Michigan Football: Could Ambry Thomas, Jalen Mayfield opt back in?

There is considerable talk about Ambry Thomas and Jalen Mayfield trying to opt back in for Michigan football and here’s the latest.

Not long ago, it didn’t seem like Michigan football was going to have a 2020 season. And now, even though it seems unlikely, the Wolverines could be getting some key players back.

Before the Big Ten made its decision to restart the football season on Oct. 24, Michigan football players Jalen Mayfield and Ambry Thomas each declared for the NFL draft.

At the time, it was an understandable move. A season didn’t look like it was going to happen until January at the earliest.

And once the Big Ten made the announcement that it was returning to play, more players started opting out, with wide receiver Nico Collins and quarterback Dylan McCaffrey among them.

McCaffrey definitely isn’t coming back. He lost the starting job to Joe Milton and that seems to be the biggest reason why he’s leaving. It’s disappointing but it happens in college football nowadays.

However, there does seem to be hope that Thomas and Mayfield could return. Here’s what Thomas said about a return Thursday on Sirius XM Radio via Rivals:

"“I’m hearing certain things, I can come back. I’m hearing other things that I can’t,” Thomas said. “A whole bunch of uncertainty still from my end, and those answers would clear everything up for me.”"

Thomas said that he has been talking to the coaching staff and that he was planning to speak with them again. That’s similar to Mayfield, who according to Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider ($) met with offensive line coach Ed Warinner and Josh Gattis this week.

Players such as quarterback Milton are also joining the recruiting effort. But according to Webb, one thing that would help with Mayfield is the return of Nico Collins.

"“A contingent of players, led by Joe Milton, all have their recruiting hats on. They’re slated to head to Grand Rapids later today in furtherance of their pitch. I’ve heard that Mayfield is particularly interested in Nico Collins’ position on returning. I’m told Mayfield’s return would be “a done deal for sure” if Collins were to opt back in.”"

Collins, like Thomas, also hired an agent. There hasn’t been much word if he would be interested in a return, but a nine-game season could help Collins develop into a first-round pick.

With his size, speed and ability, he’s going to be a top-100 selection in the 2021 draft, regardless of whether he plays and probably will go in the top 50.

But if he were to come back and if Milton lives up to the hype and can actually complete the ball down the field, Collins could show NFL scouts his true potential, which could take him from a top-50 pick in the draft, to possibly a top-20 selection.

The good news is that there shouldn’t be any departures beyond Mayfield, Thomas, Collins, McCaffrey and also Christian Turner. Kwity Paye is coming back and so the defense will be missing just one player if Thomas sticks with his decision to opt out.

We’ll see what happens, but to steal the famous quote from Dumb and Dumber, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance!”