Tag: Ambry Thomas

Ambry Thomas declares for 2021 NFL Draft

The Michigan football starting cornerback is moving on, regardless if there’s a winter/spring season or not.

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Whether or not the Big Ten is able to pull off a winter season, Michigan football will be without another one of its star players.

Just days after starting right tackle Jalen Mayfield announced that he wouldn’t be returning to school in order to focus on preparing for the NFL draft, this time a player on defense decided to join him. Though the conference is reportedly picking up steam with the idea of starting the season in early January as opposed to spring proper, Wolverines cornerback Ambry Thomas — a player who very well could have entered the 2020 NFL Draft — has made the choice to move on with his career and look ahead to joining the professional ranks in 2021.

He made the announcement that his Michigan career is over via Twitter.

Despite a debilitating bout with colitis over the offseason in 2019, Thomas had his best season yet last year, his first as a starter. PFF gave him an 80.8 grade in 2019, a year he started with a bang, with season-best coverage and defensive ratings in the season opener.

Without Thomas, Michigan is without both of its starting cornerbacks from the past season.

Michigan CB Ambry Thomas to declare for 2021 NFL Draft

Another talented Big Ten player is opting to make the early jump to the pros instead of waiting for a potential spring season

Another top prospect from the Big Ten Conference is opting to make the early jump to the next level instead of waiting around for the chance to play in the spring.

Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas is the latest in a long line of college football players who are making the choice to start preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft, making his announcement Thursday via social media:

Thomas joins fellow Big Ten prospects like Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman, Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore and fellow Wolverine Jalen Mayfield as players who will be making the jump to the NFL instead of waiting to see if the Big Ten plays football in the Spring.

The Big Ten postponed their 2020 fall season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving tons of players with a difficult decision about their football futures.

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Opinion: Wisconsin’s most likely loss this regular season

After looking through the updated Big Ten only schedule for this season, there appears to only be one real test for the Wisconsin Badgers this year, the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan was not the powerhouse that it has tried to be last season because injuries, as well as a lack of depth at key positions, caused the Wolverines to finish the season at a mediocre 6-3. 

After looking through the updated Big Ten only schedule for this season, there appears to only be one real test for the Wisconsin Badgers this year, the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan was not the powerhouse that it has tried to be last season because injuries, as well as a lack of depth at key positions, caused the Wolverines to finish the season at a mediocre 6-3. 

With an entire offseason to get healthy on both sides of the ball, Michigan can return to pushing for the number one spot in the Big Ten East behind perennial powerhouse Ohio State. This season, the Wolverines will be returning Dylan McCaffrey from injury to be the future of this team that has been talked about since his commitment. McCaffrey is an excellent dual-threat quarterback, that with the right weapons, could be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten this season behind Tanner Morgan and Justin Fields. 

Luckily, McCaffrey will have Ronnie Bell returning this season as well. Last year, Bell had a solid season filling in for the injured Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black, despite the insecurity at the quarterback position over the course of the season. He earned 758 yards and one touchdown with an outstanding average of 15.9 yards per catch in 2019. Bell can be a threat downfield and in the return game this season against Wisconsin. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Michigan will also be returning two of the top defensive lineman in the Big Ten in Aiden Hutchinson and Kwity Paye. These two are also ranked highly nationally and could provide matchup problems for the inexperienced Wisconsin offensive line this season. Another player returning for Michigan is defensive back Ambry Thomas, who is a favorite by many to be First-Team All-Big Ten this season. Thomas had a great year last year with 30 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and three pass deflections and will likely continue to improve in his senior season. 

Michigan is losing a lot of talent at wide receiver this season because of the transfer of Tarik Black to Texas and the loss of Donovan Peoples-Jones to the NFL, but the return of much of this team from injury will make Michigan the biggest threat to Wisconsin next year. The Wolverines have a stout defense with a scheme that has shut down the running attack of the Badgers in the past, and if Dylan McCaffrey can efficiently lead the offense with Ronnie Bell and Zach Charbonnet, this team could give Wisconsin a run for its money at “The Big House” in September.  

Power Ranking: Michigan football future NFL draft potential

Where we envision the current crop of Wolverines to be drafted as of today if not much changes between now and next year.

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The 2020 NFL Draft is firmly in the rearview, but that means we can start taking a look towards the 2021 draft for the potential of those currently on the Michigan team.

The Wolverines had a tied second-best haul this past April, sending 10 players to the league — behind only LSU, who had 14. Could 2021 see even more of the maize and blue hear their name called by Commissioner Roger Goodell?

It’s certainly possible, even though Michigan is reloading on both sides of the ball. But, one could argue, that Jim Harbaugh is building a program more adept at sending more players to the pros.

So, we took all of the starter-quality players — and a likely starter, hence we’re not prognosticating a quarterback or a player who’s not the obvious winner at his position — who are entering their third year or beyond to estimate as of right now where they could go in the 2021 NFL Draft.

It’s a feature we very well could update during the season as it progresses.

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Future NFL draft Power Rankings:

1. Jalen Mayfield

Unsurprisingly, the top guy we picked is the one that ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. foresees as a future first-round draft pick.

2019 was Mayfield’s first year as a starter, but he already has the body to be an NFL caliber tackle, and he’s shown his prowess on the offensive line, helping contain Ohio State’s No. 2 pick overall in Chase Young in The Game this past November.

Linemen from either side of the ball from Michigan are more likely to be early-round picks, as evidenced by some of the latest first-round picks in the Jim Harbaugh era: Cesar Ruiz, Rashan Gary and Taco Charlton. Yes, Jabrill Peppers and Devin Bush Jr. were also first-rounders, but when you also look at the other early rounds, that’s where we’ve seen players like Josh Uche, Chase Winovich and Chris Wormley picked.

Given his upside and the fact that he’s only played one year as a starter and is looked at so highly at this juncture, Mayfield has the ability to potentially capitalize on an early departure if predictions hold true.

Where we see him as of now?

We’re going with Kiper and slating him as a first-round pick if he does choose to leave early, assuming he continues his level of play in 2020.

NEXT: An early-round wide receiver off the board?

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Don Brown: Michigan veterans, young and old, stepping into leadership roles

There’s a fringe benefit to the pandemic, in that the Wolverines are finding more leadership from players younger and older.

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Things have been different across the country beyond as far as college football is concerned. But the college game was just starting to ramp up for spring ball as the coronavirus pandemic hit, which changed the game considerably.

Instead of players getting their chance as returning starters, new starters or vying for a bigger role than they had previously, they were relegated to their homes. Meetings moved from the Schembechler Hall meeting rooms and the field at the Al Glick Fieldhouse, everything has taken place this spring in the confines of players’ own homes. So there’s been something of an adjustment.

However, it’s not all negative.

Don Brown discussed the adjustments with Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast released on Tuesday, and noted that given that the system has remained mostly the same, it’s allowed with a strong level of familiarity. Thus, as they’ve made their usual set of changes that comes with every offseason, the younger players have benefitted from the tutelage of the upperclassmen.

There’s a reason why this is a great situation for Michigan right now.

“I also think another feature for us, and I’m certainly telling our guys, is we’ve been in this system for four years and obviously we’re tweaking it every year to a certain degree,” Brown said. “But at least in the commonality, our guys really know it. More importantly, our upperclassmen know it like the back of their hand so they’re able to work with the young guys and teach them the concepts. Because obviously, the best leadership comes from within.”

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So who’s been stepping up as leaders?

Most of the names aren’t particularly surprising. Of course, Carlo Kemp is one of them, given that he was a team captain a year ago. But it’s not just the fifth-year types or the seniors who are taking the mantle.

Brown notes a couple of younger players who have also worked to help the younger players along.

“The nice thing is you don’t have to lean on (the upperclassmen),” Brown said. “That’s happening on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis. You mention Kwity, you mention Carlo – Aidan Hutchinson is another guy that comes to mind up front. We have Josh Ross, but we also have a veteran in Cam McGrone now who knows the concepts well. So that’s a big help.

“And then on the back end, Ambry Thomas, who’s just such a solid leader. Brad Hawkins. Daxton Hill a year older. Vincent Gray a year older. We feel like we can hit the ground running as long as our conditioning allows us to.”

This offseason, as mentioned by Josh Gattis to Jon Jansen, Michigan also brought in a Navy SEAL captain who’s worked with the team to help enhance their leadership capabilities.

As Brown said, ‘the best leadership comes from within.’ Despite ‘leaders and best’ being in the fight song, a renewed energy as such might be the one thing that Michigan had been missing.

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Ambry Thomas announces 2020 decision

The senior Wolverine has made a decision on what he’ll do in 2020.

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He said it wasn’t much of a decision, really.

After practice for the VRBO Citrus Bowl in December, Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas, the junior from Detroit (MI) King, noted that he hadn’t put anything on social media declaring whether he was staying in Ann Arbor or if he would go pro with a year left on the table. But he said that was because he fully intended on coming back.

However, that came with the caveat: what if he showed out against the Alabama wideouts in the bowl game?

Thomas had a solid performance, but not one that would have indicated a sure fire first-round NFL Draft grade. Thus, as expected, it looks as if he’ll return to the Wolverines in 2020, as he indicated on Instagram on Saturday night.

Given his standout season, it’s excellent news for the maize and blue, who already have to replace Lavert Hill, who has exhausted his eligibility after four years with the program.

Opposite Thomas, Vincent Gray is the likely candidate to step in, but DJ Turner, the Green twins and Jalen Perry also could play big roles — and that’s not including incoming freshmen Andre Seldon and Darion Green-Warren.

Michigan football defense grades from the 2019 season

Michigan football ended its 2019 season 9-4. The defense wasn’t as good as year’s past but was better than most projected. How’d they do?

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2019 was a big year for Michigan’s defensive coordinator Don Brown. He has lost talented players before and simply reloaded, but this year was tougher. A lot of new players would start for him, and with two new defensive coaches underneath him, after both linebackers coach Al Washington and defensive line coach Greg Mattison left for Ohio State. Harbaugh would bring in Anthony Campanile from Boston College to coach the linebackers, and Shaun Nua from Arizona State to coach the defensive line.

The 2019 Michigan football defense was better than most people projected. Headed into the season Brown’s group wasn’t getting the respect they deserved. Even with new starters across the board and new coaches, they still had loads of talent and deserved to be a top-10 defense.

The defense would see new starters at every level. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson would get to start after waiting for his turn. Linebacker Khaleke Hudson sought out to redeem his poor 2018 season. Cornerback Lavert Hill would be the top cornerback alongside Ambry Thomas and Vincent Gray. Michigan would also get to see five-star freshman safety Daxton Hill debut.

Special Teams even had an interesting battle at kicker between Quinn Nordin and Jake Moody as last season ended with a debacle between who would start.

While the defense did better than expected, in the end, it just wasn’t enough as they couldn’t slow down the offenses of Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Alabama. They were given a tough challenge of Army early on in the season too and needed double overtime to take down the Black Knights

With that said, it’s time to review how each position, including head coach and coordinators, did in the 2019 season. I already broke down the offense earlier as it’s the defenses turn to get graded on their performance.

Defensive Line: C

Michigan’s defensive ends would see some new faces start for them. Aidan Hutchinson would be one of them and his sophomore season was a good one, finishing with 69 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, three and a half sacks, and three forced fumbles. His partner in crime, and the other new starting defensive end, was Kwity Paye, who finished the season with 50 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six and a half sacks.

While the ends were performing well, the defensive tackles are where Michigan had some trouble creating pressure. Carlo Kemp would be one of the starters and finished with 40 total tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. Michael Dwumfour would be playing through an injury for most of the season according to Dwumfour, and his play was affected greatly, finishing with just nine total tackles, two pass deflections, one and a half tackles for loss and just half a sack in the seven games he played in.

The depth behind the players wasn’t as rich as years past. Defensive tackle Chris Hinton would play in Dwumfours absence and didn’t have much production either, finishing with just 10 total tackles and half a tackle for loss. Defensive end Mike Danna, a transfer from Central Michigan, would play and help out with his veteran presence, finishing with 38 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. Defensive end Luiji Vilan would finally see the field after missing two seasons with injuries, and he had seven total tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble this year.

Linebacker: B
Josh Uche would continue to build himself up for the NFL, finishing the season with 33 total tackles, 10.5 tackle for loss, team-high seven and a half sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. Devin Gil saw a step back in playtime, only appearing in six games and finishing with nine total tackles and a half a tackle for loss.
The biggest thing about the group this year was the emergence of Cam McGrone. Josh Ross was starting before him and finished the year with 18 total tackles in just three games before getting injured. McGrone stepped in for Ross and ever since then Ross hasn’t seen the field, despite being healthy enough to play. McGrone finished the year with 65 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass deflection.
Cornerback: B-

Michigan got a boost for its secondary this year with Lavert Hill deciding to return for his senior year last year, and it ended up being the right choice in the end. Hill finished the year with 16 total tackles, nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and a tackle for loss. While it wasn’t an eye-popping season, he still overall played well.

The real star was Ambry Thomas, who overcame colitis in August, after not knowing when he’d return, and had a huge sophomore season, finishing with 38 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and three interceptions, along with two fumble recoveries. With Thomas moving up to second-string, Vincent Gray would be moved up to third and overall had a quiet season. He finished with 20 total tackles, five pass deflections, and a tackle and a half for loss.

Safety: B-

Safety Josh Metellus made the right choice in returning to Michigan in 2019 for his senior year also, as he had a career-high 74 total tackles this season, along with five pass deflections, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Brad Hawkins was his original starting partner, finishing the season with 53 total tackles, and a pass deflection. An injury to Hawkins would force him to miss some time, but in the meantime, his playing time would get reduced due to five-star freshman Daxton Hill taking over in his absence.

Hill had an interesting year. While he would start the year on special teams, with Hawkins injury he moved towards defense and his role at safety. While Hill didn’t blow up the stat sheet like many were hoping for, along with showing signs of being a freshman, he was able to impress during his playtime. He had 36 total tackles, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.

Now onto the special teams and coaching…
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What Alabama is saying about Michigan before their matchup

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. What has the Crimson Tide said about the Wolverines so far?

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In their first-ever matchup, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh takes on Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban. This is a matchup people have wanted to see for years and one that people thought would happen in a College Football Playoff game. While it isn’t on center stage, it’s still on New Year’s Day and in a solid bowl game.

Either way, Saban and his coaching staff and players got to prepare for what Harbaugh and his team will throw at them. Alabama is already out two starters as cornerback Trevon Diggs and linebacker Terrell Lewis have already declared for the NFL draft and will not be playing in the Citrus Bowl. Michigan won’t have any players sitting out to help their NFL draft stock, but some will miss the game due to injuries.

“This is an opportunity to enhance a player’s future by playing really well, and maybe improving their draft status,” Saban said. “That’s what we’ll emphasize to our older players on the team, and they’ll all have a choice to make. But when you have guys that don’t play in bowl games, and they do play in the playoffs, that in and of itself tells you the view of the players in terms of how they look at the bowl game.”

Another talking point about this game is Michigan offensive coordinator and former Alabama co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis. How will his knowledge of the Crimson Tide team help the Wolverines will be something to watch, and Saban had nothing but positives to say about his former colleague.

“I think Josh has done a really, really good job with their offensive team,” Saban said. “They present a lot of problems for you. They’ve got great balance. They can run the ball. They’ve got a good offensive line. They’ve got a good, young back. The quarterback has played well for them. He can make all the throws. They use the RPOs. But I think the balance that they have on offense, the formation variables that they use, the things that they make you adjust to are difficult things to prepare for, and it’s good that we have a little extra time. But I think their offense has been very effective for them this year.”

When looking at how this win can help Alabama, Saban noted what it means for his team and the program itself. Not many people see a point in a bowl game and some see it as a dangerous game for players that have a chance to get drafted in the NFL. Others see it as a learning experience for young players and more, despite it not being for the National Championship.

“Just how crafty they are,” Smith said. “They can switch it up. They can be physical. They can be patient and adjust in the things that they do. They switch it up, keep you guessing, and have you just wondering, like, ‘OK, what is he going to do this time?'”
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian had more to add when talking about the Michigan defense.
The tide then switched as defensive coordinator Pete Golding spoke about the Michigan offense and how Gattis and quarterback Shea Patterson have led the team to some success this season.

“I think offensively what they did, Coach Gattis and those guys do a really good job,” Golding said. “So, schematically, they make you account for all 11. They’re going to run the quarterback. So, obviously, your structure on defense, you’ve got to be able to account for the quarterback and the run game. And I think on third down, he does a really nice job of extending plays. So when things break down in the back end, they’ve got guys covered, he can step up or out. And he does a really nice job, based on the coverage, whether he’s going to scramble at the back stretch in a two-man principle or he does a nice job in the zone of keeping his eyes downfield.”

“Their receivers do a really good job of breaking off the routes,” Golding said. “And a little of their explosive plays come on third down when the play broke down and it wasn’t designed to be that way but it became an explosive play off the scramble. You know, in a man principle or a zone principle, you know, the scramble rules and he hits a deep shot.”

“So I think the big thing is accounting for him, obviously in the run game,” Golding said. “He’s very athletic. They do a lot of unique things to be able to run the quarterback, for you to use all 11 guys. And I think on third down, it’s going to be pivotal, obviously, to keep him, make him be a pocket passer and use our hands. Obviously, I think, the flight of the ball, we’ve got to do a good job upfront getting our hands up but we’ve got to be able to contain him and keep him in the pocket.”

“Just that we’ve got it, just that we can still compete, we can still play hard, you know, that we still have the ‘Bama factor, something that we talk about a lot,” McKinney said. “So I know in a lot of the games that we play, we haven’t really played our best, but we just want to come out here and show that we still can play and that we still can show that we are ‘Bama and that we can go out and dominate.”
Michigan takes on Alabama on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m. in Orlando, Florida in the VRBO Citrus Bowl.

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3 Things to Watch for Against Alabama

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Here are three things you need to pay attention to.

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New Year’s Day will bring new year’s resolutions, new traditions, new beginnings, and for Michigan and Alabama, a closing statement for their 2019 season. While this game won’t get as much attention as the College Football Playoff games got yesterday, it will still be a huge game lots of people will be paying attention too.

Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh will be looking for a big win over Alabama and head coach Nick Saban as the Wolverines need to upset the Crimson Tide to get win number 10 on the season. There are many things to talk about heading into this game, players contemplating the NFL draft, which players could see playing time in the bowl game, coaches taking on their former team.

For me though, here are my main three things to watch this week against Alabama as the Wolverines look to shock the nation.

1. How will Michigan’s secondary deal with Alabama’s loaded wide receiver group?

Everyone including myself has talked about this time and time again. How can Michigan’s defense, mostly the secondary, deal with Alabama’s loaded wide receiver group? It’s not going to be easy and something will have to give if Michigan is going to have a chance at stopping any of them from playing well.

Comparing the two groups of top three wide receives, Alabama’s is another level over the Wolverines top receivers.

Alabama Top 3 WR Stats

  • Devonta Smith – 65 catches, 1,200 yards, 13 touchdowns
  • Jerry Jeudy – 71 catches, 959 yards, nine touchdowns
  • Henry Ruggs III – 38 catches, 719 yards, seven touchdowns
  • Total – 174 catches, 2,878 yards, 29 touchdowns

Michigan Top 3 WR Stats

  • Ronnie Bell – 43 catches, 694 yards, one touchdown
  • Nico Collins – 33 catches, 681 yards, seven touchdowns
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones – 33 catches, 404 yards, six touchdowns
  • Total – 109 catches, 1,779 yards, 14 touchdowns.

The difference between the two teams is 65 catches, 1,099 yards, and 15 touchdowns. That difference is huge and something Michigan will need to somehow contain or at least slowdown. It won’t be easy to do, but that is the key to Michigan winning this game is to limit the Alabama passing game.

Cornerbacks Lavert Hill, Ambry Thomas, and Vincent Gray will be tested from the first snap until the final whistle. If Hill has a great game, his NFL draft stock can improve, along with Thomas if he chooses to declare. Gray will be back at Michigan guaranteed next season, so a good performance can boost his confidence and help him for his possible NFL draft appearance in the future.

2. Can Josh Gattis’s knowledge of Alabama help Michigan?

Michigan has some extra knowledge about Alabama’s football team ahead of the matchup. That is all thanks to their offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. Gattis was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Alabama last season and he could know what to do against Alabama’s defense. While things might not be the exact same, Gattis can help his players grasp how the Crimson Tide defense works in general.

That extra information about Alabama could help Michigan out in a big way. While Gattis will know about the Alabama defense in a way, he also could know about the offense that they run. While he won’t know the schemes and such, he knows most of the players and how they work and what works best for them. He can help defensive coordinator Don Brown in figuring out how to stop the offense as well as they can.

Gattis could be the Wolverines secret weapon. Alabama knows that Gattis will have an insight on how things work, so they will most likely shake things up to surprise Gattis and I’m sure Gattis knows that will be coming. Gattis could be a big help for the Wolverines as the team gets ready to try and take down the Crimson Tide.

3. Don Brown’s response to another blowout to Ohio State

Last year, Michigan lost to Ohio State 62-39 and their response game was against Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. What happened in that game? Michigan got blown out again, losing 41-15. This year it’s a similar story as Michigan lost to Ohio State in another blowout 56-27. Will Michigan respond to getting blown out in their biggest rivalry game by getting blown out in the bowl game once again?

That would be a horrible way to end the 2019 season as it would be almost a carbon-copy of the 2018 season with just one less win. Brown will need to certainly get his players ready for this game against Alabama. Brown had some interesting words when talking about his team rebounding after losing to Ohio State this year.

“Yeah, we’ve moved on from that,” Brown said. “I mean, obviously, you can’t let a significant loss like that linger. If you let it linger, then one loss leads to two losses. And I think our guys have done a good job of just putting that behind us and focusing on what’s in front of us. We’ve got a great challenge coming up here next Wednesday and, you know, that’s our 100 percent focus.”

Brown will need his defense as ready as they’ve ever been as Alabama will be the toughest type of offense they’ve gone up against this year. While Ohio State was the better team overall, Alabama’s receiver core is the best in the country and one that Brown will somehow have to overcome. If Brown doesn’t want the same ending as he had in 2018, he’s got to do something different.

Contact/Follow @WolverinesWire/ @BKnappBlogs

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5 Players to Watch Against Alabama

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Which five players should you focus on when game day comes?

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Michigan’s final game of the year is coming soon and the final opponent is a tough one in the Alabama Crimson Tide. Michigan finished their regular season 9-3 and is looking to get their 10th win of the season, finishing 10-3 and it would be head coach Jim Harbaugh’s fourth 10-win season at Michigan. Harbaugh has been coaching at Michigan for five years, with his worst season being 8-5 back in 2017.

Going up against Alabama won’t be an easy game for the Wolverines. While the Alabama defense isn’t as tough as it usually is, the offense is still explosive. Despite being without their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, backup quarterback Mac Jones has played well this season, going 81/116 for 1,176 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Michigan will have to dig deep if they are going to upset the Crimson Tide and there are some impactful players who could help change the momentum of how the game goes. Check out the five players to watch in the Citrus Bowl.

1. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones – MICHIGAN

One of the biggest headlines heading into this game is whether Michigan wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins will return to Michigan next season. The one that seems to have a more positive NFL draft grade so far is Peoples-Jones and depending on how he can do against Alabama could affect his decision on returning or not to Ann Arbor.

Peoples-Jones will be going up against some good competition in the Alabama secondary and lucky for him there is lots of talent around him at the position where he might get some single coverage. Michigan will need to be in a scoring duel with Alabama as Alabama has a top 10 offense and the Wolverines defense will need to do it’s best to slow them down.

So if Michigan wants to stay in the game, they will need to air the ball out. Peoples-Jones will need to make some big plays, and whether that is as a wide receiver or a punt returner, his play will be huge for the Wolverines offense.

For Alabama’s offense, one of their star wide receivers on their team…
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