This is the second part of my look at the snap counts, by team and by position, through the first three weeks of the UFL season. The USFL Conference teams are profiled here; you can find my article on the XFL Conference teams here.
Teams are still trying to find the right combination of players to have on the field, and they’re working through that process early in the season. You can see that develop and change week-to-week based on the snap counts. Picking out the patterns and trends from these snap counts gives us an indication of where the teams are settling in with the personnel they have on their rosters.
An asterisk (*) next to a number indicates the player was in the starting lineup for that game. “I” means “inactive,” and whether they were injured (“Inj”) or whether it was a coach’s decision (“CD”) is indicated beside it. You’ll also see the “Inj” designation next to a player if their low snap count can be attributed to an injury suffered in that game. “N/A” means they were not on the roster for that week’s game. I’ll also note when players were waived or placed on injured reserve.
Birmingham Stallions
Quarterbacks
Week 1 (68 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (62)
Matt Corral
55*
31*
0
Adrian Martinez
13
31
62*
J’Mar Smith
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
While it looks like Adrian Martinez has “won” the starting job, this could be a position that remains in flux for the entire season. Clearly, Matt Corral didn’t do enough through two games to instill confidence in head coach Skip Holtz that he should be “the guy” moving forward. Notably, Corral did not play at all against Memphis. That doesn’t guarantee Martinez, who struggled with passing consistency in college, the starting job for the rest of the season, though. (EDIT: As this was being written, Birmingham’s week four depth chart indicated Matt Corral will start against D.C.)
Running Backs
Week 1 (68 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (62)
C.J. Marable
37*
40*
42*
Ricky Person, Jr.
32
25
23
Larry Rountree III
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
C.J. Marable’s usage has pulled ahead of Ricky Person’s more and more each game. Birmingham trusts Marable to operate with the lead and to help bleed the clock. Person has shown some explosiveness out of the backfield; he certainly doesn’t appear in danger of losing that role.
Tight Ends
Week 1 (68 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (62)
Jace Sternberger
42*
45*
41*
Marcus Baugh
24
18
21
Jordan Thomas
11
6
10
Through three games, each tight end’s snap counts are within a five-to-six snap range from game-to-game. It somewhat mirrors Birmingham’s total offensive output in terms of snaps across these three contests, with a range of 62-to-68. Jordan Thomas may be working his way back into the TE role after spending the 2023 NFL season as a linebacker with the Carolina Panthers.
Wide Receivers
Week 1 (68 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (62)
Deon Cain
39*
36*
57*
Gary Jennings, Jr.
39*
31*
0 (I – CD)
Amari Rodgers
32*
28*
26
Binjimen Victor
28
23
29
Marlon Williams
28
27
24
Kevin Austin, Jr.
27
28
32
Isaiah Zuber
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
2
What stands out here is Gary Jennings going from two-game starter to the bench in game three. That allowed Isaiah Zuber to suit up for the first time in 2024. Jennings’ snaps seemed to mostly get absorbed by Deon Cain, who currently sits atop the UFL receiving leaderboard. He saw a significant uptick in playing time in game three, as the Stallions may choose to ride his production. The other four receivers split time pretty equally, including Amari Rodgers and Marlon Williams in the slot.
Offensive Line
Week 1 (68 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (62)
Zack Johnson
68*
53*
44*
Christian DiLauro
68*
53*
28*
Cole Schneider
68*
62*
62*
Alex Taylor
58*
43*
59*
Deonte Brown
6* (Inj)
0 (IR)
0
Derwin Gray
62
42*
50*
Matt Kaskey
11
30
39
Darius Harper
0
30
0 (I – CD)
O’Shea Dugas
N/A
0 (I – CD)
31
Birmingham lost one of its most promising starters, G Deonte Brown, after just six offensive snaps. It hasn’t slowed down the line, which has become one of the strengths of the team. They’ve had several linemen share time, either by design or due to the leads they’ve been able to jump out to. Matt Kaskey, Darius Harper and O’Shea Dugas are the reserves that have stepped in and acquired valuable playing time. The one constant has been Cole Schneider at center – he hasn’t missed a snap.
Defensive Line
Week 1 (50 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (67)
Carlos Davis
39*
32*
49*
Jordan Thompson
33*
31*
44*
Jonathan Garvin
25*
37*
34*
Dondrea Tillman
29*
45*
51*
Marvin Wilson
23
25
28
Jaylen Twyman
0 (I – CD)
26
0 (I – CD)
Taco Charlton
21
34
40
Damarcus Mitchell
25
0 (I – CD)
19
The Stallions started the same four linemen all three games. Taco Charlton’s three-sack outburst in game two didn’t lead to a start in game three, but he did see the field more. Charlton is another pass-rush menace that Birmingham can unleash on the opposition. The depth trickles all the way down to Jaylen Twyman and Damarcus Mitchell, who have alternated being inactive through three weeks. Health along the line and match-ups may dictate which one of them is active on a game-by-game basis.
Edge/Linebackers
Week 1 (50 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (67)
Scooby Wright
38*
41*
32*
Kyahva Tezino
31*
24
45
DeMarquis Gates
0 (I – Married)
43*
39*
Damon Lloyd
23
0 (I – CD)
24
Elijah Sullivan
19
13
0 (I – CD)
Scooby Wright is the heart and soul of the defense, but as an old-school inside linebacker, his snaps are a little more limited. He went from having the most snaps at LB in game one to the third-most by game three. The return of DeMarquis Gates has given the Stallions another player with NFL experience. Damon Lloyd and Elijah Sullivan are young players who have soaked up opportunities as reserves and special teamers.
Cornerbacks
Week 1 (50 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (67)
Mark Gilbert
49*
58*
0 (I – Inj)
Ike Brown
17* (Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
Chris Jackson
39*
35*
61*
Lorenzo Burns
34
49*
59*
Nevelle Clarke
0 (I – CD)
27
39*
Madre Harper
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
36
Two starters have succumbed to injuries as of late. Ike Brown has missed the last two games and Mark Gilbert was out last weekend. They are very much key cogs in the defensive backfield. Lorenzo Burns and Nevelle Clarke have picked up the slack and a strong pass rush has for the most part helped mask those absences. Having the depth tested this early in the year will only be a benefit as the season wears on.
Safeties
Week 1 (50 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (67)
Kenny Robinson, Jr.
39*
52*
45*
JoJo Tillery
37*
45*
61*
A.J. Thomas
16
14
6
Daniel Isom
12
7
25
Unlike many of the other positions on the Stallions, the playing time split among safeties has not been as equal. Kenny Robinson and JoJo Tillery are head-and-shoulders above A.J. Thomas and Daniel Isom when it comes to snap shares, even in week three’s blowout of Memphis. Isom did step in for Robinson more often than he had done to that point, though he also may have been utilized with the depth thin at corner.
Houston Roughnecks
Quarterbacks
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (57)
Jarrett Guarantano
36*
14* (Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
Reid Sinnett
3
44
53*
Nolan Henderson
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
5
Kenji Bahar
N/A
N/A
0 (I – 3rd QB)
Prior to the season, head coach Curtis Johnson made it clear that both active quarterbacks would see time during games. He has lived up to that vow through the first three weeks, though perhaps not in the way he pictured it. Jarrett Guarantano’s week two injury caused Reid Sinnett to be thrown into the fire. It will be interesting to see what effect Nolan Henderson can have on the offense as the number three now becomes the change-of-pace number two QB.
Running Backs
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (57)
T.J. Pledger
17*
35*
52*
Kirk Merritt
17
19 (Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
Tiyon Evans
6
5
5
Mark Thompson is expected to make his season debut this weekend after missing the first three games with a knee sprain. In his stead, T.J. Pledger has been the biggest beneficiary. He’ll take a backseat to Thompson, but should still see at least 15-20 snaps as Houston works Thompson back into the rotation. Third back Tiyon Evans didn’t see a spike in activity with Kirk Merritt out last week, which doesn’t bode well for his prospects moving forward now that Thompson is healthy.
Tight Ends
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (57)
Braedon Bowman
30*
51*
32
Clint Sigg, Jr.
8
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
Woody Brandom
0 (I – Inj)
15*
12*
Houston is not a big believer in two-TE sets: Through three weeks, only 37 snaps have been taken by tight ends not named Bradeon Bowman. Bowman has a stranglehold on the top of the depth chart. He can block and catch passes. It’s kind of surprising the team has kept three TEs given how the snaps have been distributed so far.
Wide Receivers
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (57)
Anthony Ratliff-Williams
30*
42*
0 (I – Inj)
Justin Hall
32*
42
45*
Emmanuel Butler
19*
25
43*
Keke Chism
16
39*
44*
Isiah Hennie
5
0 (I – CD)
2
Cyril Grayson
5
17
37
Steven Dunbar, Jr.
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – Inj)
12
Given their need for explosive plays on offense, it’s a mystery as to why Isiah Hennie hasn’t been featured more as a receiver. An All-USFL punt returner for the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023, Hennie also finished ninth in the league in receiving yardage. Houston utilizes a variety of of players at the position, though slot receiver Justin Hall leads then in snaps. With Anthony Ratliff-Williams out versus Michigan, former LSU track star Cyril Grayson saw a boost in playing time.
Offensive Line
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (57)
Jack Kramer
39*
58*
57*
Na’Ty Rodgers
39*
58*
47*
Justin Redd
39*
0
0
Avery Gennesy
39*
58*
57*
Shamarious Gilmore
11*
10*
0 (I – CD)
Braylon Jones
28
58*
57*
Cam Carter
0
48
57*
Brandon Haskin
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
10
It’s been a rough go of it for this group. Since opening weekend, Braylon Jones and Cam Carter have been inserted into the starting lineup, while Justin Redd and Shamarious Gilmore have taken a seat on the bench. Just two linemen have been in for every snap. There isn’t much more tinkering Houston can do with the personnel they have; we’ll see if their performance improves and if not, whether the team is willing to seek solutions from the outside.
Defensive Line
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (64)
Week 3 (63)
Olive Sagapolu
36*
30*
5* (Inj)
Keonte Schad
47*
28*
48*
Ethan Westbrooks
47*
38*
46*
Toby Johnson
21
28
30
Glen Logan
31
23
28
Ronheen Bingham
43
40
54*
The defense has been on the field a lot so far this year (all three games in excess of 60 snaps), and there are some big guys that can wear down with too much usage. You see that most linemen are below the 40-snap threshold each game, which has kept them fresh. Olive Sagapolu was placed on IR this week, which should get Toby Johnson’s snaps consistently into the 30s each game, with Glen Logan not far behind him.
Edge/Linebackers
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (64)
Week 3 (63)
Reuben Foster
54*
54*
50*
Adam Rodriguez
37*
35*
0 (I – CD)
Gabriel Sewell, Jr.
33*
59*
42*
Chris Odom
0 (I – Inj)
35*
21 (Inj)
J.T. Tyler
32
26*
38
Carlo Kemp
31
0 (I – CD)
23
Marvin Moody
19
3
2
Adam Rodriguez’s inactive designation last weekend is one that bears watching moving forward. He started the first two games. With Carlo Kemp retiring and Chris Odom getting banged up again, the team will need Rodriguez’s pass rush presence on the edge. Reuben Foster keeps racking up the snaps and the tackles.
Cornerbacks
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (64)
Week 3 (63)
Corn Elder
53*
45*
45*
Jimmy Moreland
71*
43
23
Colby Richardson
65*
63*
62*
Jeremiah Johnson
19
26
45*
Jai-Nunn Liddell
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
Jeremiah Johnson has had a whirlwind couple weeks. He was released by the Roughnecks during training camp, but re-signed a few days later. Then he made the roster and even started in week three, only to be released a second time just a few days ago. When you’re 0-3 and the defense gets 34 points hung on them, heads will roll. Jimmy Moreland and Markel Roby are contenders to pick up those snaps. Colby Richardson has been a consistent presence on the field, as has Corn Elder. The injury issues that have plagued the team have largely steered clear of the defensive backs.
Safeties
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (64)
Week 3 (63)
Donald Rutledge, Jr.
68*
61*
59*
Ja’Von Hicks
43*
28
36*
Markel Roby
29
39*
35
Rashad Torrence II
N/A
0
1
Ja’Von Hicks has seen his snaps go up and down through three weeks. Like Richardson, Donald Rutledge has played almost every snap on defense. The recent addition of Rashad Torrence gives the position some needed depth. We’ll see how the former Florida Gator is integrated into the safety rotation in the coming weeks.
Memphis Showboats
Quarterbacks
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (74)
Week 3 (67)
Case Cookus
71*
73*
39*
Troy Williams
0
1
28
Josh Love
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
Memphis has run perhaps the most snaps of any team on offense, crossing 70 twice and approaching that number a third time. Case Cookus has taken the majority of those snaps at QB, save for when head coach John DeFilippo pulled him for his own health and safety against Birmingham. Troy Williams isn’t likely to threaten Cookus for the starting job, but is an effective backup.
Running Backs
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (74)
Week 3 (67)
Darius Victor
53*
63*
27
Titus Swen
17
11
37*
Trey Williams
0
0
3
Through two games, Darius Victor had been the workhorse most expected him to be, garnering 76% and 85% of the backfield snap shares respectively. The game script against the Stallions didn’t favor Victor’s style, leading to Titus Swen gobbling up more snaps in that game than he did in games one and two combined. Trey Williams was waived this week in favor of Boise State product Cyrus Habibi-Likio. He played three games under Coach Flip for the New Orleans Breakers last year.
Tight Ends
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (74)
Week 3 (67)
Sage Surratt
50*
59*
64*
Wes Saxton, Jr.
32
14 (Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
Jay Jay Wilson
8
12
10
Sage Surratt isn’t coming off the field often, and his presence is a benefit to the passing game. Backups Wes Saxton and Jay Jay Wilson went from playing 40 snaps in week one down to just Wilson’s 10 in week three, a decrease of 30 snaps while Surratt’s total increased by only 14. There certainly seems to be some adjusting going on in terms of packages being used.
Wide Receivers
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (74)
Week 3 (67)
Daewood Davis
57*
68*
47*
Jonathan Adams
64*
72*
55*
Lee Morris
32*
25
28
Vinny Papale
32
40*
43*
Diondre Overton
7
2
12
Dee Anderson
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
9
Vinny Papale looks to have taken a firm hold of the starting slot role, with Lee Morris settling in as his backup. Daewood Davis and Jonathan Adams are the unquestioned starters on the outside. The Showboats don’t run much deeper than the top four, with Diondre Overton and Dee Anderson acting as seldom-used backups.
Offensive Line
Week 1 (71 snaps)
Week 2 (74)
Week 3 (67)
Terry Poole
71*
1
2
Jared Thomas
71*
74*
67*
Alec Lindstrom
71*
74*
0
Darrin Paulo
71*
74*
67*
Jarron Jones
71*
73*
67*
Salesi Uhatafe
1
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
James Tunstall
2
74*
65*
Jordan McCray
0 (I – CD)
4
67*
Terrone Prescod
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
Three different line combinations have been used to start the three games. More changes might be on the way given their performance against the Stallions. Terry Poole, who started in week one, was released. Marcus Tatum was signed to replace him on the roster, another former Breaker with whom DeFilippo is familiar. Jarron Jones struggled mightily against Birmingham’s edge rushers, but has a history of strong play.
Defensive Line
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (55)
Week 3 (62)
John Atkins, Sr.
17*
24*
31*
P.J. Hall
19*
33*
0 (I – CD)
Josiah Bronson
21
30*
28
Dillon Faamatau
12
11
33
Daylon Mack
15
9
33*
Connor Christian
0 (I – Inj)
0 (I – CD)
10
After starting the first two games, P.J. Hall was on the sidelines for week three. Daylon Mack replaced him in the lineup. Connor Christian also saw his first action of the season in that game. None of the D-Linemen have surpassed 60% of the defensive snaps in a game. Memphis is another team apparently working to keep the players fresh by rotating them often – four linemen in the team’s three-man front totaled 28 or more snaps in the most recent game.
Edge/Linebackers
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (55)
Week 3 (62)
Greg Reaves
20*
28*
34*
Jordan Ferguson
24*
32*
29*
T.J. Neal
17*
3*
32*
Malik Lawal
21*
40*
34*
Max Roberts
19
31
29
Vontae Diggs
18
0 (I – CD)
28
Tyshun Render
15
23
32
Anthony Butler
0 (I – CD)
15
0 (I – CD)
Jeff McCulloch
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
Like the defensive lineman, the edge players and linebackers have shared pretty equal playing time. Look no further than the snap counts for the Birmingham game as evidence. Memphis has devoted significant resources to the position in terms of roster spots to the point that two players have been deactivated each game. Those players could be expendable if the Showboats need depth at another position at some point during the season.
Cornerbacks
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (55)
Week 3 (62)
Kyree Woods
39*
55*
62*
Delrick Abrams
39*
55*
62*
T.J. Green
22
52
22
Nehemiah Shelton
0 (I – CD)
2
8
It’s not unusual to see one corner on a team play all the snaps in a game; here, we have two corners that have played all of the snaps across the first three games. T.J. Green and Nehemiah Shelton, therefore, haven’t been used all that much, save for game two when Memphis was playing San Antonio and their spread offense. In that case, Memphis had six defensive backs on the field almost every snap.
Safeties
Week 1 (39 snaps)
Week 2 (55)
Week 3 (62)
Christian McFarland
39*
55*
62*
Jarey Elder
39*
55*
62*
Quenton Meeks
33*
54*
51*
Lamont McPhatter II
0
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
It seems odd that three safeties would start every game, but it’s important to note that Quenton Meeks has a history as a cornerback, so he’s likely playing more of a corner role. Christian McFarland and Jarey Elder have combined to play all but two snaps this season, similar to the usage of the top two corners on the team. It’s interesting to juxtapose that with the frequent rotations the numbers have shown take place with the defensive linemen and linebackers.
Michigan Panthers
Quarterbacks
Week 1 (51 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (63)
E.J. Perry
51*
55*
55*
Danny Etling
0
3
8
Brian Lewerke
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
0 (I – 3rd QB)
E.J. Perry has had an up-and-down season performance-wise, but there’s been no indication that Michigan is looking to replace him with Danny Etling. The job Perry did in week three’s victory over the Roughnecks left no doubt about who will be running the show from the quarterback position. That said, head coach Mike Nolan has wanted to get Etling into games, and we may continue to see that effort in the ensuing weeks.
Running Backs
Week 1 (51 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (63)
Wes Hills
28*
49*
30*
Matthew Colburn II
23
0 (I – CD)
33
Nate McCrary
0 (I – CD)
9
0 (I – CD)
Michigan is no different than many other teams that are still seeking to clarify their running back rooms. Wes Hills is the starter and though Matthew Colburn was inactive in week two, he may have secured the backup job permanently in week three. Colburn is a little smaller than McCrary and Hills, thus creating more of a compliment to their styles.
Tight Ends
Week 1 (51 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (63)
Cole Hikutini
29*
45*
53*
Gunnar Oakes
11
8
23
Derrick Deese, Jr.
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
It’s a tad stunning to see Derrick Deese as a healthy scratch for the first three games of the year. He was a prized rookie free-agent signing by the Detroit Lions in 2022, and hung with them for two seasons. Gunnar Oakes comes in much less heralded than Deese, but was able to hold him off for the #2 TE job, at least for now. Oakes isn’t getting so much playing time that you can say Deese can’t potentially leapfrog him. While Hikutini has been serviceable, none of these tight ends jump off the page as athletes: Their 40-yard dash times coming out of college indicate that (Hikutini: 4.85, Oakes: 4.94, Deese: 4.93).
Wide Receivers
Week 1 (51 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (63)
Trey Quinn
24*
41*
36*
Jordan Suell
34*
56*
45*
Marcus Simms
42*
32*
30*
Devin Gray
18
39
36
Devin Ross
27
10
0 (I.R.)
John Hightower
19
0 (I – Inj)
0 (I – Inj)
Siaosi Mariner
N/A
0 (I – CD)
29
Samson Nacua
N/A
N/A
0 (I – CD)
Injuries have hit the lower end of the depth chart, with John Hightower and Devin Ross both missing time. Michigan imported Siaosi Mariner from the CFL and he jumped right in with 29 snaps in his first game. Samson Nacua, a training camp release, made his return due to the Panthers’ need for bodies. Jordan Suell is the early leader for most snaps at the position, though that has only translated to three catches for 15 yards on the season to this point.
Offensive Line
Week 1 (51 snaps)
Week 2 (58)
Week 3 (63)
Jacob Burton
37*
49*
61*
Josh Dunlop
28*
36*
63*
Noah Johnson
51*
55*
50*
Ryan Nelson
39*
52*
44*
Ryan Pope
51*
58*
6* (Inj)
Cohl Cabral
26
18
34
Jarrett Horst
23
23
57
James Walker
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
Chim Okorafor
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
0 (I – CD)
It may be time to shine for James Walker and Chim Okorafor, both of whom have been healthy scratches for all three games. Ryan Pope and Jarrett Horst are both on the injury report heading into this weekend’s play, so Walker and Okorafor may be “up” for this one. Last year in the XFL, we saw several teams sub offensive linemen in and out during games, which is unusual at the pro level. This year, not as many teams have done that. Michigan has, rotating in Cohl Cabral and Jarrett Horst at different points in the games.
Defensive Line
Week 1 (64 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (57)
Garrett Marino
40*
32*
30*
Daniel Wise
51*
41*
39*
Breeland Speaks
46*
40*
40*
Kenny Willekes
45
32
29
Walter Palmore
32
25
21
T.J. Carter
0 (I – Inj)
29
19
Breeland Speaks and Kenny Willekes provide the pass rush pressure from this group, though Daniel Wise has stood out for his play from the interior. Backup Walter Palmore’s playing time has stayed near the level of the starters. T.J. Carter allows the inside to run four-deep if necessary.
Edge/Linebackers
Week 1 (64 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (57)
Frank Ginda
64*
62*
57*
Ron’Dell Carter
29*
45*
30*
Noah Dawkins
54*
40*
51*
Mika Tafua
8
7
15
Dashaun White
10
15
0 (I – Inj)
Javin White
0
9
6
De’Gabriel Floyd
0 (I – Inj)
0 (I – CD)
0
What can we say? Frank Ginda is a machine. The linebacker hasn’t come off the field on defense at all this season. And don’t expect him to, either. Alongside him on the second level is Noah Dawkins, who, while not the iron-man that Ginda is, has played a lot, too. Because the three starters have played so much, there hasn’t been room for the reserves to find a way into the action. Their value likely comes from special teams.
Cornerbacks
Week 1 (64 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (57)
Keith Gipson, Jr.
61*
49*
32*
Bryce Torenden
56*
41*
36*
Nate Brooks
61*
44*
32*
Adonis Alexander
0 (I – CD)
11
25
Levonta Taylor
3
18
25
KiAnte Hardin
3
0 (IR)
0
Despite the total number of defensive snaps staying relatively even, it’s interesting to see the top three corners all see their snap counts decrease from the 60s in game one to the 40s in game two and then to the 30s in game three. During that span, the backups have seen more action, peaking in week three. I can’t imagine the starting corner snaps decreasing any further than this, however.
Safeties
Week 1 (64 snaps)
Week 2 (62)
Week 3 (57)
Corrion Ballard
61*
54*
41*
Kai Nacua
61*
51*
47*
Kedrick Whitehead, Jr.
16
20
26
Sean Mahone
3
17
26
Like the corners, the starting safeties have seen their snap totals decrease each week as the backups have played more. Sean Mahone is somewhat of a S/LB hybrid, so that skews the numbers a bit. Michigan still seems to be searching for the right balance, but it’s almost as if the defensive backs come onto the field in pairs (or trios) and work only with those other players. It’s more than coincidental, I’d guess, that the game-by-game snap counts for some of these players are so closely related to others in that position group.
