ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for battered Michigan, who won its Big Ten opener at Nebraska despite being down three starters.
Earlier this week, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore suggested that several of the injured could return this Saturday when the team resumes league play vs. Wisconsin (Noon, FOX) … but will all of them?
Here’s a look at where things stand with the major names, and our read on whether they return to game action this weekend:
• OL Giovanni El-Hadi — Arguably Michigan’s most important player out, El-Hadi suffered an ankle injury in the Week 2 loss at Oklahoma, leaving him sidelined for the Central Michigan game and Big Ten opener. The bye week gave El-Hadi a full three weeks of recovery, marking the short end of the timeline we heard when he first suffered the injury.
Will it be enough for him to start and play a full complement of snaps? We don’t know, and Michigan’s improved offensive line play afford him another week, if he needs it. We put El-Hadi’s return on Saturday at 50/50.
• OL Brady Norton — Like El-Hadi, Norton suffered an injury Week 2 in the loss to Oklahoma and hasn’t returned. He did dress and go through pregame warmups in the win at Nebraska, but never got into game action. We believe Norton will be available to play on Saturday … but he will regain his starting spot at right guard?
• DB Zeke Berry — This one is more of a mystery, with Berry also missing the last two games with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Two weeks ago, coaches and teammates sounded less optimistic about an immediate return, though Sherrone Moore kept the door open this week. Freshman Jayden Sanders has played well in his Berry’s absence, and the pressure up front has made life easier for him. Like El-Hadi, we put Berry in more of the “questionable” category.
• TE Hogan Hansen — Sherrone Moore said recently the injury that kept the reserve tight end out of the Nebraska game was separate from the opener, but he, too, could return against Wisconsin. It’s much easier to “hide” an injury at tight end, so we suspect that he’ll try and give it a go, especially with Marlin Klein, Zack Marshall and Jalen Hoffman all available to absorb snaps if need be.
Our projected Michigan depth chart vs. Wisconsin:
Quarterback
Starter: Bryce Underwood
Reserves: Jadyn Davis, Jake Garcia, Mikey Keene
No change here with the pecking order, even with Keene continuing to dress and travel. With four starts and a bye week under his belt, freshman Bryce Underwood enters a critical stage of the season with nothing but Big Ten games remaining.
Running back
Starter: Justice Haynes
Reserves: Jordan Marshall, Bryson Kuzdzal OR Jasper Parker
Justice Haynes has firmly established himself as the true No. 1 of the group, and one of the best running backs in the country, through four games. He’ll assuredly get the first carries on Saturday, and look to continue his streak of 100-yard rushing games.
Tight end/ fullback
Starter: Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson
Reserves: Hogan Hansen OR Zack Marshall, Jalen Hoffman
Marlin Klein had been awfully quiet since his breakout Week 1 performance, hobbled by injury, but his two-catch, 21-yard day at Nebraska was a step in the right direction. With another two weeks to heal, look for Klein to be a big part of the game plan Saturday.
Offensive line
Starters: Evan Link (left tackle), Nathan Efobi (left guard), Greg Crippen (center), Jake Guarnera (right guard), Andrew Sprague (right tackle)
Reserves: Blake Frazier (tackle), Brady Norton (guard/tackle), Lawrence Hattar (guard)
We’re sticking with the same five starters up front under the assumption Giovanni El-Hadi sits out another week. If he does suit up and play, look for El-Hadi to get the start at left guard and for Michigan to stick with Jake Guarnera. He’s played well enough to hold onto the starting spot, even with a healed up Norton available.
Wide receiver
Starters: Donaven McCulley, Semaj Morgan, Channing Goodwin
Reserves: Andrew Marsh, Kendrick Bell, Anthony Simpson
Projecting the same starters at wideout, but Morgan and Goodwin may have a shorter leash with the recent drop issues. There’s been a lot of chatter about freshman Andrew Marsh in recent weeks. Could this be the game he gets an extended look?
Defensive line
Starters: Derrick Moore (end), Rayshaun Benny (tackle), Trey Pierce (tackle), Jaishawn Barham (end)
Reserves: Cam Brandt (end), Tre Williams (tackle), Damon Payne (tackle), TJ Guy (end)
Barham’s move to the edge appears to be permanent, throwing a wrinkle into opponents’ gameplan and trying to figure out the starting lineup. Barham’s move has largely come at the expense of TJ Guy, who remains a key part of the defense, just with fewer pass-rushing opportunities.
Linebacker
Starters: Ernest Hausmann, Jimmy Rolder
Reserves: Cole Sullivan, Troy Bowles
Cole Sullivan continues to push for additional snaps and a potential starting spot, and Michigan is paying attention. The Wolverines prominently featured four linebackers against Nebraska, and don’t be surprised if that’s the case again against turnover-prone Wisconsin.
Secondary
Starters: Jayire Hill (corner), TJ Metcalf (nickel), Brandyn Hillman (safety), Jaden Mangham (safety), Jayden Sanders (corner)
Reserves: Elijah Dotson (corner), Rod Moore (safety), Mason Curtis (safety), Shamari Earls (corner)
We’re projecting Jyaire Hill to play and Jayden Sanders to fill in for Zeke Berry again. Look for an increase in workload for Rod Moore, who got a full week to recover from his return.
Special teams
Starters: Dominic Zvada (FG/PAT), Hudson Hollenbeck (punter), Beckham Sunderland (kickoffs), Greg Tarr (longsnapper), Semaj Morgan (punt return), Joe Taylor (kick return)