Tag: Enow Etta

Lou Esposito breaks down Michigan football defensive tackle depth

Some exciting names in here! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There’s just about no one in college football who doesn’t know who Michigan football will trot out as the top two defensive tackles. Juniors Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are arguably the best duo of any team up front, but the question is: who is behind them?

Rayshaun Benny, who broke his leg in the College Football Playoff, is expected back by the fall, but considering that the Wolverines had a five-man rotation last year, they’re going to need more than the aforementioned duo and Benny to fill out the interior defensive line in 2024.

New defensive line coach Lou Esposito met with the Michigan media for the first time on Tuesday and WolverinesWire asked him who has impressed him thus far of those who are behind Graham and Grant on the depth chart.

“I think Ike (Iwunnah) has done a great job this spring for us, He’s played a lot of snaps,” Esposito said. “And then Enow (Etta) — we’ve had the ability to move him from outside to inside and inside to outside. He’s a 6-4, 292-pound kid that ran into 11.3 100 (meter dash) out of high school.

“He is a really, really good athlete. It’s just that he has to learn as you get closer to the ball, the hand combat becomes quicker, it gets on you faster. The further away from the ball, it kind of takes a little bit of time, and you can use your athletic ability out there. So I think the biggest thing with him is getting some of those inside reps — it’s really helped him on the edge. Because now when you put them on the edge, some of the weaknesses that he had, he doesn’t have any more in the physicality, because he’s been extremely physical all spring. And he’s a big part of what we’re gonna do moving forward.”

This is the first mention of Iwunnah from anyone on the staff or by his teammates this spring, so the fact that new eyes in Esposito have identified him as a playmaker is promising for his progress. As for Etta, he’s been a mainstay of conversation all spring ball and certainly looks to be a chess piece that Esposito and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale can use this fall.

But one name that got some mention last year that hasn’t really been mentioned this year is sophomore defensive tackle Trey Pierce.

Pierce arrived last fall looking like he could be an early contributor by his physical prowess, but he saw scant time in his freshman campaign. Despite the lack of mention, Esposito told WolverinesWire that he’s pleased with the progress that Pierce — a former four-star out of Chicago — has made in his short tenure.

“He’s done a great job,” Esposito said. “I got to come here, he’s practiced a couple of times, he got dinged up a little bit. He’s come back, I think back up, but he’s he’s really progressing.

“I think the biggest thing for Trey was just realizing what he can do. And I feel like for me, like I constantly talk to him and meet with him about the things he does really, really well. Let’s keep doing those things really well, and then work on the things that we need maybe to be a little bit better. And he’s been great. He’s a sponge. He’s been around almost two or three times a week meeting with me one-on-one.

“So he’s done a great job, I expect him to have a good fall. And we need him to have a good fall, we got to build that depth.”

Young guys leading the charge for Michigan football front seven

The #Michigan defense is going to be stellar again this year. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We already know who many of the main players for Michigan football will be in 2024, especially on defense. Up front, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are perhaps the best defensive tackle duo in the country, while linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham have been getting a lot of publicity this offseason.

But a team is only as good as its depth, one thing the Wolverines have had in spades the past three years.

So, with that in mind, what linebackers are standing out seven practices into spring practice? Position coach Brian Jean-Mary shed some light on the topic, noting some names that have been heard from the past few years, but haven’t necessarily put their stamp on the game as of yet.

“Some of the guys that I think are playing well are Jayden Hood — he’s been here for a while, very, very talented guy that says he’s been waiting for his opportunity. I think he’s taken advantage of it right now,” Jean-Mary said. “Micah Pollard I think fits in that category, too. An older guy, a talented guy who hasn’t played as much as he’d like to but is doing a solid job for us. You’ve got Christian Boivin who has been a great special teams player, he’s doing an excellent job for us there as one of the older guys.

“Some of the younger guys I feel like have an opportunity and we want to see more from and I think they’re gonna have a chance will be Jason Hewlett, Semaj Bridgeman, and Hayden Moore have done a good job for us but, obviously, this back half of spring as far as depth chart goes, we’re going to have to see which one of those guys are going to separate themselves.

“Obviously, the young kids, Cole Sullivan and Jeremiah Beasley — guys that should be in high school and they’re getting quality reps at spring practice — very, very excited about those two guys. I think they’re going to be two high-end guys that are going to continue the tradition that we’ve had here of solid linebackers that are very, very productive. Been very, very happy with those guys.”

What’s more, the linebackers are better when those in front of them are solid at their jobs. And Jean-Mary sees a lot of depth emerging there, as well.

Without wanting to step on the toes of new defensive line coach Lou Esposito, Jean-Mary is excited about one name that seems to keep emerging all spring, as well as another who has gotten a ton of mentions.

“I know guys that stood out so far in the front have been Enow Etta, has done a really, really good job,” Jean-Mary said. “TJ Guy has stepped up and done a really good job. Those are just two guys — like I said, I don’t want to steal the thunder from the D-line coach. As a linebacker coach and sitting back and listening to Coach Wink in the room, those are two guys who seem to be having a really, really good spring.”

Playing more inside, Enow Etta impressing coaches, teammates in spring ball

He’s gonna make that sophomore leap! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year, players rise from seemingly out of nowhere to become star players. Last year, Kenneth Grant certainly had that role (though eagle-eyed fans certainly knew who he was entering the 2023 season) and perhaps another lineman on defense could be that one to step up big once the season comes around.

Last week, when new head coach Sherrone Moore met with the media to discuss spring ball, he singled out a player who he thinks has a lot of potential entering 2024: “Enow Etta — super excited about him and what he can do,” Moore said.

His teammates seem to agree with Moore’s assessment.

On Monday, WolverinesWire asked Mason Graham what he’s seen from Etta, a former four-star entering his second year in college football, and see says he started seeing glimpses of him coming along late in the 2023 campaign.

“I think it started last year during the season toward the end of the season,” Graham said. “I know it wasn’t just me but everybody started seeing flashes of him, even when he’s on scout going against the one-on-one. So I feel like we all saw really good flashes towards the end of the year and kind of just carried the offseason. He’s gotten bigger, stronger. He’s doing some different stuff. So he’s kind of just everywhere right now. But I’ve seen really good things from him. Expect him to contribute this year.”

Etta was thought to be an edge rusher, but when WolverinesWire asked Kenneth Grant about him on Wednesday, he suggested that he’s made a move inside.

“He’s a very twitchy and powerful dude,” Grant said. “He’s just taking it all in. You know, he used to play edge, but doing some work doing the inside stuff. He’s doing a really good job just trying to we’re just trying to meet him there, just trying to teach him as much so he can adapt really quick.”

What makes Etta a good player to move inside?

Officially listed at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, Etta already has requisite size to make an impact when it comes to moving linemen, especially the bulkier types on the inside.

Grant shared more, from a general perspective, on where he’s excelled and why he makes a good fit as a tackle compared to being an outside rusher.

“Just being quicker with your hands,” Grant said. “Reacting to different sort of blocks on the inside, because inside things happen, tend to happen a little more faster. So just coming off the rock and not getting blown off the ball, stuff like that. Small details.”

Mike Elston goes in-depth on Michigan football freshman DL development

The future along the defensive line is bright! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football has a strong defensive line in 2023 and the future may be just as bright as the current iteration.

The Wolverines brought in several edge rushers and defensive tackle types, and three in particular have been mentioned by head coach Jim Harbaugh as being ahead of the curve: EDGE Cameron Brandt, DT Trey Pierce, and tweener Enow Etta. The trio has seen early playing time, albeit in mop-up duty, in the first two games of the season.

Additionally, the maize and blue have two notable project players in Brooks Bahr and Aymeric Koumba.

On Wednesday, defensive line coach Mike Elston shared his thoughts on the five, what they’re doing well, what type of players they are, and how they’re developing. You can check out what he said about each below.

The six freshmen that have been impressing Jim Harbaugh in fall camp

Familiarize yourself with these players now, #Michigan fans! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year, one of the big questions in fall camp is which freshmen will impress so much that they see the field regularly during the season?

In the past, we’ve seen wide receiver Grant Perry, running back Chris Evans, edge rusher Rashan Gary, wide receivers Tarik Black and Donovan Peoples-Jones, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, kicker Jake Moody, safety Dax Hill, running back Blake Corum, safety Rod Moore, cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Mason Graham and burst onto the scene in their first years. That spans the bulk of the Jim Harbaugh era, so it’s more likely than not that at least one first-year player will emerge.

And if you’re looking for a few candidates, look no further than one position group.

Speaking of the wide receivers on Tuesday, Harbaugh singled out the three freshmen there as players who not only could step up in Year 1, but that have ability beyond what fans have seen at the position — maybe ever. While that’s lofty praise given the wideouts ranging from Anthony Carter to Braylon Edwards, fans should start to familiarize themselves with the freshman trio.

“Fredrick Moore, Karmello English and Semaj Morgan: Those three have really come in and inserted themselves right off the bat,” Harbaugh said. “They’ve taken reps with the ones and taking reps with the twos. They’re not playing like freshmen.

“Karmello, Fredrick and Semaj — their ability to get out of a break, we haven’t seen that for many freshmen, let alone too many receivers that have come through here. That ability, their ability to track the ball, Fredrick Moore’s ability to track the ball, is as good as I’ve seen. Semaj Morgan: quick, fast. And in shorter stature, but a very big catch radius. He can catch the ball away from his body, he can high point. He’s been really good.”

That’s not all, however.

Asked about other freshman contributors, Jim Harbaugh said he has something brewing at defensive tackle. Though that’s a loaded group with Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Cam Goode and Rayshaun Benny in the likely rotation, Harbaugh says don’t be surprised if any of the three freshmen on the interior line break out and see playing time in Year 1.

“Yeah, there’s other guys. Yeah, there’s a great group of freshmen. Cameron Brandt, Enow Etta, Trey Pierce — those three have been outstanding and came in right on time,” Harbaugh said. “And I just feel like that interior defensive line group has really been bolstered. We’ll see who the fifth and sixth defensive lineman is going to be in that rotation. But definitely those three will most likely be in. That’s how good they’re playing.”

Harbaugh also mentioned three of the freshmen cornerbacks were playing well in fall camp, which could be a boon given the Wolverines’ need at the position opposite Will Johnson.

“Three really good freshmen in that group, another position group that have three that are ascending,” Harbaugh said. “DJ Waller, Jyaire Hill and Cam Calhoun are coming on fast.”

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Top five true freshman defensive tackles in the Big Ten for 2023

Top five true freshman defensive tackles in the Big Ten for 2023 #GoBucks

It is always fun to look at recruiting rankings. The recruiting landscape receives more coverage every year because recruiting is a very important aspect of building a program. Still, it is important to remember these players and prospects are not defined by these rankings.

I was diving into the most recent class and trying to figure out which future Buckeye is going to shine brightest and fastest but noticed the Big Ten as a whole was pretty interesting recruiting-wise this cycle. We already dived into the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, interior offensive linemen and edge rushers. Now, we dive into the top defensive tackles.

Michigan Football: Counting down the Wolverines’ top 5 recruits of 2023

Here are their five highest-ranked prospects.

One of the rising powers in college football the last two seasons is Michigan, where the Wolverines have gone 25-3 and won two Big Ten championships. Of course, a lot goes into making a winning program, but a recruiting advantage is usually at the heart of it.

And Michigan has been a significant factor in the race for top-tier athletes in the upcoming classes as well, especially from the Class of 2023.

Take a look at the Wolverines’ five highest-ranked prospects.

More football stories

Ohio State’s twin 4-star OTs among latest commitments

Auburn’s phat new RB, Georgia hosts top-ranked recruit

Early Signing Day: Enow Etta signs with Michigan football

Beast in the defensive class! #GoBlue

Ratings

Stars Overall Position State
247Sports 4 93 #11 DL #18
On3 4 118 #13 DL #24
Rivals 4 241 #40 DL #18
ESPN 4 119 #17 DL #20
247Sports Composite 4 116 #14 DL #20
On3 Consensus 4 119 #13 #22

Vitals

Hometown Colleyville (Texas) Covenant Christian
Projected Position Defensive Tackle
Height 6-foot-4.5
Weight 260-pounds

Notable offers

Readiness Level

Already at prototypical size for an edge rusher, Etta could add a little weight if he’s going to play defensive tackle in his first year. However, as Mason Graham has shown, it is possible.

Early Enrollee?

No

Notes

Via MGoBlue.com:

Prep
• Attended Covenant Christian Academy (2023) coached by Phil Towe
• Helped Covenant Christian win the Texas Association for Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state title with an undefeated season (8-0) in 2020
• His junior season in 2021, the Cougars went 7-4
• Posted a 3-8 record his senior year in 2022
• Also played two years of basketball at CCA (freshman, sophomore seasons)

Key Statistics
• As a senior, made 122 total tackles including 34.0 tackles for loss with 20.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and two touchdowns
• Totaled 124 tackles (92 solo) with 40.0 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks his junior season in 2021, leading all Texas high school players in sacks
• Registered 17 sacks as a sophomore in an eight-game season while CCA won the TAPPS state title
• As a freshman, began career as a backup tight end before emerging on the defensive line with 3.0 sacks

Honors and Rankings
• A four-star on the 247Sports composite; the No. 116 overall player nationally, the No. 14 defensive lineman and the No. 20 player in the state of Texas
• Named a four-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 93 overall player in the nation, the No. 11 defensive lineman and the No. 18 prospect in the state of Texas
• Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 119 overall player in the country, the No. 28 player in the region,  the No. 17 defensive lineman and the No. 20 player in the state of Texas
• Rivals.com four-star prospect, the No. 241 player nationally, the No. 18 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 40 player in Texas
• On3.com four-star consensus prospect, the No. 119 player in the nation, the No. 13 defensive lineman in the nation and the No. 22 player in Texas
• On3.com four-star prospect, the No. 118 player nationally, the No. 13 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 20 player in Texas
• SBLive second-team All-State honoree (2021)
• Two-time District Defensive Player of the Year (2021-22)
• First-team All-District selection at defensive end (2022)
• 2022 Whataburger Super Team Finalist

Personal
• Enow-M’beleke Etta was born March 17, 2005
• Son of Nchacha and Pauline Etta

Scouting report

Via 247Sports’ Chris Singletary:

Checking at verified 6-foot-4.5 and 261 pounds with an 81-inch wingspan. He has the look of a major college player with his overall physical build. With a 40-pound weight gain over that last year, you see a spurt that is not the norm. Looking good with a powerful trunk the majority of his weight is in his base to provide explosiveness and strength. There is room still to develop and add definition in his upper body with a broad shouldered frame. Ultimately it is going to be interesting to see how his body matures and ends up.

Etta is an above average athlete that plays with good technique. Always is coming forward on the snap of the ball, keeps live feet and good eye placement coming out of his stance. He plays with his hands where he has a good solid punch to control blockers and shed to get to the ball. Nice body quickness with good twitch and looseness. Good ability to chase the ball-carrier down from the backside. Very active off the ball and physical at the point of attack. Plays with a good motor, shows effort to finish plays. Comfortable playing either left or right end. Needs to continue to work on his stance to generate all the burst with the physical traits that he has. His natural instances take over when he rushes the passer. Plays the cut-block very well and is able to gain the edge and run the hoop to the quarterback. He has good balance and body control he rarely gets over extended and out of position.

As you watch him over the last two seasons his development is very encouraging as his motor and physicality are just a couple of the things that stand-out. He has position versatility that can see him play either end spot or even line up inside on pass-rush downs. He is the type of player that is a multiple year Power Five starter. Along with this he has all the tools to be an all-conference performer and see the NFL once his college days are over as an early round selection.

Film

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Twitter reacts to Enow Etta commitment to Michigan football

What a huge get for the maize and blue! #GoBlue

Michigan football has nicely filled out its edge rushing corps in the 2023 class, with four-stars Collins Acheampong and Enow Etta having pledged to the maize and blue within a week’s time.

With Etta’s commitment on Wednesday, he becomes the highest-rated player in the class for the Wolverines, ranked No. 58 overall according to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings. It was a big win for defensive line coach Mike Elston, who was known as a solid recruiter during his time at Notre Dame.

Of course, with a commitment of this level pledging, there were a lot of reactions on Twitter to Etta’s choice of the maize and blue. Here are some of the best.

Michigan football gets highest-rated in 2023 class

This is a move that could really turn things around in recruiting. #GoBlue

That makes two thus far, Shooter.

On Friday afternoon, Michigan football finally got a commitment from a top target in Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) four-star defensive end Collins Acheampong, as he chose the maize and blue over a surging Miami program. But the Wolverines weren’t done yet.

Michigan has long sought fellow 2023 defensive lineman, Coleyville (Tx). Covenant Christian Academy four-star Enow Etta, who for a long time was pegged as a Michigan State lean. However, the Wolverines made significant progress in his recruitment of late, and it appeared to just be a matter of time before he dropped for the maize and blue.

That happened on Wednesday, as Etta made a verbal pledge to Michigan football.

According to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings, Etta is the No. 58 player in the country, regardless of position, the No. 8 defensive lineman, and the 14th-best player in the state of Texas. He’s Michigan’s 11th pledge of the cycle, and is the highest-rated commitment in the 2023 class.

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