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Top 5 Michigan players to watch heading into 2022 season

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•09/03/22•

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Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy
(Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan has several “breakout” candidates on both sides of the ball, and some have already produced on the field. That speaks to the depth of this year’s team and why many are so bullish on this squad.

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Here are our top five:

1. Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy — Senior Cade McNamara took most of the snaps last year and played very well en route to the Big Ten championship. 

McCarthy, though, has a higher ceiling, and he showed it at times last year. He threw for 516 yards and 5 scores in limited action, and also averaged 4.6 yards per carry as a true dual-threat quarterback. 

It’s clear the Michigan sophomore has the most potential in the room, and if he comes back healthy from a spring shoulder injury, he should push McNamara for the starting job. Either way, expect even more of a platoon at QB this year.

2. Sophomore running back Donovan Edwards — The Detroit native showed his talent as a receiver out of the backfield when he set a Michigan running back record with 10 catches for 170 yards at Maryland last year, including a 77-yard TD reception. Now, we’ll get to see what he can do carrying between the tackles while sharing time with junior Blake Corum. 

Edwards has the speed and drive to be a truly elite Big Ten back. If he makes the same jump Corum did from freshman to sophomore year … watch out. He could be a dynamic dual-threat back.

3. Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson — Colson emerged as one of Michigan’s top young players last year, starting seven games and finishing fourth in total tackles with 61. He’s got the size (6-2, 225) and speed to be one of the nation’s top linebackers.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh puts Colson in the Devin Bush Jr. (former U-M linebacker and consensus All-American in 2018) mold, noting it’s better for the team that he doesn’t realize just how good he is. 

He’ll be a pro soon, and he has a chance to be one of the Wolverines’ best ever at the position. He’s got that much potential.   

4. Sophomore wide receiver Andrel Anthony — Anthony looked like Michigan’s best receiver (and deep threat) when he lit up Michigan State for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns last season, and he looked like he belonged against the best of the best with a 35-yard TD reception against Georgia.

The 6-foot-2 standout averaged an eye-popping 20.7 yards per catch and seems primed for a huge season, even in a crowded receiver room.

5. Junior outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell — The Tampa, Fla., native is one of the top candidates to fill the pass rush void left by David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson’s departures. He was one of the best overall Michigan performers in spring, Jim Harbaugh said, including on special teams, and has put himself in position for a breakthrough season with a great fall.

The 6-4, 242-pounder notched 15 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss last year. Those numbers should rise significantly in 2022.

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