Category: Michigan Wolverines

Lone year at Michigan provided so much for Ladarius Henderson

Heading toward the 2024 NFL Draft, former Arizona State and Michigan offensive lineman Ladarius Henderson spoke about his lone year in Ann Arbor.

Leading up to the cutoff for declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft, there were a lot of thoughts that former Arizona State offensive lineman Ladarius Henderson would test his talent on the highest levels and opt for the NFL. Not many people would have blamed him. At the time, Henderson was a 29-game starter for the Sun Devils with experience both at offensive tackle and offensive guard. That experience, along with his long arms (35 inches) and natural athleticism, are huge sells for the evaluators on the next level.

Add in the fact that Arizona State was amidst a coaching transition, and coming off of a 3-9 season, it was understandable if it was time. For Henderson, he didn’t want to end his college career that way. He wanted to play to his potential and showcase his skills on the biggest stage. 

“Right after the season before I got to Michigan, I was at a crossroads,” Henderson explained. “Do I declare for the draft or do I go back to college? In my mind, it was either going to declare for the draft or go to Michigan. There was no other option. I wasn’t going to be entertaining the amount of new dollars I could’ve got somewhere else because there were numbers, great numbers, but I knew I had one year to boost my draft stock as much as I can. I had one year to do what I want to do and put it and close the book on this college career. 

“So I wanted to go play with the best offensive line and they have just come off of winning two Joe Moore Awards,” Henderson continued. “So I wanted to play for the best offensive line coach and I wanted to be on a national stage because in the Pac-12, you feel like nobody’s watching that at 9 PM or West Coast time. You play games like the game versus Ohio State and the whole world is watching. That was a new feeling for me and I love that.” 

In the age of the Transfer Portal, student athletes are given options to find a better fit and different situations. For some, they flourish. For others, it doesn’t work out. Henderson is definitely one of the success stories. 

“The Transfer Portal definitely helped me,” he stated. “Obviously the relationship with Coach (Sherrone) Moore, being able to go to Michigan and start for a National Championship team. I know the portal is a great opportunity for players now because you get to weigh your options and see what the best case scenario is for your future. You can weigh everything that’s involved there.”

Looking back at the lone year at Michigan, it provided Henderson with a lot, both professionally and personally. From a football perspective, he got to prove himself on the highest level. Henderson also got the chance to showcase his abilities at left tackle after playing the last couple of seasons inside. That versatility should be a big help on the next level.

“I think it helps me a ton, which is part of the reason why I wanted to come to Michigan,” said Henderson. “I knew Coach Moore wanted me to play left tackle and I played it as a freshman, but nobody really cares what I did as a freshman. So now they’ll know for sure that I am position flexible. It means a ton just to be able to even switch those positions in game and understand the technique needed to play those different positions because they’re very different.”

Then from a personal level, Henderson was a part of history. That lone season will be one to remember forever. He will have a chance to look back one day and know he was a part of something special.

“Man, it’s surreal,” explained Henderson. “It’s obviously super cool because I have a ton of things I can tell my kids someday when I have kids and they’ll think I was way cooler than I actually am. But it is awesome to be a part of history, legit making history in every facet. It’s amazing just to win a National Championship, break this record and hopefully we can break the draft record with the amount of guys we hope to get drafted. Honestly, man, it is amazing.”

We are inching closer and closer to the 2024 NFL Draft kicking off at the end of April. Henderson is very likely to hear his name called, which he owes a lot to his talents as a player, the quality and character he brings as a man, and what that year at Michigan provided. 

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Evaluating the draft stock of Michigan football cornerback Mike Sainristil

Some team is gonna get an all-timer! #GoBlue

Mike Sainristil is the epitome of a Michigan man. He came into the program as an unheralded defensive back, switched to wide receiver, then made the change back to defensive back before the 2022 season. Sainristil would be elected captain, lead the team in interceptions, and make some of the biggest plays in program history. He will be remembered as a legend.

Of course, all good things come to an end. Sainristil had a terrific career in Ann Arbor, but it is time for him to move on. Mike entered the NFL draft and has garnered a lot of attention from scouts and media alike.

Firstly, Sainristil will likely play on the inside in the NFL. He did a great job of moving around from the boundary to the slot depending on the team’s need in college, but he does not have the size to man the boundary in the NFL. Look for him to be drafted as a nickel corner.

The first trait required to play slot corner in the NFL is aggressiveness at the point of attack. Sainristil checks that box with ease. He measured in at the combine at just 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, but that is acceptable for an interior defender. The important part is that he plays larger than his body, which is certainly true as Sainristil seeks out contact in run support and is an impressive tackler overall. He understands pursuit angles (besides one snap in the Rose Bowl) and does a great job of hitting his target low and wrapping up. On occasion, he makes the big hit that gets fans out of their seats, but for the most part, he is a very safe and consistent tackler. His coaches in the NFL will be comfortable using him as a force defender against the run or as a blitzer.

Secondly, Sainristil thrives in any type of coverage. He’s probably a little more comfortable in zone schemes, but he understands the technique behind man and can execute it well. His versatility is made possible by his exceptionally fluid hips and terrific burst, which allows him to get a jump on the ball or undercut a route. Coming from an offensive background, Sainristil also has a great understanding of route combos and offensive tendencies which he uses to his advantage. The guy is a terrific coverage player and can play pretty much any role from a variety of looks.

This article would be incomplete without briefly mentioning what Sainristil did at the combine. He didn’t steal the show, but his numbers were perfect for the role he will play in the NFL. Sanristil performed exceptionally well in both of the jumping drills, the shuttle, and his 10-yard split. These might not be the exercises that garner the most media attention, but they are the workouts that best display what it takes to play slot cornerback. Mike will be guarding slot players in the NFL, which means that he does not get to use the sideline as an extra defender in coverage. To compensate, his burst (10-yard split) and change of direction (shuttle) will be crucial to ensure that he can guard both in and out-breaking routes. Finally, his jumping ability means that QBs can’t simply dial up a 50-50 ball with a taller receiver. He will be able to contest most passes at the catch point and should be able to do a good job of breaking up anything thrown his way.

Finally, Mike just has that ‘it’ factor that you look for in a defensive playmaker. He always seems to be around the ball and has made jaw-dropping plays in just about every big game of his career. Against Ohio State he had a massive pass breakup in the end zone, he won MVP in the Big Ten title game, and, of course, had the game-sealing interception against Washington to secure a national title for the Wolverines. The guy understands football and what it takes to be great. He’s got the confidence and poise to perform on the brightest stages and will likely be a starter for whatever team decides to pull the trigger.

So, where will he go in the draft? Good question. He certainly won’t make it out of the second round but might be able to sneak into the first as a high-upside slot player who can start day one. I highly doubt anyone takes a shot on him that early, but Kansas City might need to shuffle their CB room without Sneed (assuming he is traded) and Baltimore has a need inside. Time will tell his destination, but I would be shocked if he lasts into round three.

Early Big Ten football power rankings reveal: Can Michigan reload in 2024?

The Michigan Wolverines experienced a lot of turnover from last season. They hope to reload and lead to another conference title.

It’s never too early for a “way too early” Big Ten power ranking! Things will change. Players will hurt the portal, players will transfer in, and injuries will happen but for the most part, we have a pretty good understanding of rosters after National Signing Day and so much transfer portal movement. 

In each part of this series, we will unveil where each of the 18 teams in the new look conference begin. We started at No. 1 with the revamped Ohio State Buckeyes. Then, the Oregon Ducks come in at the second spot. Now coming in at No. 3 is the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

How could the team that went undefeated and won the National Championship come in the third spot in their conference? The easy answer: program turnover in modern college football. 

Obviously, the question marks start right at the top with former head coach Jim Harbaugh leaving the program to take the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers. The program tried to keep a level of familiarity when they promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to the new position. That was done partly because they are high on Moore, but also to try and achieve some level of stability. 

Unfortunately, the defensive staff was mostly depleted with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive line coach Mike Elston, defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, and graduate assistant Dylan Roney all heading to Harbaugh’s new staff. That means there will be a major overhaul on that side of the football. 

The 2023 Wolverine team was also very experienced. They have an NFL Scouting Combine record of 18 players participating at the end of the month, illustrating how many key players were lost. Luckily the team was able to retain several future high draft picks with running back Donovan Edwards, tight end Colston Loveland, cornerback Will Johnson, and defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Those players will be counted upon heavily to soften the blow of so much roster turnover. 

There’s an element of a team being “the champs until proven otherwise” but there are plenty of questions to answer. 

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Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson solidified senior rise in Mobile

Roman Wilson set himself apart during the Senior Bowl process.

Heading into the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, former Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson was viewed as a sleeper who needed a ton more draft hype. Wilson had modest production while at Michigan, saving his best for last as part of the Wolverine’s national championship run in 2023.

The diminutive pass catcher led the squad with 789 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on just 48 receptions, impressive numbers considering how fixating on the run game Michigan is offensively. 

During the first day, Wilson weighed in and it wasn’t a big surprise that he was on the smaller side. At 5’10 ½” and 186 pounds, he isn’t going to look like a dominant passing game weapon on the hoof. Then the pads got on and Wilson morphed into arguably the top wide receiver on either side in Mobile. Wilson played so well over the first two days, that he opted to shut it down and not practice the final couple of days or participate in the game. 

Throughout the week, Wilson was mentioned by pretty much every major media outlet as a big winner. The director of the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, even put a lofty Tyler Lockett comparison on Wilson during the week. The reason for that is his rare combination of vertical speed, competitiveness, and ability to track the ball down the field. 

Wilson wasn’t an unknown player to NFL scouts coming into the season. There were a ton of early day-three grades out there even before he had his breakout season for Michigan. Leaving the event, it’s hard to believe that Wilson won’t hear his name called in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL draft come April according to multiple scouts on site. 

The last big hurdle for his evaluation is complete at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, where Wilson is expected to test exceptionally well. Running in the 4.3s in the forty-yard dash is a number that has been thrown out there a ton. If he does, Wilson would have cemented what he started at the Senior Bowl: becoming a near-lock top 50 selection.

Sherrone Moore wasn’t just the best choice for Michigan, he was the only choice

Sherrone Moore was the only choice for Michigan.

Things have been moving quickly for the Michigan Wolverines the last few days. On Wednesday, it was announced that Jim Harbaugh was leaving the program to accept the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Chargers. Just two days later, it was made official that former Wolverine offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore would take over as head coach for the team moving forward. 

In those 48 hours, after Harbaugh was gone, there was a lot of speculation over which direction the program would go. Coach Moore’s name was thrown out there quickly and would be considered the heavy front-runner.

Of course, there was some pushback to that ideology, specifically because he had no prior head coaching experience (besides for multiple games this season in place of a suspended Harbaugh).

Moore is also only 37 years old, which is young for a coach who is the CEO of one of the most historical programs in college football. 

In theory, a program could garner interest from a long list of head coaching candidates with more impressive resumes, a longer list of accolades, and far more overall experience. When you take a step back, however, Moore was the correct choice. You could argue he was the only choice. 

Yes, there is an inherent risk with Coach Moore. Nobody has any idea how good of a coach he will be, or if he will be any good at all. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that he knows the formula. Moore knows what it takes to lead the Wolverines to their first national championship since 1997, a year when they had to technically share the title with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This was also the first time Michigan had beaten Ohio State for three straight seasons since their stretch from 1995-1997. 

Experience matters and no outside head coach Michigan could have brought in had that particular distinction on their resume. The familiarity Moore brings to the team is also massive, which should help keep the roster intact. There’s no wondering what the exodus would have looked like if a new staff was brought in. Now you have all but solidified that a strong core of running back Donovan Edwards, tight end Colston Loveland, cornerback Will Johnson, and defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant all return. 

Perhaps the most important part of promoting Moore is that you keep the team’s identity intact as well. The Wolverines had a talented squad but what made them so good was the demeanor and attitude they played with. They routinely beat more talented teams down the stretch because they were physically imposing. They were relentless.

Maybe a new coach could sustain that edge but the odds are against them. Coach Moore absolutely can, because he was a part of it being instilled in their team. If the Wolverine loses that, then they lose this window. There is nothing to sustain. 

It’s not that Moore was the best candidate or that he is guaranteed to keep the program rolling. It is a bit of a gamble to a degree, but in the end, Coach Moore is what Michigan football needs: consistency, relentlessness, an edge.

Michigan football officially promotes Sherrone Moore to head coach

The next chapter at TTUN has begun.

What we thought was going to happen up north did indeed: The Michigan football program announced the promotion of Sherrone Moore to head coach on Friday.

The news comes on the heels of Jim Harbaugh leaving the program to head back to the NFL with the L.A. Chargers all while a couple of NCAA investigations loom over the program. Moore, who filled in admirably for Harbaugh during the last of his two three-game suspensions, was thought to be the popular choice and leader for the job since the Harbaugh news broke. He also was the acting head coach vs. Bowling Green early in the season and brings a 4-0 record to the table.

Still, Moore is a first-time head coach after being on the Michigan staff since 2018 as an assistant. He was the team’s offensive coordinator last season, but before that had co-offensive coordinator duties and was the tight ends coach when he first stepped on campus in Ann Arbor.

To say that Moore will have his work cut out for him would be an understatement. Michigan loses a ton of four and five year guys, including its starting quarterback. The Wolverines still figure to have talent to plug in places, but it either way, the clock will be ticking after three very successful seasons at TTUN.

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Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is the frontrunner to replace Harbaugh

Reports point to Michigan hiring within as offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is frontrunner to replace former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The news struck Wednesday evening of what Michigan fans feared most: Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching job of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Harbaugh, who brought the Wolverines their first national championship since 1997, will be returning to the NFL and joining his brother as a head coach in the AFC. Harbaugh had been with the Wolverines since 2015, leading them to an overall record of 86-25 in that time.

The exit of the beloved coach leaves a void that will be hard to fill, but it appears the Wolverines might already have a plan. Michigan is focusing on offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as Harbaugh’s successor, according to Chris Low of ESPN. Low stated that Moore is expected to be offered the job “barring an unexpected development.”

Moore has been with the Wolverines since 2018. He was the tight end coach until 2020 when he was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. Before the start of the 2023 season, Moore was named the sole offensive coordinator for the eventual national champions. He also stood in as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s four-game suspension this season.

Seeing Harbaugh leave the program after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship will be a tough pill to swallow for many of the Michigan faithful. However, on the bright side, Wolverines fans might not have to learn a new name, as Sherrone Moore is already well-loved in Ann Arbor.

Ohio State’s year-by-year results vs. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan

A game-by-game look at all of the Ohio State matchups and results with Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan teams. #GoBucks

After flirting with the NFL during previous offseasons, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is officially leaving the Wolverine program for another shot at the NFL, this time with the Los Angeles Chargers.

It’s been an up-and-down narrative for Harbaugh as the quote-unquote savior of the program, with many attempting to run him out of Ann Arbor early on. However, the end was one that — at least “Michigan men” — we’re very approving of, pending NCAA investigations aside.

Michigan sure had it’s issues trying to get over the hump against its archrival, Ohio State, but once the program did get going under Harbaugh, it won three straight and capped it with a College Football Playoff national championship.

We decided to reflect and look at each year Harbaugh went toe-to-toe with the scarlet and gray. Here’s a look at each matchup with his Michigan teams, the results and a short synopsis of it played out.

Ohio State social media reacts to Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL

Social media in Ohio State corners of the world was quick to react to the Jim Harbaugh news. #GoBucks

In case you missed it, news dropped on Wednesday that Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is moving on from the program after nine years and taking the open Los Angeles Chargers head coaching position.

Harbaugh completed the turnaround from the brunt of many jokes to the top of the mountain by beating archrival Ohio State three straight years, hanging up three straight Big Ten banners and winning the national championship this season.

Reaction to the news was swift on social media, and as Michigan’s biggest rival, Ohio State fans and media members got in on the act, as you would expect.

Here are some of the best social media reactions from Harbaugh heading back to the NFL with a scarlet and gray slant.

Jim Harbaugh reportedly leaving Michigan for NFL

How do you feel Buckeye Nation? #GoBucks

After flirting with the NFL during recent offseasons, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is finally hanging it up with the Wolverines and moving on to test his skills at the highest level again.

According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, Harbaugh is set to accept an offer from the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his run in Ann Arbor after nine years.

It was a rough beginning and middle for Harbaugh, but his last three years at Michigan resulted in three straight wins over archrival Ohio State, three consecutive Big Ten championships and three College Football Playoff appearances in a row. The last of which ended with a national title this season.

Harbaugh finishes his Michigan tenure with an overall record of 86-25, but his legacy will be one of polarization, especially with potential NCAA penalties hanging over the program from allegedly contact with recruits during a dead period and the sign-stealing saga that is still being investigated. He was suspended for three games at two different points this season stemming from both.

Harbaugh is no stranger to the NFL. He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014, leading the team to three straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl at the end of the 2012-2013 season.

His departure will no doubt leave the Michigan program in a lurch. The Wolverines lose a wealth of experience and talent on the coaching staff. And we’ve seen other programs — namely Alabama — see numerous player defections after a head coach leaves. The watch will be on for the next 30 days to see what happens with the roster in Ann Arbor.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.