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Six Michigan football freshmen burned their redshirts in 2021

clayton-sayfieby: Clayton Sayfie01/06/22CSayf23
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michigan football brought in 22 freshmen in the class of 2021 — six of which burned their redshirts and made significant contributions to the team’s success.

Linebacker Junior Colson made the biggest impact, finishing fourth on the team with 61 tackles despite playing the 10th-most snaps among Michigan defenders. Safety Rod Moore didn’t make his first start until mid-November, but burst onto the scene late in the year. He totaled 32 tackles and one pass breakup for the season.

On the offense, quarterback J.J. McCarthy sprinkled in throughout the season, primarily serving as a runner but also showing off his big arm. He ran 27 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns while completing 34 of his 59 passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Wideout Andrel Anthony enjoyed a breakout game at Michigan State, notching six receptions for 155 yards and two scores. He totaled 12 catches for 248 yards and three scores for the season — with two of his touchdowns coming on throws from McCarthy.

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Running back Donovan Edwards didn’t have much of a role for Michigan to start the season, then battled an ankle injury but returned and came into his own at the tail end of the campaign. He had 35 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 265 yards and a score.

One reserve also burned his redshirts in 2021. Center Greg Crippen, an early enrollee, cracked the two-deep and served as sixth-year senior Andrew Vastardis‘ backup. He saw action in six contests, and the way he surged up the depth chart in such little time was impressive.

The rest of the freshmen played in four or less games, allowing them to keep the year of eligibility.

Unique to the 2021 season, there was also a crop of Michigan players who were in their second collegiate season but had freshman-level eligibility, due to the NCAA deeming the 2020 campaign a free year. All but five of those 19 athletes participated in more than four outings and burned their redshirts. Those players technically still have four more years of eligibility remaining, beginning in the 2022 season, though it’s up to the program if it wants to continue offering the scholarship spot after four years.

Here is a look at both Michigan’s first- and second-year freshmen, and how many games each played in.

Michigan First-Year Freshmen Participation

PlayerNumber Of Games Played
LB Junior Colson14
RB Donovan Edwards12
WR Andrel Anthony11
QB J.J. McCarthy11
S Rod Moore11
OL Greg Crippen6
CB Ja’Den McBurrows3
DT Rayshaun Benny3
DL George Rooks3
RB Tavierre Dunlap2
DE TJ Guy2
OL Raheem Anderson1
DE Kechaun Bennett1
OL Tristan Bounds1
WR Cristian Dixon1
OL Giovanni El-Hadi1
DL Dominick Giudice1
TE Louis Hansen1
LB Jaydon Hood1
LB Tyler McLaurin1
K/P Tommy Doman0
DT Ike Iwunnah0

Michigan Second-Year Freshmen Participation

PlayerNumber Of Games Played
WR A.J. Henning14
OLB Jaylen Harrell14
LB Nikhai Hill-Green14
DL Kris Jenkins14
S R.J. Moten14
LB Kalel Mullings13
WR Roman Wilson13
OL Zak Zinter13
RB Blake Corum12
OL Reece Atteberry10
DE Braiden McGregor9
S Makari Paige9
TE Matthew Hibner8
S Jordan Morant8
QB Dan Villari4
DB Eamonn Dennis3
OL Jeffrey Persi2
CB Andre Seldon*1
CB Darion Green-Warren*0
*Andre Seldon and Darion Green-Warren entered the transfer portal following the season.

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