michigan didn’t bring in anyone from outside the program to help cushion the loss of the best offensive coach Harbaugh has had at Michigan. The offensive coordinator duty will be shared by Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss.
Moore was the Co-OC and OL coach in 2021 after being promoted from TE coach – a position he held from 2018-20. Weiss was their QB coach last year – his first with the Wolverines after spending 12 years with the Ravens.
Although these aren’t homerun hires, Michigan’s offense returns enough talent and experience at every position to at least meet 2021’s production.
Defense
DC Mike MacDonald was biggest driver behind Michigan’s defensive transformation in 2021. In his first season with Michigan, he was regularly praised by players and fellow coaches for the impact he had. But after just one year at the school, MacDonald is returning to the Ravens coaching staff.
Jesse Minter will replace MacDonald as Michigan’s DC after leading Vanderbilt’s defense in 2021 and coaching with MacDonald on the Ravens from 2018-20. Vanderbilt was last in the SEC with 458 yards allowed per game in 2021.
They also lose DL coach Shaun Nua who left to join Lincoln Riley’s USC staff. Nua played at Michigan from ’93-96 and has been coaching with Bryan Kelley at Cincinnati and Notre Dame since 2007.
Needless to say, the losses of DE Aidan Hutchinson, LBs David Ojabo & John Ross, S Daxton Hall, and their top two defensive coaches leaves this defense with lots of holes to fill.
What to Expect in 2022
Offense
Despite the loss of their offensive genius, expect one of the most prolific offenses in the program’s history in 2022. With talent and experience at QB, RB, WR, TE, and OL, the only thing that could hold this offense back is conservative play-calling.
Even with the offense putting up outstanding numbers, expect a QB controversy in Ann Arbor. Cade McNamara should start week 1 and have little trouble with an easy schedule to start the season. However, the ensuing 4-game stretch of vs Maryland, at Iowa, at Indiana, and vs Penn State leaves opportunity for the incumbent starter to struggle.
Michigan fans are itching to see JJ McCarthy take over at QB. With their bye week coming after a matchup against a tough Penn State defense, it’s very likely that McNamara could struggle and leave the door open for McCarthy to take the starting job. Harbaugh could use the extra week after Penn State to prepare JJ to start vs Michigan State. Both QBs are likely to see snaps in every game this season, but the title of “QB1” might change a once or twice.
Expect Ronnie Bell to have a great comeback season and pace all Michigan receivers in receptions and yards. He is being drastically overlooked after missing all of 2021. Bell has the greatest RAC ability out of all the Michigan receivers. Although Roman Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, and Erick All are all great receivers, they’ll likely rotate as the second receiving option behind Bell depending on the matchup.
Defense
Michigan’s defense was among the nation’s best last year. But with the loss of 6 of their best players and their defensive mastermind heading to Miami, expect a much more vulnerable defense in 2022.
Expect Derrick Moore to be one of the top-performing freshmen in all of the college football along the new-look defensive line. He has probably the most raw talent out of the entire group and will have an opportunity to play a big role for this defense. However, expect Michigan to struggle to consistently pressure opposing QBs.
Expect Junior Colson to step up as Michigan’s defensive leader and one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. However, you cannot expect him to carry an entire position group that lacks experience.
Expect Michigan’s pass defense numbers to drop. Even though they have a solid 4 starters, opposing QBs will have much more time to throw without Hutchinson and Ojabo getting in their way. Coupled with a lack of depth behind the projected starters, Michigan will struggle to defend the Big Ten’s most prolific offenses.
Overall, expect Michigan’s defense to be much more vulnerable. Contrary to how Michigan has usually operated under Harbaugh, the offense should be able to outscore most Big Ten teams. But when they match up against the nation’s best offense in Ohio State, Michigan’s weaknesses will come to light.
Post-Season
Although Michigan is likely to enter their season-ending matchup against Ohio State in the nation’s top 4, they avoid 3 of the Big Ten West’s 4 best teams and have no marquee non-conference matchups. Without an abundance of quality wins, the loss against their rival will knock Michigan from playoff contention.
However, an 11-1 record will be good enough to keep Michigan in the top-10 and earn a place in the Rose Bowl. They will face the Pac-12 champion Utah. The Utes should be highly motivated for this matchup after the senior-laden team narrowly missed out on the playoff. They will also hope to avenge last season’s nail-biter loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Harbaugh is just 1-5 in bowl games in his tenure at Michigan. Although this team features many seniors who will hope to finish their career on a high note, the emotional letdown of being bounced from the playoff by their rival may be too much to overcome.
In another Rose Bowl classic, Michigan will fall to Utah – a disappointing end to a promising season for the Michigan Wolverines.