Michigan Football: 10 predictions for the Wolverines in 2022

3.) All five Michigan starting offensive linemen end up as All-Big Ten players.

This is not a bold take or prediction in the slightest, as many of Michigan’s returning players already received All-Big Ten honors last year. Left tackle Ryan Hayes was a Second Team selection in the coaches poll, left guard Trevor Keegan was honorable mention, and right guard Zak Zinter was Second Team in the media poll.

With a Rimington Trophy finalist in Victor Oluwaitimi stepping in at center, Michigan will almost certainly have an all-conference caliber option there as well.

Thus, with a high likelihood of all-conference honors for at least four players already, the prediction here can really just be boiled down to Trente Jones earning All-Big Ten honors in his first season as a starter. He emerged from spring football as the top option at right tackle and remains the most likely option to secure that position.

4.) No defender has more than 6.0 sacks.

Michigan football loses a dynamic duo in Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, and my prediction here is that the Wolverines will end up with a fairly deep platoon system to replace their production.

Already, we know of several players who will get significant snaps on the defensive line, and especially at the EDGE rusher spots, where Mike Morris, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, and Derrick Moore will all see snaps this fall. And on the inside, Mazi Smith is not exactly known for his pass rushing, but some of the guys playing next to him on the inside could be better suited as interior pass rushers, specifically Kris Jenkins Jr. and freshman Mason Graham.

Overall, it would not be surprising in the least if Michigan managed some decent pressure out of this group, but it will almost certainly be far less concentrated than it was last year. Thus the prediction here: Mike Morris leads the team with 5.5 sacks but the Wolverines as a whole manage a decent pass rush.