Nebraska sent three players to represent the team at Big Ten media days last week.
Nebraska sent three players to represent the team at Big Ten media days last week. Offensive lineman Ethan Piper, linebacker Luke Reimer, and quarterback Jeff Sims joined head coach Matt Rhule in Indianapolis.
The three players met with the Big Ten Network to discuss their new head coach. Piper talked about the new staff that was brought in last offseason.
I don’t like talking about the past. We always talk about learning from the past but preparing for the future. I can tell you what’s going on at Nebraska right now. Coach Rhule came here and brought a staff that believes in the players that were already here… that belief made us believe in ourselves even more.
Reimer talked about Matt Rhule’s attention to detail.
There’s a lot of structure with coach Rhule. He runs a tight ship. Not too bad mouth anything from the past. A lot of emphasis on structure, detail and unity.
Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims explained why he decided to come to Nebraska.
On my visit I was talking with Coach Rhule. Listening to the goals and vision for the future, it just aligned with what I wanted. I’ve heard the fanbase is nice and supportive. And I always wanted to be at a college that has fans like that and is in a college town. It was the right fit.
Nebraska will kick off the 2023 season on August 31 at Minnesota.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinion.
Can’t wait to see how these younger players perform! #GoBlue
INDIANAPOLIS — Despite losing defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, the expectations for Michigan football’s interior defensive line is bigger than it was at this time last year. And that says a lot about the personnel that the Wolverines will be trotting out.
Senior DT Kris Jenkins is being spoken of in a similar vein to Smith this year, but the hype is largely due to the amount of depth the maize and blue currently have. There are a lot of young players who showed off in glimpses a year ago that are expected to take a big step forward in 2023. At Big Ten media days, Jenkins spoke about how far they’ve come and why those younger players are in a position to succeed this year.
“I’m not gonna hype them up too much. But (Kenneth Grant), Cam Goode, Rayshaun Benny, Mason Graham — yeah, I could go down the list,” Jenkins said. “They’re absolute dogs or animals. And the biggest thing I love about them is that they continue to work, they’re hungry, they love getting better, they love learning from their mistakes and becoming better defensive tackles. And I think you’re gonna see a lot of improvement, and they’re definitely going to make a lot of statements this year.
“But yeah, they’re definitely really coming into their own. And I’m really excited and proud of them with how far they come, and they’re gonna continue to grow.”
As a whole, the defensive tackle group is becoming more and more of a microcosm of the team and its recent success. The culture changed in 2021, and it was a large part due to the Wolverines moving on from factions to all 130-plus players pulling in the same direction.
Jenkins said that one boon for the tackles has been becoming a more tight-knit group when the unit isn’t in uniform.
“Just improving our communication on the field and improving on really our culture and our chemistry off the field,” Jenkins said. “Just working with each other more off the field, spending extra time with each other and trying to learn each other’s position more, so that we could really get a different perspective on the game. And actually a better perspective on what’s going on, so we can be more — affect the game more.”
Fans will get a chance to see firsthand just how far the group has come on Sept. 2 when Michigan football opens up the season against East Carolina at The Big House. The game will kick off at noon EDT and will be televised on the streaming service, Peacock.
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While covering Big Ten media day, 247Sports podcaster Josh Pate praised Rutgers 2023 Preseason All-Big Ten member Aaron Lewis.
Josh Pate is on the Aaron Lewis hype train, the 247Sports analyst believing that the Rutgers football defensive end is poised for a big season.
On Wednesday, the Big Ten Media Days began, with Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano being one of the first coaches to speak about the upcoming 2023 season. But it was Lewis who also made a big impression to the national media present in Indianapolis.
While covering Big Ten media day, Pate, a 247Sports podcaster and CBS Sports analyst, had nothing but praise for the 2023 Preseason All-Big Ten member Aaron Lewis. Pate, the host of Late Kick Extra Podcast, caught up with the 6-foot-5, 250-pound edge rusher at the media day. The two touched upon the upcoming season and life after college football with lewis raving about the Rutgers standout:
“Aaron Lewis of Rutgers was my favorite player to talk to at Big Ten Media Days. Dane and he are the only people who commented on the blueness of my eyes the entire week and I appreciated it from him because he did it on camera. So I asked him, what do you want to do maybe after football? Then he said, I may love to get into media.”
Lewis, from Williamstown N.J., has an excellent work ethic and is a leader for the Scarlet Knights. Lewis figures to be one of the key players on this revamped and improved defense, looking to make an impact as he enters his third year with the Scarlet Knights.
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan football hopes it has the program’s next great cornerback, Will Johnson, but there are big questions who will play opposite him in 2023.
The prevailing thought all spring was that Amorion Walker, who originally came in as a wide receiver, would be up to the task, but after a rough spring game, it’s not certain. Ja’Den McBurrows is now healthy, and he’s contending, as are second-year corners Myles Pollard and Kody Jones.
But the Wolverines brought in a former team captain, Josh Wallace, who entered the transfer portal late out of Massachusetts.
At Big Ten media days, Mike Sainristil sang Wallace’s praises, but also noted he’s still acclimating. So much so that, at times, he doesn’t seem to understand that he’s actually a part of the team.
“Josh is an interesting guy, that’s my boy,” Sainristil said. “I actually just got off FaceTime with him. Josh, he’s a character. But, since he’s been here, he’s been doing a really good job for himself. And don’t be surprised if you hear his name called a lot on Saturdays.
“He works hard, he keeps his head down. He minds his business, he puts in the work he needs to. And since he got here, he’s been around me, I told him, I said, ‘Look, just be around me and I promise you that I’ll take you to a good, good place.’ But one thing I need him to do is understand that he’s on the team.
“Josh, and I will be talking like, and anytime Michigan’s brought up, he’ll refer to Michigan as ‘you guy’s’ as if he’s not on the team at the moment. So he’s been working on it. It’s something we joke about, but you know, Josh — that’s my guy.”
Sainristil is still cautious about what Wallace will do in 2023, which makes sense given he’s yet to put on the winged helmet formally. Fall camp begins next week, and regardless of if he wins a starting role or not, Sainristil is confident that Wallace will make the team better.
“I think he’s a guy who’s going to come in and immediately impact the room in the sense of getting other guys to compete, getting other guys to work hard,” Sainristil said. “And just giving that extra push, because no one wants the guy to come in and take their spot. But coming in, you want to take somebody’s spot, so he’s going to increase the level of competitiveness in the room.
“But I think there’s a good amount of guys right now that could play in that next second cornerback spot, so I can’t wait to watch the battle, be a part of the battle during camp, come next week.”
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INDIANAPOLIS — Coming off of a season where he switched positions, was a team captain, and had arguably the highlight play of the entire season for Michigan football, Mike Sainristil was bestowed with a new honor: he was one of three Wolverine representatives who came to Lucas Oil Stadium for Big Ten media days. He was joined in Indianapolis by running back Blake Corum and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.
Sainristil had his turn at the podium on Thursday, day two of the event, where he spoke for 30 minutes. WolverinesWire set up a camera at his station to capture the entire interview. You can check it all out below.
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He was probably the most popular player available in Indy! #GoBlue
INDIANAPOLIS — Clad in a custom suit by clothier State and Liberty, Michigan football running back Blake Corum managed to his podium session three minutes before it was scheduled to begin. The crowd that ensued was bigger than nearly every other participant at Big Ten media days, with perhaps the only exceptions being Jim Harbaugh, Ryan Day, new Northwestern coach David Braun, and new Nebraska coach Matt Rhule.
It didn’t take long for the standing-room only crowd to get started in asking Corum about his health, his decision to return to Michigan for his senior year, and more.
WolverinesWire stationed a camera at Corum’s podium session and captured all but the first minute and final three. You can watch 30 minutes of his availablility below.
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With Media Days in the rearview, it’s officially time to ramp up excitement and focus for the upcoming college football season.
There are many milestones in my college football offseason. There’s spring football, the first release of Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings, the June recruiting blitz, seeing preview magazines in convenience stores for the first time and then Media Days in late July.
Wisconsin and other teams across the country will start training camp in the coming days. Then real games will be played within the next month. It’s a tremendous time of year.
Before our season preview work here at BadgersWire ramps up at the start of August, here is a look at Wisconsin’s week at 2023 Big Ten Media Days:
Braelon Allen, Tanner Mordecai and Maema Njongmeta all explained what a successful 2023 looks like:
Wisconsin Big Ten Media Days representatives HC Luke Fickell, RB Braelon Allen, ILB Maema Njongmeta and QB Tanner Mordecai were all over the headlines this week as the new-look program went through the media gauntlet for the first time.
I’m sure the players were questioned constantly on the feel of the new program, what to expect from the offense under Phil Longo and what it’s like with new faces all over the building.
One question from a Big Ten Network segment is one Badger fans should be interested in. How do each of Allen, Mordecai and Njongmeta define a successful 2023 season?
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 27, 2023
One constant theme: returning to the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, Indiana in December. That would break a three-year drought for the team in the West division and allow a chance for the program’s first Big Ten title since 2012.
Coach gathered the biggest crowd, as he always does! #GoBlue
INDIANAPOLIS — On day two of Big Ten media days at Lucas Oil Stadium, it was clear that there was a main character.
Generating a crowd bigger than any other entity across the two days, media came to the afternoon podium sessions to ask Jim Harbaugh about the Michigan football team in 2023, about the personnel that will be taking the field, to try and get information about the NCAA investigation and potential suspension, as well as to discuss other topics.
WolverinesWire was there, front and center and captured the entire 38-minute question-and-answer session. You can watch the entire session in the video below.
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Alex Grinch talked to the press in Los Angeles on Thursday. He knows the pressure is squarely on his shoulders at #USC.
The life of a big-time football coach always involves pressure, but to varying degrees and measures. Alex Grinch feels pressure this year at USC, but then again, he feels pressure every year.
What matters the most: Can Grinch live up to the pressure this season and meet the expectations Lincoln Riley and USC fans have for him?
Grinch is a first-class public figure in terms of directly acknowledging his failures and owning his shortcomings. He doesn’t duck responsibility. He doesn’t throw his players under the bus. That’s admirable. Yet, a coach can win only so much admiration by owning up to failures. The greatest admiration is reserved for the coaches who create accountability and succeed.
Grinch talked to assembled media members on Thursday as part of USC media day in Los Angeles. He discussed the pressure of potentially coaching for his job this season. He also discussed the 2022 team’s turnover differential, which is unlikely to be matched in 2023.
Alex Grinch was asked about the perception that he’s coaching for his job this season at USC.
