Michigan LB selects rival school as transfer destination

The Michigan football linebacker is the second of his position group to transfer to a rival school this offseason.

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It seems to be a prevailing theme for outgoing Michigan football linebacker transfers, but at least this one chose a rival that the maize and blue won’t be seeing anytime soon.

Reserve and former walk-on Adam Shibley appeared poised for a bigger role as he saw frequent game action with starter Cam McGrone being injured in multiple games. With McGrone headed to the NFL, it seemed like Shibley could have a shot, but a new defensive system may have made him think twice.

Shibley announced a transfer to be imminent, and on Thursday, he picked Notre Dame as his future destination.

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While he joins Ben VanSumeren as a Michigan linebacker heading to a rival, the Wolverines don’t play the Fighting Irish until 2034.

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Michigan linebacker enters NCAA transfer portal

Michigan football faces more attrition at the linebacker position with a significant performer from 2020 opting to transfer.

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Whether it’s a sign of Michigan football’s changing defense or seeking a different path elsewhere, a notable player from the Wolverines in 2020 is on his way out.

Linebacker Adam Shibley was thrust into action early and often in the 2020 season with an injury sustained by starting middle linebacker Cam McGrone last year. He played 174 snaps in five games, with the bulk coming against Michigan State, Rutgers and Penn State. According to PFF, he graded out significantly well in all of his appearances except the unexpected season finale against the Nittany Lions.

According to MLive’s Aaron McMann, despite an opening for a potential middle linebacker spot with McGrone declaring for the NFL draft, Shibley will seek playing time elsewhere, as he’s in the NCAA transfer portal.

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Shibley compiled 13 tackles in his sole year being a big contributor on the defensive side of the ball after being a special teams standout the previous two seasons. Once a walk-on, Shibley earned a scholarship this past year.

But his biggest contribution came, perhaps, off the field, as the founder of T.U.F.F. which helped provide uniforms to underserved youth.

With Shibley out of the picture, it could perhaps be a sign of the changing tides in new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s presumed 3-4 system. He’s the second linebacker within the past week to enter the NCAA transfer portal, with SAM Ben VanSumeren doing so late last week.

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5 players to watch: Michigan football vs. Penn State

Michigan football attempts to start a winning streak as it takes on a winless Penn State team. What players should you watch closely?

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Despite losing three games in a row, Michigan football finally got a victory last week as it defeated Rutgers in triple-overtime 48-42. With a 2-3 record, the Wolverines still have a chance to end its season with a record above .500 with four games left in the season. Michigan’s next opponent is its easiest one so far, against a winless Penn State Nittany Lions team.

Penn State is struggling like the Wolverines are, but it’s more extreme as the Nittany Lions haven’t been able to win a game this season, and they haven’t been playing the top teams all season long — save for Big Ten Week 2. Penn State started with a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Indiana and then took on Ohio State on the road. Its next three losses came to unexpected teams, Maryland, Nebraska, and Iowa. Penn State now will look to capture its first win of the year against a Michigan team that is not up to its standards.

Both teams look at this week’s game as a big moment for programs. For Penn State, can it finally capture its first win of the year? Is it able to take down Michigan in back-to-back seasons? For Michigan, can it obliterate a team it has no excuse to lose against? Could this win spark a late-season push?

Those questions and more will be answered on Saturday, but some players might need an extra set of eyes to watch out for when it comes to the action on the field. From two quarterbacks in the middle of controversy to an NFL ready player looking to build his resume for the draft, check out which five players you should pay attention to below.

Jim Harbaugh: Michigan’s defensive identity in 2020 starts up front

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh shares why the DL is the team’s defensive identity and who’s standing out in the linebacking corps

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What’s kept Michigan from being as dominant the past two years defensively as it was the three previous?

The Wolverines are still in the upper echelon of college football in terms of total defense — meaning, yards surrendered per game — but 2018 and 2019 have seen some serious lapses, particularly against Ohio State. Still, the maize and blue have finished no worse than No. 11 in that metric since Jim Harbaugh arrived, but there has to be a reason why it hasn’t been able to keep pace with the Buckeyes, right?

One part of it certainly could be the lack of push up front. In 2016, Michigan had eight sacks against OSU. In 2017, it had three. But in 2018 it had zero and managed just one in 2019.

So to say that the defensive line needs to improve, particularly in that game, it wouldn’t be terribly novel of an idea.

Thankfully, it appears that’s the defense’s strength heading into 2020, as Harbaugh told Jon Jansen on the Inside Michigan Football radio show that he feels the defensive front is that side of the ball’s identity — starting with the two ends up front.

“I think if you can picture – I know you can picture it, but Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson – two — wow,” Harbaugh said. “Tremendous players and they’re having great camps. I kinda look over at them and I see the identity for our defense in those two. Really talented, great, high-effort kind of players. Carlo Kemp and Chris Hinton – and now Donovan Jeter also is really surging and doing great. Such a natural and good football player. And Jess Speight, total Michigan man. Talk about position switches and a guy who will do anything for the team — In there playing nose.

“Also, Luiji Vilain, looking for him to have a very good year. Taylor Upshaw is surging as a player. Also say Julius Welschof, keep an eye on him. He’s coming into his own. Mike Morris, Mazi Smith, Gabe Newburg – really turning into great football players.

“That group of defensive linemen – a lot of identity coming out of that group.”

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Michigan will need more than the front four in order to get the defense back in the top four, nationally, in 2020.

Behind them are two household names in Josh Ross and Cam McGrone, but there’s a newcomer, in terms of starting, in VIPER Michael Barrett — a former quarterback in high school.

Starting with Barrett, Harbaugh broke down the linebackers, including who could spell the starters as the game wears on. All-in-all, he appears happy with the depth.

“He’s a rock-solid guy,” Harbaugh said. “Tough competitor and experienced player. Feeling very good about the linebacking position with Michael Barrett, Josh Ross and Cam McGrone. And some other players are behind them. Ben VanSumeren is looking for, competing for a starting spot at the SAM backer, along with David Ojabo. Adam Shibley has really surged here the last couple months and is doing a great job at the MIKE position. He’s got versatility to play both MIKE and WILL. Outstanding young player.

“Anthony Solomon is a sophomore, but he’s doing a heckuva good job. The two freshmen to really look at are inside backer Nikhai Hill-Green and Kalel Mullings — both doing really well, especially for only being freshmen. So starters and depth are being developed there at the linebacker position. Jaylen Harrell – make another note, right there with Nikhai Hill-Green and Kalel Mullings standing out as freshmen – Jaylen Harrell is doing that as well.”

We’ll see all of the above in action in mere weeks, with the season opener at Minnesota kicking off on Oct. 24 at 7:30 P.M. EDT. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.

Michigan contingent on Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition announced

The Wolverines contingent who will take part of the conference’s new coalition to fight racism has been revealed.

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Earlier this month, in the wake of the George Floyd killing at the hands of the police, the subsequent protests and rise to prominence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Big Ten announced that it was formulating the ‘Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition.’

As described by Commissioner Kevin Warren:

I have made the decision to create the Big Ten Conference Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition and invite student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors, presidents and others to join me.  I have already received powerful notes of support and interest in joining this coalition and look forward to partnering with the existing diversity councils on our various campuses. It is critical that our student-athletes possess their rights to free speech, their rights to peaceful protest and we will work to empower them in creating meaningful change.

We must listen to our young people. Our children and future generations deserve better. We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. The Big Ten Conference will be part of the solution as we actively and constructively combat racism and hate in our country.

On Monday, those representing the Michigan contingent were revealed, as well as those from the other thirteen member schools.

While some of the names are of the household variety, there are also several others from either behind-the-scenes or non-revenue sports, and it includes those from varying levels of prominence, as well as from different races and backgrounds.

Here are all of the Michigan representatives that will be participating and advocating in the group:

University of Michigan

Dr. Mark Schlissel – President

Athletic Department

Warde Manuel – Athletic Director

Abigail Eiler – Assistant Director of Athletic Counseling

Elizabeth Heinrich – Executive Senior Associate AD and Chief Student Development and Compliance Officer

Kenneth O. Miles – Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director

Football

Jim Harbaugh – Head Coach

Hunter Reynolds – senior defensive back

Adam Shibley – senior linebacker

Basketball

Juwan Howard – Head Coach

Men’s Soccer

Chaka Daley – Head Coach

Track & Field

James Henry – Head Coach (men’s and women’s)

Brianna Nelson – fifth-year senior, women’s track and field

Joyce Wilson-Eder – former student-athlete, Advisory Commission

Volleyball

Mark Rosen – Head Coach

Read the full Big Ten release below:

ROSEMONT, ILL. – The Big Ten Conference formally announced today the members of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, which includes student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, chancellors, presidents and other members of the Big Ten family representing all 14 member institutions. In addition, the Big Ten Conference formally launched a Voter Registration Initiative that has been in the planning stages since February of 2020.

“The events in our country and around the world during the past few months have strengthened my fundamental belief in our need to develop tangible and actionable efforts in a collective manner and provide viable solutions addressing the issues of hate and racism in our society,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “We have the distinct opportunity and responsibility through our Coalition to continually encourage, educate and empower our student-athletes as we embrace transparent and much-needed dialogue regarding meaningful issues that have impacted race relations for many years.”

“The Big Ten Conference Voter Registration Initiative is a natural extension of the conversation within the Coalition. An election year provides the opportunity to educate our student-athletes in a non-partisan fashion regarding the importance of exercising their civic right to clearly understand the political process, register to vote, cast a vote during the upcoming election, and provide adequate support to combat voter suppression. We are at an inflection point in our country. Empowering our student-athletes by encouraging them to use their voices illustrates how we can collectively work together to build a better future.”

The Coalition was first announced in an open letter from Commissioner Warren on June 1, 2020 following the death of George Floyd. The goal of the Coalition is to seek tangible ways to actively and constructively combat racism and hate around the world while also empowering student-athletes to express their rights to free speech and peaceful protest.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to use my platform as a student-athlete to combat hate and racism in our country,” said Savanna Spears, a Coalition member and a junior on the Indiana women’s swimming and diving team. “It is so important that we go out and vote so that all our voices can be heard.”

“I am thankful to have been nominated for such an incredible union,” said Coalition member and Illinois football student-athlete Ra’Von Bonner. “I am an agent of change and will use my platform to create real change in this country. I am very motivated and dedicated to progressing my people, BLACK people.”

The Coalition will leverage, support and complement the extraordinary efforts already taking place across the Big Ten Conference through initiatives on our campuses, as well as through existing conference-wide organizations like the Big Ten Advisory Commission. Established in 1972 in the midst of a period of significant social unrest in our nation, the Advisory Commission will have direct representation on the Coalition.

The Big Ten Conference Voter Registration Initiative is a Conference-wide collaboration that encourages student-athletes to take part in the electoral process. The non-partisan Initiative is coordinated by a Voter Registration Committee that includes representatives from all 14 Big Ten institutions. This initiative was activated in February 2020, and hosts three subcommittees to address: Timeline, Outreach and Rollout; Technology and Data; and Education and Programming.

Monthly educational programming will begin in July and continue through the general election on November 3, 2020. This programming will be designed to inform and educate student-athletes on the importance of civic engagement and how to register to vote and submit a ballot, in person or absentee.

The Voter Registration Committee will also partner with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to develop educational programming, create outreach tools, foster open and honest dialogue with law enforcement and collaborate with other established civic platforms. In partnership with Election Protection, the nation’s largest and longest-running non-partisan, voter protection program, led by the Lawyers’ Committee, the Big Ten Conference will work to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to register, vote and have that vote counted. The Big Ten Conference will encourage use of the Election Protection helpline, 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683, which is available 365 days a year to support anyone with voting-related questions.

“The right to vote is the most important right in our democracy,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Student-athletes have unique platforms that can be used to educate and activate students all across the country. I am excited to partner with Commissioner Kevin Warren and the Big Ten Conference Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition to help promote civic participation and ensure that the voices of all student voters are heard this election season.”

“I commend Commissioner Warren and the Big Ten Conference for taking action and being part of the solution,” said Coalition member and Maryland football head coach Michael Locksley. “I am honored to be part of this Coalition and look forward to having tough conversations that lead to significant change. Our student-athletes at Maryland have taken it upon themselves to make an impact by not only registering themselves to vote, but also getting out into our community to encourage voter registration and participation on election days. It gives me great pride to see the Big Ten also institute a Voter Registration Initiative that I strongly believe can have a lasting impact.”

Members of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition and the Voter Registration Committee can be found here.