Michigan Football

The top 50 players of the Jim Harbaugh era so far: No. 30-21

A trio of players was too notable to keep separate.

By Anthony Broome@anthonytbroome May 6, 2020, 11:47am CDT

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.

Wednesday sees us ranking the No. 30 through 21 players with 10 more names being revealed until the final list on Friday.

Previous entries:

Here we go!

30. Jehu Chesson, wide receiver (2012-16)

Chesson was a bit of a late bloomer at Michigan, but had a role to play in 50 games in Ann Arbor with 25 career starts. He was voted a first team All-Big Ten wideout in 2015 and an honorable mention in 2016. Chesson finished his career with 114 catches for 1,639 yards and 12 touchdowns and also had a kickoff return for a score to open the game against Northwestern in 2015.

29. Josh Metellus, safety (2016-19)

Metellus played in 47 games at Michigan and made 38 starts in his career as one of the unit’s most underrated players as his role continued to expand throughout his time at Michigan. He was a three-time All-Big Ten award winner. He finished his career with five interceptions and 21 passes defended.

28. Ambry Thomas, cornerback (2017-present)

Thomas has appeared in 39 games as a Michigan Wolverine and made 13 starts at cornerback last season, which earned him third team All-Big Ten honors. Coming off of a bout with colitis last offseason, he was able to bounce back and play really good football as the No. 2 corner to Lavert Hill and will be the unquestioned No. 1 in 2020. His best football may still very well be ahead of him.

27. Kwity Paye, defensive end (2017-present)

Paye is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and has played in 33 games with 15 starts made in his career. Paye had 6.5 sacks last season and figured to be another key cog in the defensive line rotation as a senior in 2020.

26. Michael Onwenu, guard (2016-19)

Onwenu appeared in 46 games in his Michigan career, playing on the line at guard in 40 games with 35 starts in his career. Onwenu leaves Michigan as a two-time All-Big Ten honoree.

25. Jon Runyan Jr., offensive tackle (2015-19)

Runyan was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree at Michigan and played in 34 career games in Ann Arbor, making 26 starts (25 of them came at left tackle). He committed to the Wolverines under Brady Hoke in June 2013, but stuck it out with Jim Harbaugh and was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 124 offensive tackle in his recruiting class. This was a story that ended well for him.

24. Willie Henry, defensive tackle (2012-15)

Henry was tremendous during his final season in Ann Arbor, appearing in all 12 games with nine starts at defensive tackle and had 2015 honorable mention all-conference honors. He had 10 career sacks, 6.5 of which came in his final season.

23. Amara Darboh, wide receiver (2012-16)

Darboh — who was sworn in as an American citizen during his time in Ann Arbor — was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree ande made 28 starts at receiver in his career. He had at least one catch in 33-straifght games and left the program with 151 catches for 2,062 yards and 14 touchdowns.

22. Donovan Peoples-Jones, wide receiver (2017-19)

Peoples-Jones was a key contributor in all three of his seasons in Ann Arbor, playing in 37 career games and making 26 starts. DPJ was a Freshman All-American as a punter returner and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree as both a wideout and punt returner, as well. He finished his Michigan career with 2,155 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns with 14 of them of the receiving variety.

21. The Glasgow Cloning Machine

Graham Glasgow, offensive lineman (2011-15)/Ryan Glasgow, defensive tackle (2012-16) /Jordan Glasgow, linebacker (2015-19)

This is one of the cooler stories in modern Michigan Football history. All three Glasgow brothers came to the program as walk-ons and left as NFL Draft selections. It did not feel right to split any of them up, so instead we ranked them as a collective. But really, it’s less about them and more a question of how we can find a way to fire the cloning machine back up for more players in the future.