Five takeaways from Michigan football win over MSU

It’s great to be a #Michigan Wolverine! #GoBlue

What a great night to be a Michigan Wolverine.

The maize and blue retained possession of the Paul Bunyan trophy, and will keep bragging rights for another season. And they did so with authority. The 42-0 blowout marks the largest margin of victory since 1947. Beatdowns like this do not happen often.

The win meant a lot to the team as well. With recent speculation over cheating allegations, the Wolverines have been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as of late. A blowout like this should give the program a morale boost and flip headlines until more news breaks regarding the scandal.

Why Vincent Gray is sure freshman CB will be a stud for Michigan

Michigan football junior cornerback Vincent Gray shares what he’s seen from freshman Ja’Den McBurrows in fall camp.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbzardvge799bm2 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When you’re a cornerback with offers from the likes of Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Ohio State, chances are you’re a stellar player. But Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas’ Ja’Den McBurrows was overlooked by the recruiting services, as he was rated but a three-star recruit, the No. 554 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite and the 43rd-best cornerback in the country, the recruiting site says.

However, his offer sheet begs to differ.

McBurrows has been making a strong impression as a freshman in fall camp. And while his time is likely a little ways away, he’s impressing a veteran in junior corner Vincent Gray.

“Yeah, Ja’Den’s really good – that’s my boy, that’s my young dude,” Gray said. “He’s really good. I can’t wait to see what he does here, too. He’s got a couple things to work on, but he’s gonna be really good here.”

[lawrence-related id=39522,39513,39397]

But what makes McBurrows so good so early? Gray sees someone with pure instincts mixed with some savvy in being able to read opposing receivers.

While McBurrows will likely have to wait for Gray, DJ Turner and Gemon Green to move on before he gets his turn, it appears he has what it takes to be one of the next great corners in Ann Arbor.

“He has a great knack for breaking on the ball,” Gray said. “Just naturally breaks on the ball. He knows how to read routes, short routes. Plays the ball really well and he’s been making plays.”

Fans will certainly be excited to see a talent with such an offer sheet get his opportunity, but there’s equal excitement about incoming five-star Will Johnson and highly-coveted three-star Myles Pollard in 2022.

[listicle id=39402]

Michigan nabs 2021 FL 3-star CB commitment

The three-star cornerback from Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas ends his recruitment, committing to the Wolverines.

[jwplayer uB5Mx2IN-XNcErKyb]

While all eyes are on the 2020 NFL Draft, the Wolverines are continuing to bolster the roster in the form of recruiting.

The secondary has been a quiet focal point in 2021, with several targets in play, such as Duce Chestnut, Tyreek Chappell and Kamonte Grimes. But for its tenth commitment of 2021, Michigan went down south to a powerhouse high school football program in Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas and pulled an emerging three-star prospect to the north.

Announcing on Twitter that he’s pledging to the maize and blue, three-star cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows — No. 580 overall according to the 247Sports Composite — chose the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State and Florida State.

The commitment moves Michigan up to the No. 10 spot ahead of Georgia in the 247Sports team rankings.