Who replaces Michigan's Ojabo & Hutchinson? Jim Harbaugh has an idea
Aidan Hutchinson might be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, having tested well at the combine after a year in which the Michigan end finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Experts are now projecting that fellow end David Ojabo could go among the top 20, meaning Jim Harbaugh and his staff will be replacing two elite players.
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But they knew that even before the draft projections, and they’re confident in their guys. The defensive line looks thin (for now), but a couple guys are standing out.
“Mazi Smith, right off the jump,” Harbaugh said of last year’s Michigan defensive lineman of the year. “He’s playing really well. We’re expecting great things from Mazi. He looks tremendous. Kris Jenkins, Taylor Upshaw … there’s a whole list of guys we’re really excited about.
“[Ends] Braiden McGregor, Mike Morris. The state of Michigan football is scary good right now.”
Morris is the one who has turned heads on the Michigan edge, Harbaugh continued.
“Mike Morris could be the next Aidan Hutchinson, or Ojabo,” he said. “There are some really exciting things going on, on the defensive line.”
New defensive coordinator Jesse Minter meanwhile, is off to a great start, Harbaugh added. He replaces Mike Macdonald, who went back to Baltimore after an outstanding season.
“It’s a great, positive thing,” the Michigan coach said. “The coaches we had on defense, the players … the structure and terminology would be very close to, and in a lot of cases, exactly the same [under Minter]. So … a good deal.”
Three ‘Freak Shows’ among the Michigan freshmen — and probably more
Harbaugh mentioned the trio of Michigan freshman receivers — Tyler Morris, Darrius Clemons and Amorion Walker — as a “freak show” weeks ago. He meant it in a good way, of course — freaky athletic, incredibly skilled and potential stars.
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He reiterated that Tuesday.
“Freak show,” he said again of the Michigan trio. “Really, all three receivers physically are what we were just talking about. What they dan do in terms of running, jumping — those traits are quite off the charts.”
Though he didn’t mention him, Will Johnson will likely make an impact at cornerback, too, the same kind of athlete.
All the Michigan freshmen early enrollees are doing well, Harbaugh said.
“Right now, it’s just come out and really just demonstrate more athletically, physically what their traits are, what their talents are,” Harbaugh said. “You know that in one week you’re going to be better than the last week in terms of knowledge of the system in what they’re supposed to do. Their assignment, their alignment, their technique.
“But it’s Just great to see them out there see what they can do physically. You can project, yeah, that this person is going to have a really good chance of playing early.”
Some of that will depend on Michigan veterans returning, but all four of the aforementioned will be significant contributors at some point. Some sooner than others.
