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Michigan Wolverines running back Hassan Haskins (25) jumps over Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Cameron Brown (26) on a run during the fourth quarter in a NCAA College football game at Michigan Stadium at Ann Arbor, Mi on November 27, 2021. Oller Michigan 2
Michigan has had many notable players throughout the years. But many that made a major impact aren’t remembered in the same conversation as players like Aidan Hutchinson, Denard Robinson, Jabrill Peppers, Blake Corum and J.J. McCarthy in Michigan history.
Today, we rank the 15 most underrated Michigan football players since 2010, ordered by subjectively how underrated they are today.
HM: Mike Sainristil (2019-2023)
Career Stats: 106 receptions, 1,219 yards, 7 TDs (WR); 108 tackles, 7 INTs, 2 FFs, 4 sacks (DB)
Accolades: 2022 All-Big Ten Second Team, 2023 All-Big Ten First Team, 2023 All-American
Drafted: 2024 2nd Round (Washington Commanders)
Notable: Transitioned from wide receiver to defensive back during the 2022 season. Two-time captain in 2022 and 2023. Hard to say he was overrated when he ended as one of the faces of the national championship team, but he was overshadowed at times by Will Johnson and others.
15. Amara Darboh (2012-2016)
Career Stats: 151 receptions, 2,062 yards, 14 TDs
Accolades: 2016 All-Big Ten Second Team, 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention
Drafted: 2017 3rd Round (Seattle Seahawks)
Notable: Played four games on special teams his freshman year and didn’t play his sophomore season. Became the top receiving target of the early Jim Harbaugh era but went on to have a short-lived NFL career.
14. Luke Schoonmaker (2018-2022)
Career Stats: 54 receptions, 637 yards, 7 TDs
Accolades: 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2022 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: 2023 2nd Round (Dallas Cowboys)
Notable: Played mostly special teams from 2018-2020 and then started in 2021, where he was the Most Improved Player (on offense) for Michigan. Colston Loveland shared snaps as a true freshman, but Schoonmaker was quickly forgotten as Loveland led the team to the 2023 national championship a year later.
13. Karan Higdon (2015-2018)
Career Stats: 2,616 rushing yards, 27 rushing TDs, 177 receiving yards
Accolades: 2017 All-Big Ten Third Team, Michigan’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year, 2018 All-Big Ten First Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Houston Texans)
Notable: Minimal action as a freshman but was firmly in the rotation the next three seasons. Was a captain his senior year and the first Michigan running back since Mike Hart in 2006 to post a 1,000+ yard rushing season. Went undrafted and is lost among many strong running backs at Michigan.
12. Carlo Kemp (2016-2020)
Career Stats: 81 tackles, 10 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 1 FR
Accolades: 2019 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Green Bay Packers)
Notable: Didn’t play much his freshman season, but was in the rotation as a sophomore in 2017 and started nearly every game from 2018-2020. Had a breakout 2018 year and was a two-time captain. He was overshadowed by Chase Winovich and defensive lineman of the later Harbaugh years.
11. Jake Ryan (2010-2014)
Career Stats: 267 tackles, 45.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, 1 INT, 8 PDs, 7 FFs, 3 FRs
Accolades: 2011 All-Big Ten Freshman Team, 2012 All-Big Ten Second Team, 2014 All-Big Ten First Team
Drafted: 2015 4th Round (Green Bay Packers)
Notable: Redshirted as a freshman and then made an immediate impact in 2011 during Brady Hoke’s first season. He was the star defensive player of the Hoke era before many great Michigan defensive linemen and linebackers came along in the early Harbaugh days like Rashan Gary and Devin Bush.
10. De’Veon Smith (2014-2017)
Career Stats: 2,235 rushing yards, 22 rushing TDs, 251 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
Accolades: 2015 and 2016 All-Big Ten honorable mention
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Miami Dolphins)
Notable: The first running back of the Harbaugh era and had great junior and senior seasons after not playing much under Hoke. Set the tone for the Higdon and other running backs following his time in college.
9. Josh Ross (2018-2021)
Career Stats: 239 tackles, 15 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PDs
Accolades: 2018 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2021 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Baltimore Ravens)
Notable: Played every game his freshman and sophomore season before suffering an injury as a junior in 2019. Emotional leader of the 2021 team, as he was a two-time team captain during the shortened 2020 season and bounce-back 2021 season.
8. Ronnie Bell (2018-2022)
Career Stats: 145 receptions, 2,269 yards, 9 TDs
Accolades: 2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2021 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: 2023 7th Round (San Francisco 49ers)
Notable: Appeared in every game as a freshman and sophomore before playing just one game in 2021 due to a torn ACL. Named team captain in 2022 and led Michigan’s receiving core to a second consecutive Big Ten title and College Football Playoff berth.
7. Khaleke Hudson (2016-2019)
Career Stats: 236 tackles, 25.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 16 PDs, 2 FF, 1 FR
Accolades: 2017 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2018 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2019 All-Big Ten Second Team
Drafted: 2020 5th Round (Washington Football Team)
Notable: Played in 52 games during Michigan career and 37 starts. One of the most dominant defensive players in the early Harbaugh years, but was often overlooked by many of the other star defenders at the time.
6. Andrew Vastardis (2017-2021)
Career Stats: 31 career games and 18 starts at center
Accolades: 2021 All-Big Ten Second Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with New England Patriots)
Notable: Was a walk-on and didn’t play at all in 2016 and 2017. However, he got some action in 2018 and 2019 before becoming a two-time captain and the starting center from 2020-21. He waitted his turn and became a crucial part of the Joe Moore-winning offensive line in 2021.
5. The Glasgow brothers
Career Stats: Graham: (2011-2015) 42 games and 37 starts at O-Line; Ryan: (2012-2016) 91 tackles, 19 TFLs, 5 sacks, 2 FF; Jordan: (2015-2019)
Accolades: Graham: 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention; Ryan: 2015 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2016 All-Big Ten Second Team; Jordan: 2017 Michigan Special Teams Player of the Year
Drafted: Graham: 2016 3rd Round (Detroit Lions); Ryan: 2017 4th Round (Cincinnati Bengals); Jordan: 2020 6th Round (Indianapolis Colts)
Notable: Hard to separate or pick just one of these brothers, as all three were walk-ons that went on to have great careers at their respective positions. Graham and Ryan walked on during the Hoke era, while Jordan played under Harbaugh.
4. Jeremy Gallon (2009-2013)
Career Stats: 173 receptions, 2,704 yards, 17 TDs
Accolades: 2012 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2013 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with New England Patriots)
Notable: Held the record for most receiving yards in a single-season, and the Big Ten record for receiving yards in a game (369 against Indiana in 2013). The go-to target for Denard Robinson, Gallon often isn’t considered as high in the best Michigan receivers conversation.
3. Michael Barrett (2019-2023)
Career Stats: 208 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 PDs, 4 FFs, 2 FRs
Accolades: 2022 and 2022 All-Big Ten Third Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Carolina Panthers)
Notable: Started his career as a quarterback and ended as the all-time winningest player in Michigan history as a linebacker. He played in just two games his freshman year and primarily playing special teams his sophomore year. Continued playing special teams all six years and is one of the most underrated defensive players of all time in Ann Arbor.
2. Hassan Haskins (2018-2021)
Career Stats: 2,324 rushing yards, 30 rushing TDs
Accolades: 2019 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2021 All-Big Ten First team, 2021 All-American Third Team
Drafted: 2022 4th Round (Tennessee Titans)
Notable: Most known for his performance against Ohio State in 2021, Haskins is often forgotten after Blake Corum led Michigan the next two seasons. He had one of the most dominant seasons in 2021 (1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns) and yet, it’s rarely talked about. He set the foundation for the Michigan offense in 2022 and 2023.
1. Jordan Kovacs (2009-2012)
Career Stats: 334 tackles, 26 TFLs, 7 sacks, 5 INTs, 9 PDs, 6 FFs, 2 FRs
Accolades: 2009 All-American Freshman Second Team, 2010 and 2011 All-Big Ten honorable mention, 2012 All-Big Ten Second Team
Drafted: Undrafted (signed with Miami Dolphins)
Notable: Walk-on who became a team captain in 2012. Led Michigan through the dark years of Rich Rodriguez into the Hoke era. Wasn’t talked about as a recruit, yet played in all 12 games in 2009 and became an everyday starter for the next three seasons.
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