Seventeen Michigan Wolverines named preseason All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, including seven first-teamers

Michigan Wolverines football has a loaded roster heading into the 2023 season, according to the opinions of many in the media. Athlon Sports, which just released its preseason All-Big Ten teams, is among those who share that view.

The publication has recognized 17 Michigan players as preseason All-Big Ten, including seven on the first team, five on the second team, two on the third team and three on the fourth team.

Only Ohio State (20) had more players appear on the list, including eight on the first team.

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First team

Michigan players to appear on the first team are junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, senior running back Blake Corum, junior running back Donovan Edwards (listed as “all-purpose), graduate center Drake Nugent, senior right guard Zak Zinter, junior linebacker Junior Colson and sophomore cornerback Will Johnson.

Amazingly, McCarthy is one of two returning starting quarterbacks in the conference, joined by Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa, who notched a second-team nod. McCarthy threw for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns with 5 interceptions last season, and became the first-ever Michigan quarterback to win his first 11 starts.

Corum amassed 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground as a junior, before going down with a season-ending injury. He finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting but would’ve been higher had he been healthy in big games down the stretch.

Edwards was Corum’s backup and a key contributor earlier in the 2022 season, before stepping up when Corum went down, scoring 2 touchdowns against Ohio State and another in the Big Ten championship game. Edwards recorded 991 rushing yards and 7 scores and caught 18 passes for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Nugent is a Stanford transfer with 24 career starts at center. He was named preseason first-team All-American by Walter Camp and the top returning center in the country by Pro Football Focus.

Zinter was part of Michigan’s Joe Moore Award winning offensive lines the last two seasons. He was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago.

Colson led Michigan with 101 tackles last season and is looking to become the first Wolverine to have multiple 100-tackle seasons since Jarrett Irons in the 1990s. He added 6 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.

Johnson was named a freshman All-American by On3 last season. He played in all 14 games with five starts, making 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 6 pass breakups. He had 2 picks in the Big Ten championship game.

Second team

Michigan players tabbed to the second team are graduate left guard Trevor Keegan, senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham, graduate linebacker Michael Barrett and junior safety Rod Moore.

Keegan was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches last season, and also earned a second-team nod by the media. He’s started 23 career games at left guard.

Jenkins was an honorable mention All-Big Ten choice a year ago, when he led the Michigan defensive line with 54 tackles, adding 3.5 for loss and 2 sacks.

Graham had an impressive freshman season and should earn more time since Mazi Smith has since graduated and turned into a first-round draft pick. Graham accumulated 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks his first year in a winged helmet.

Barrett’s fifth season marked a break out. He had totaled only 71 tackles in his previous four seasons, before logging 72 (including 5 for loss and 3.5 sacks) in 2022. He added 2 interceptions and 3 pass breakups.

Moore led the Michigan defensive backfield with 71 tackles and 4 interceptions last season. A former three-star recruit, Moore is now regarded as one of the top safeties nationally.

Third team

Michigan’s third-team choices are graduate wide receiver Cornelius Johnson and sophomore tight end Colston Loveland.

Johnson led Michigan with 627 receiving yards in 2021, before ranking second with 499 in 2022. He added 6 touchdowns, including 2 against Ohio State.

Loveland was a revelation for Michigan late last season. He scored both of his touchdowns in huge games — one against Ohio State and the other in the Big Ten championship game. The Gooding, Idaho, native totaled 16 catches for 235 yards.

Fourth team

Michigan players to earn fourth-team recognition are graduate offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart, senior EDGE Jaylen Harrell and graduate cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Barnhart has started 16 games — six at left tackle, two at left guard and eight at right tackle — during his career. While it’s unknown exactly where he’ll end up this season, he’s projected to open games at one of the tackle spots. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection a year ago.

Harrell registered 30 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks and 2 pass breakups last season, starting at edge rusher.

A converted wide receiver, Sainristil switched to the Michigan defense last season and starred at nickel back. He was All-Big Ten honorable mention after racking up 58 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and 2 sacks, with 1 interception.

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