Week One practice info
QB stuff: Two people mentioned redshirt sophomore
Wilton Speight and one mentioned
John O'Korn as a player (not quarterback specifically) standing out early on. For all intents and purposes, the picture doesn't seem to be much clearer at this point
from what we can gather. In June, we were told Speight was the leader heading into fall camp, and that if O'Korn could tone down the mistakes, he might be the player with the higher ceiling. However, with Michigan loaded at the skill positions this season, the player who limits the mistakes more is the one who is likely to play.
Chris Evans: Five of the six sources we culled mentioned freshman athlete Chris Evans as a guy who is standing out, and four of them mentioned him before anyone else as someone who has exploded onto the scene early as a potential playmaker for the staff. We had Evans pegged as the player
most likely to outperform his recruiting ranking, so hearing him early on isn't a major surprise to us.
Jedd Fisch was Evans' primary recruiter throughout his recruitment, and loved his all-around ability offensively both running and receiving. Add that to the fact that he's always been a guy who's made big plays in big games for his Indianapolis (IN)
Ben Davis program and it appears there's reason to be excited about his future in Ann Arbor.
Tyree Kinnel: Kinnel was mentioned by three different sources as a standout, with one going as far to say as he's the "future quarterback of the Michigan defense".
Jim Harbaugh liked what he saw enough out of Kinnel last year to give him playing time as a true freshman on special teams, and he is a potentially important player for them this year as someone who could spell
Delano Hill or
Dymonte Thomas at safety if need be. Provided he stays healthy, he's a likely two-year starter at one of the safety spots given his steady progression. He also had a very, very strong spring.
Amara Darboh: There are a few seniors mentioned, which isn't exciting but are still noteworthy. Darboh was mentioned by three different people as being a standout early on, continuing his off-season momentum that included
Jim Harbaugh saying he's Michigan's top receiver heading into the year.
Jehu Chesson got a lot of the pub for a huge end to 2015, but Darboh's statistics were nearly identical outside of getting into the end zone. The Wolverines should have the best 1-2 punch in the conference at wide receiver in 2016.
Chase Winovich: Another player who had a strong spring is reportedly continuing to impress. We're told
Don Brown really likes the energy Winovich brings to the table at the WDE spot and that he should find himself in the rotation consistently this season. The Michigan defensive line will be downright scary if they can get consistent production out of Winovich or a
Lawrence Marshall type.
Ben Bredeson: The true freshman offensive lineman was mentioned by two sources as looking good early on. As we first reported last month, Bredeson is practicing at left guard to start out his Michigan career, but is someone we've been told the staff sees as capable across the board on the offensive line. We're sticking to our
Mason Cole comparison with him, and the true freshman may be in the running at the two-deep for the Wolverines in year one.
Rashan Gary: Of course it's not a surprise to anyone at this point that the nation's number one recruit would be listed in a standouts piece, but three of our sources made a point to mention Gary as someone who is standing out.
"He's on a different level," one source said. "He has the right combination of talent and drive to be a star."
Take Gary out of the equation and Michigan's defensive line is still a very, very stellar unit in 2016. Add him in, and the possibilities are huge. Greg Mattison is probably salivating somewhere at what he has to work with this season.
Devin Asiasi: Asiasi was also mentioned by two as looking "excellent" early on at the tight end spot. We stand by our reports that say Michigan is expecting him to play in year one, as he's viewed as a rare breed that can both block and receive coming right out of high school. With three tight ends signed in 2016, they can likely afford to give one a shot early on. Our money remains on the Concord (CA) De La Salle star to be that guy in 2016.
Jourdan Lewis: Four people mentioned Lewis as a standout. That's about all that needs to be said there.
Freshmen defensive backs: All four of David Long,
Lavert Hill,
Josh Metellus and
Khaleke Hudson were mentioned by at least one source, with Hudson and Long being mentioned by two each. The praise regarding Hudson mostly revolved around the fact that he's already arrived physically and will "be a force once he gets the playbook down". We're told the Michigan staff thinks they got a "steal" in the Flanagan three-star in Metellus, and any mention of Long and Hill isn't really a surprise.
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.: "Freak". "Crazy good". Those are two sources on what redshirt freshman
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is reportedly bringing to the table at the tight end position. His dad was a big running back who was way too fast for somebody his size, and it appears that Wheatley 2.0 has some of those same capabilities at a position of major importance in the Harbaugh/Fisch/Drevno offense.
). Don't even need Michell this year 
. Personally I hope he switches over to defense (safety).