7 emerging Michigan football players who could grab the marquee in 2023
On a Michigan football roster that features as many as 12 players who could hear their names called in the 2024 NFL draft, there is still room for emerging contributors and future stars. The Free Press examines the most likely candidates to grab the marquee this fall:
CB Will Johnson
The former five-star recruit, who was the jewel of Michigan's 2022 recruiting class, pushed his way into the starting lineup by the end of his freshman season. Despite Johnson playing only 488 snaps, his three interceptions ranked second on the team. The production was a sign of his star potential. Pro Football Focus graded Johnson as the Wolverines’ best performer on a defense that featured a pair of players, nose tackle Mazi Smith and fellow cornerback DJ Turner II, who would be selected in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.
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If he continues along his current track, there is little doubt he will soon join them in the pros. But first he must get back to full health. Johnson missed spring practice and underwent an arthroscopic knee procedure in March, which could delay his full participation at the beginning of the season. But once he gets on the field, the expectation is he will pick up right where he left off.
EDGE Braiden McGregor
McGregor could be the next to come through Michigan's apparent assembly line of prolific pass rushers, following Rashan Gary, Kwity Paye, Aidan Hutchinson and Mike Morris. He certainly looks the part: The 6-foot-6, 261-pound McGregor has the ideal body type to create havoc on the edge. But a significant knee injury he suffered as a senior at Port Huron Northern delayed his progression at Michigan, and the former four-star recruit has been working his way up the depth chart ever since. Now, as he enters his fourth year in the program, McGregor has an opportunity to become a full-time starter. The coaching staff seems optimistic he can take the next step after he served as a top reserve last season, when he recorded two sacks and appeared in every game.
“I think he has trusted the process here,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “He has continued to develop at a really high rate. … I am really excited about Braiden. I think he has a chance to be a dominant player.”
WR Roman Wilson
In an offense powered by its running game, Wilson is largely viewed as an accessory instead of an essential cog. During the final month of the regular season, he produced only four receptions for 19 yards. But the stats don’t tell the whole story of a slot receiver with game-breaking speed. It’s why one of the major NFL scouting services views him as a potential third- or -fourth-round pick. With Ronnie Bell no longer on the roster, Wilson could become a major weapon in a passing game looking to expand its dimensions this fall during quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s second year as the starter.
When they were last on field, during Michigan’s 51-45 loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff, McCarthy and Wilson forged a strong connection, hooking up five times for 104 yards and a touchdown. Wilson also scored on an 18-yard end-around in that Fiesta Bowl and almost breached the end zone another time, ruled just short of the goal line on a 50-yard bomb. It was the most convincing sign yet that Wilson is ready to move from the periphery of the offense toward its center.
TE Colston Loveland
Entering 2022, it seemed Loveland was destined to spend most of the season pinned to the sideline, with veteran tight ends Luke Schoonmaker and Erick All ahead of him on the depth chart. But a back injury to All knocked him out in Week 3 and opened a window of opportunity for Loveland. He soon became a fixture in the offense, showing his skills as a receiver. Loveland’s performances in consecutive victories over Ohio State and Purdue in the Big Ten championship game hinted big things were still to come from one of Michigan’s most intriguing underclassmen. But Loveland's tantalizing highlights disguise the fact he is still in the developmental stage. Loveland showed deficiencies as a blocker, which he acknowledged this spring. If he continues to improve in that capacity, he could become a star.
Other names to watch …
EDGE Derrick Moore: People within the program are bullish about the sophomore who recorded two sacks last fall. After playing 224 snaps as a freshman, expect Moore to be deployed early and often while continuing to burnish his reputation as Michigan’s most promising young defenders.
LB Ernest Hausmann: The transfer from Nebraska started seven games for the Cornhuskers as a freshman last fall and has the potential to become a starter alongside Junior Colson. “He’s coming,” Minter said. “I’m very excited about the addition of him.”
DT Mason Graham: Graham quickly showed he can play at this level, becoming a top reserve soon after arriving on campus. He recorded 2½ sacks in 2022 and figures to play a much bigger role, especially with the coaching staff hoping to generate a more productive pass rush from the interior line.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 7 Michigan football players who could become stars in 2023
