The top 50 players of the Jim Harbaugh era so far: No. 40-31

We are through five seasons of the Jim Harbaugh era of Michigan Football and despite a lack of hardware in the trophy room, the program has had no shortage of talent walking through the door each year. This week at Maize n Brew, we are taking a look at the 50 best players under Harbaugh at Michigan so far.

Tuesday sees us ranking the No. 40 through 31 players with 10 more names being revealed until the final list on Friday.

Previous entries:

• 50 through 41

Here we go!

40. Khalid Hill, fullback (2014-17)

Before there was Ben Mason, there was Hill, who had 13 of his 42 career carries go for touchdowns in his Michigan career. Ten of those scores came as a member of the 2016 team, where it seemed like he was nearly automatic in short-yardage and goal line situations.

39. Ben Gedeon, linebacker (2013-16)

Gedeon was a four-star player at Michigan, appearing in 51 games with 14 starts in his career. His senior season saw him make 106 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two defended passes, which earned him second team All-Big Ten honors from the media and third team from the media.

38. Channing Stribling, cornerback (2013-16)

Stribling made 18 starts in his Michigan career with 13 of those coming in his senior season as the No. 2 cornerback beside Jourdan Lewis. He had six interceptions and 22 pass breakups in his career and was a second team All-Big Ten honoree by both the media and coaches in 2016.

37. Zach Charbonnet, running back (2019-present)

Charbonnet has only played a true freshman season under Harbaugh, but it is easy to see how he may wind up much higher on this list before things are all said and done. The media voted him as a third team All-Big Ten performer this past season after posting 726 yards and 11 touchdowns while mostly being in a backfield committee throughout the year. By starting at running back in the first game of the season, he joined Sam McGuffie (2008), Wally Teninga (1945) and Gene Derricotte (1944) as the only players to ever do so in program history.

36. Ronnie Bell, wide receiver (2018-present)

Did you ever hear the one about the former two-star recruit who became Michigan’s most productive wide receiver? Because that is what happened for the sophomore in 2019. He made 10 starts at wideout and led the team with 48 catches for 758 yards and figures to be in for a similar role moving forward.

35. Daxton Hill, safety (2019-present)

Hill has only played a true freshman season in Ann Arbor so far, but has flashed the potential to suggest he will wind up being much higher on this list before things are said and done. Hill appeared in 13 games last season and worked his way into a key role by the end of the year after doing much of his damage on special teams. The sky is the limit for the former five-star prospect.

34. Cam McGrone, linebacker (2018-present)

McGrone is the second of the current Wolverines to appear on this list and also has a chance to be much higher when things are all said and done. Stepping in for an injured Josh Ross last season, McGrone quickly proved to be one of the Wolverines’ most promising young talents. He finished his redshirt freshman season with 66 tackles (9.5 for loss), four sacks, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a pass broken up and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer.

33. De’Veon Smith, running back (2013-16)

Smith wasn’t supposed to be the most productive running back to come out of the 2013 class (sorry, Derrick Green), but he finished his Michigan career having appeared in 49 games with 26 starts. He racked up 2,161 career yards and 22 touchdowns on 470 carries in his time in Ann Arbor and had 10 touchdowns his senior season.

32. Lavert Hill, cornerback (2016-19)

Hill is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and was a third-team All-American in 2018 and appeared in 48 games (38 starts) in his four seasons with the Wolverines. He finished his career tied for sixth in pass breakups all-time at the university and is one of four players in Michigan history to have multiple pick-sixes.

31. Jalen Mayfield (2018-present)

Mayfield is another one of the young talents that has a chance to shoot up this list with another strong season. His play in 2019 has some listing him as one of the top offensive tackle prospects available in the 2021 NFL Draft class should he declare. He made 13 starts at right tackle for the Wolverines and received honorable mention honors from the conference.