No. 6 (tied) – Michigan
Right: Sophomore Steven Threet appears to be the front-runner for the starting QB job.
Andre J. Jackson/Detroit Free Press
This is the sixth in a series of previews on the 11 teams in the Big Ten in the order I predict them to finish.
MICHIGAN
Predicted finish in Big Ten: 6th (tied), 4-4
Taking over for Chad Henne as the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines this fall will be sophomore Ryan Mallett.
Oh wait, never mind, he transferred to Arkansas.
The starting QB for the Maize and Blue in 2008 will be incoming freshman Terrelle Pryor.
Scratch that, he signed a Letter of Intent to play for Ohio State.
As one goes down the list, the next option is Steven Threet, a 6-foot-5, 228-pound redshirt freshman, who originally signed to play at Georgia Tech.
Threet, a native of Adrian, Michigan, was never offered a scholarship by former head coach Lloyd Carr, who opted to sign Mallett instead.
Mallett was ranked the second-best, pro-style quarterback by Rivals.com, just behind Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen from the class of 2007. Both where tabbed with a five-star ranking.
Threet graduated high school in December of 2006 and enrolled at Georgia Tech in January of 2007, only to transfer to UM the following summer.
During his senior year in high school, Threet managed to get a four stars and was ranked the ninth-best, pro-style QB in the nation from the class of ’07 after passing for 1,896 yards and 20 touchdowns.
But Threet has yet to throw a pass on the collegiate level.
Michigan does have two quarterbacks that have seen playing time, but one is a former walk-on, junior Nick Sheridan, and the other, junior David Cone, was listed third on the depth chart following spring practice.
Also, true freshman Justin Fagin hopes to compete for the starting position once fall camp starts.
But new Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez has plenty of other holes to fill on offense with only two starters returning from last season.
Gone from last year’s offensive unit is a long list of players that include: the aforementioned Henne at quarterback, running back Mike Hart, wide receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, plus offensive linemen Jake Long, Adam Kraus, Alex Mitchell, and Justin Boren, who transferred from Michigan to Ohio State back in April.
The lone starters returning on offense are: sophomore right tackle Stephen Schilling and tight end Carson Butler. You could also add junior wide receiver Greg Matthews, who started for the Wolverines when they began the game using a three-wideout set, and is Michigan’s top returning pass-catcher with 39 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Michigan’s top returning rusher is junior Brandon Minor, who gained 385 yards on 90 carries with one touchdown last season. His backup, junior Kevin Grady, who sat out the entire 2007 season with a knee injury, was arrested last month on a DUI charge and his status with the team is unclear at this time.
Outside of Matthews and Butler, no other returning receiver caught more than five passes.
As for the defense, it will be much better than the offense, with eight starters returning from last year.
The entire front four comes back, which includes senior defensive tackles Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson, along with defensive end Tim Jamison, a senior, and junior Brandon Graham.
The lone returning starter in the linebacking corps is sophomore Obi Ezeh, while in the secondary, both cornerbacks return with senior Morgan Trent and sophomore Donovan Warren.
It appears that if Michigan is going to win their share of games, it not because the offense put a lot of points on the board, but rather the defense shutting down the opposition. I think if Michigan finishes the regular season with a record of 7-5, it’s due to the fact that they won games by scores of 17-13 or 14-10. And if the defense falters at any point, there could also be some ugly lopsided scores, too.
Big Ten Schedule
Sept. 27 vs. Wisconsin, Win
Oct. 4 vs. Illinois, Win
Oct. 18 @ Penn State, Loss
Oct. 25 vs. Michigan State, Loss
Nov. 1 @ Purdue, Loss
Nov. 8 @ Minnesota, Win
Nov. 15 vs. Northwestern, Win
Nov. 22 @ Ohio State, Loss
