The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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54 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2024 A s Michigan builds toward its spring game on April 20 (12 p.m. on FOX), here are 10 of the most interesting Michigan football players we've been hearing about and tracking this spring: 10. TE Marlin Klein: The 6‑foot‑6, 250‑pound junior has played just 45 ca‑ reer offensive snaps but should factor into the rotation this coming season. He's been mentioned as an emerging force at his position group, and there are big shoes to fill after losing AJ Barner to the NFL Draft. Michigan has junior Colston Loveland and senior Max Brede‑ son but still could use another in‑line tight end to step up. By all accounts, Klein has done that. Loveland even called him the biggest, fastest and strongest tight end on the team. 9. EDGE TJ Guy: The senior has made some splash plays when earning opportunities in games during the previ‑ ous three seasons, with a sack in a 49‑0 win over Michigan State in 2023 and one in a 59‑18 triumph over Maryland in 2021. He's had to wait his turn, but his teammates say he's ready to shine and now appears to be in the two‑deep of the depth chart. Junior edge Derrick Moore said he's stepped up as a leader, as well. 8. DB Ja'Den McBurrows: The 5‑foot‑11, 200‑pound senior came up big at the end of the 2023 campaign, playing 20‑plus snaps in five of seven games before the College Football Playoff as a nickel back when Mike Sainristil slid outside to cornerback. Now, his team‑ mates say he can do a lot of the same things that Sainristil — a projected Day 2 draft pick — did at a slot corner position that's very important in this defense. 7. DB DJ Waller Jr.: The sopho‑ more is long and rangy at 6‑foot‑3, 205 pounds — a plus athlete. The Ohio na‑ tive has been constantly mentioned by fellow Wolverines as one who's flashed this spring. Michigan is searching for a starting cornerback opposite junior All‑American Will Johnson. Waller and classmate Jyaire Hill are the top two can‑ didates on the roster to fill the spot, in our opinion. 6. OL Myles Hinton: The veteran has long been considered a high‑ceiling player with immense potential, to the point that he said he's gotten tired of hearing about it. The fifth‑year senior spent his first three seasons at Stanford before transferring to Michigan, and with six offensive linemen headed to the NFL Draft, there are snaps up for grabs. The 6‑foot‑6, 340‑pounder is practic‑ ing at left tackle and is a heavy favorite to land the starting job. Coaches have said he could be the Wolverines' next first‑round offensive lineman. 5. WR Tyler Morris: Gone are Corne‑ lius Johnson and Roman Wilson, a wide receiver duo that combined for 245 re‑ ceptions, 3,745 yards and 34 touchdowns during their U‑M careers. Michigan has only five scholarship wideouts on the roster this spring — Morris, senior Pey‑ ton O'Leary, and sophomores Kendrick Bell, Fredrick Moore and Semaj Morgan — with a pair of freshmen slated to join the team this summer. Morris said he's playing both outside and in the slot and wants to be Mr. Reliable for the offense, as both a pass catcher and blocker. He's been the leader of the crew, too. 4 . L B Ja i s h aw n B a rh a m : T h e Maryland transfer arrived in Ann Arbor in January and has impressed ever since. He's still learning to pick up the de‑ fense, but his athleticism and playmak‑ ing ability are off the charts, indicating that when he does fully understand the concepts, the sky's the limit. He's a bit quieter than junior Ernest Hausmann, the other projected starting linebacker, but he will be asked to play a huge role this season, after the 6‑foot‑3, 248‑pounder amassed 37 tackles in 11 games for the Terrapins in 2023. 3. DB Quinten Johnson: The sixth‑ year senior was preparing for the NFL Draft until early March, when he offi‑ cially announced he'll be returning for another season in a winged helmet. The news was significant, considering Mich‑ igan lost junior Keon Sabb to Alabama, but is especially so now that senior Rod Moore is reportedly out with a severe knee injury. The 5‑foot‑11, 200‑pounder made big plays last season, including re‑ covering a fumble in the Rose Bowl win over Alabama, and finished the year with 22 tackles and 1 interception. 2. QB Alex Orji: All of Michi‑ gan's quarterbacks in contention for the starting job that are healthy this spring have received positive reviews from their teammates (Orji, senior Da‑ vis Warren, junior Jayden Denegal and freshman Jadyn Davis). But the com‑ ments about Orji — his improved pass‑ ing, his running ability, etc. — have stood out. Could the junior be the fa‑ vorite to start if Michigan doesn't add a transfer this spring/summer? 1. RB Donovan Edwards: Last, but certainly not least, the hero of the 2022 Ohio State win and last year's national championship game victory has taken his game and leadership to another level. Edwards missed spring practices last year while recovering from knee surgery but has taken full advantage this time around. The senior has bulked up to 210 pounds and is ready to carry the ball as many times as needed this fall. ❏ SAYFIE BLITZ ❱ CLAYTON SAYFIE 10 Interesting Players This Spring Senior edge TJ Guy had 10 tackles a year ago, including a sack and tackle for a loss. He seems poised and ready to shine in 2024. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Staff writer Clayton Sayfie has covered Michigan athletics for The Wolverine since 2019. Contact him at Clayton.Sayfie @on3.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @CSayf23.