These are the three most absurd overreactions from Michigan football’s 2022 spring spectacle.
The blue squad toppled the maize in a rather subdued affair that concluded spring practices. There were some fun moments and a lot of hard work that paid off for those who don’t normally see the field. In the end, Jim Harbaugh was pleased with how things went and perhaps the most important takeaway from it is that nobody got hurt.
Here are the three overreactions.
1. Darrius Clemons is ready for the spotlight
The freshman had himself quite a showing in the contest with a headline-making touchdown grab and a completed pass to go along with that. He flat outshined and showed to the audience that the wide receiver group has arguably the deepest amount of depth and talent on the entire team heading into fall camp.
With all that depth in front of Clemons though, it will be hard to see him performing like this on a regular basis during the season which makes this an overreaction. There are just too many guys ahead of him on the roster that will be depended on more than Clemons.
That won’t be the last time we see Darius Clemons catching the ball in the end zone for Michigan.
— GBM Wolverine (@GBM_Wolverine) April 2, 2022
They range from the return of Ronnie Bell, Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson, the swiss army knife A.J. Henning and the upstart Andrel Anthony just to name a few. That’s going to make it difficult, but not entirely impossible for Clemons to garner some playing time.
Last year the Wolverines used their freshman when they wanted to and when they felt that they were ready for the big stage, so expect Clemons to get a go at things eventually.
2. The defense won’t suffer an ounce from the core departures
This is a clear overreaction because of all the talent that is leaving for the NFL level. I’m not saying that they will drop off the face of the earth compared to last year’s standards, but they won’t be as good as they were with the generational players they had in the fold.
Maybe I will be wrong about this and some guys will overachieve, but it doesn’t seem likely, especially with Jesse Minter taking over for Mike Macdonald.
Losing the potential #1 draft pick is a blow in and of itself. Aiden Hutchinson will not be replaced with another 14 sack guy just like that. Jaylen Harrell, Taylor Upshaw, Mike Morris, and Braiden McGregor will try their best, but the best situation that could have happened is that David Ojabo would have stayed for one more go around, but that ship has sailed.
Two 3-and-outs for Michigan's offense. The defense is looking like a top 10 unit, but the offense looks like it will be the worst in the B1G. Looking like a 6-6 season so far.
— Brian Chapman (@bchapsports) April 2, 2022
Will Johnson will probably play a role somewhat similar to Dax Hill, so that transition might be a little simpler to imagine.
Junior Colson will step into the shoes of Josh Ross and man the middle of the defense. Colson has what it takes to be better than Ross by the time he leaves Michigan as long as he continues on the right trajectory.
3. Davis Warren earned more playing time this fall
A lot of the buzz from Michigan football’s spring game has been about Davis Warren. He had a respectably good outing once Cade McNamara was done for the day. The walk-on went 12-23 for 175 yards and dazzled the crowd with some pinpoint throws. He could make a case for the third-string quarterback slot in the autumn.
As heartfelt as his story is though, it’s hard to see him be on the gridiron for any other reason than a blowout, which makes this statement an overreaction. McNamara and J.J. McCarthy are the unquestioned one and two and there is no debate about it.
Warren’s best chance to play would be to transfer unless he really wants to be at Michigan. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to enter the portal someday.
He has the tools to get a realistic shot at a MAC school or at the FCS level or lower.