Tag: Karsen Barnhart

Chargers sign 15 players to 2024 practice squad

The Chargers announced 15 players set to be on the practice squad.

The Los Angeles Chargers began announcing members of their practice squad on Wednesday, signing the following players:

G Karsen Barnhart

TE Luke Benson

EDGE Andrew Farmer

TE Tucker Fisk

CB Matt Hankins

DL Christopher Hinton

LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste

WR Cornelius Johnson

WR Jaylen Johnson

CB Robert Kennedy

OT Alex Leatherwood

EDGE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash

DL CJ Okoye (IPP)

LB Shaq Quarterman

RB Isaiah Spiller

Teams can have up to 16 players on their practice squad, but for the Bolts, they can have up to 17 players because they have an exemption to add Okoye as an extra player through the International Player Pathway Program.

Therefore, two more players will be added to round out the group.

Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects

Lions host local pro day for NFL draft prospects and here’s who participated

The Detroit Lions hosted their annual pro day for locally based NFL draft prospects on Tuesday. Over 20 players took advantage of the workout opportunity.

The local pro day primarily featured players from nearby colleges, with many prospects from Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Michigan State. They were joined by prospects with Detroit roots as well, including players from UCLA, LSU and Texas A&M.

These players and their participation do not count against the Lions limit of 30 official pre-draft visits.

The attendees, with the local colleges followed by the local prospects who played collegiately outside of the regional area:

  • Karsen Barnhart, OL, Michigan
  • Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan
  • Judge Culpepper, DT, Toledo
  • Hamze El-Zayat, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Jaylen Harrell, LB, Michigan
  • Trevor Keegan, OL, Michigan
  • Chase Kline, LB, Eastern Michigan
  • Tanner Knue, WR, Eastern Michigan
  • Chris McDonald, CB, Toledo
  • Tre Mosley, LB, Michigan State
  • Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
  • Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
  • Jordan Anderson, S, UCLA
  • Theo Day, QB, Northern Iowa
  • Josh DeBerry, CB, Texas A&M
  • James Ester, DT, Northern Illinois
  • Kalon Gervin, CB, Kansas
  • Ovie Oghoufo, DL, LSU
  • Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
  • Reggie Pearson, S, Oklahoma
  • Walter Reynolds, S, Ohio
  • Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
  • Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn

Rams met with versatile Michigan OL Karsen Barnhart before pro day

The Rams have shown interest in Karsen Barnhart, a versatile offensive lineman out of Michigan

The offensive line has been a big priority for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, already signing Kevin Dotson, Jonah Jackson and Alaric Jackson. They’re likely to draft at least one more lineman in April, whether it’s a backup tackle, guard or center.

Michigan’s Karsen Barnhart is a player to keep an eye on leading into the draft because the Rams seem to have some interest in him as a prospect. According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Rams met with Barnhart on Thursday ahead of Michigan’s pro day Friday.

Barnhart is a versatile lineman who has started games at every position except for center, totaling 31 career starts. Last season, he primarily played right tackle, with 451 of his 836 snaps coming at that position for the national champion Wolverines.

Barnhart isn’t someone who will be drafted early, so the Rams will likely be eyeing him on Day 3 as a depth piece.

What you need to know about Michigan football players in the East-West Shrine Bowl, how to watch

Everything you need to know about the NFL showcase taking place on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

It will be one of the last opportunities you’ll get to see outgoing Michigan football players wearing their winged helmets, as several outgoing seniors participate in one of the esteemed NFL showcases.

There are four former Michigan football players who are participating in the annual East-West Shrine Bowl which is held in Frisco, Texas at the practice home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Here are the details you need to know about the game:

Date: Thursday, February 1, 2024
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Where: The Star (Frisco, Tx.)
Channel: NFL Network

Here are the former Wolverines who will be participating in the game on Thursday evening.

What will Michigan football do if the pass protection struggles against Ohio State?

It has to be better in this one. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Thought to be Michigan football’s biggest strength the past two-plus seasons, the past few weeks haven’t been quite as strong in one aspect along the Wolverine offensive line.

Though there have been some lapses all season in both the run game and in pass protection, the pass protection has particularly struggled in games against Penn State and Maryland. In Happy Valley, on the first pass attempt, when star Nittany Lions edge rusher Chop Robinson used a speed move on right tackle Karsen Barnhart, it appeared that it wasn’t going to be a productive day for quarterback J.J. McCarthy as the signal caller found himself scrambling and caught from behind for a sack. Barnhart had to move to the left side late against Maryland, and similar issues ensued.

Senior right guard Zak Zinter says he’s not worried about his teammate to the right, knowing he’s fully capable. After all, Barnhart has played in The Game before and has been mostly solid in his career.

“Just tell him to be him. Everyone has a bad rap here, there — everyone’s got a bad game, a rep you want back here and there,” Zinter said. “I mean, that’s every game as an offensive lineman. You get beat sometimes, too. Those guys are D-I athletes, too, on the other side. I think it’s just part of the game — just tell him to be him.”

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but Barnhart did not play well in The Game a year ago, according to PFF. Usually checking in with solid grades, the only exception beforehand coming against Nebraska, Barnhart posted a season-low 5.0 in pass blocking against the Buckeyes. That’s 5.0 out of 100. His only worse game as a starter was the aforementioned game against Penn State when he posted a 0.0 grade on 11 dropbacks.

Senior left guard Trevor Keegan insists that the road environment is what caused the problems and that the friendly confines of The Big House should solve some issues. But any other issues, he says, will be cleaned up this week during practice.

“Obviously, pass protection, we haven’t been as crisp and clean,” Keegan said. “You can say what you want about the Penn State game. We couldn’t hear the cadence. So anybody could be put in a bad spot there. But that’s not an excuse.

“But yeah, we’re going to crisp things up. And we know that this is a huge game for us. And as you see the last 20 years, this game is dependent on the trenches and whoever can rush the ball best. So, we know that’s really important for our unit, and we gotta take full advantage of that.”

But what happens if the Buckeye duo of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau manage to get the best of the pass protection — anywhere on the line? Zinter says that Michigan has some cards up its sleeve.

“Just doing what we do,” Zinter said. “They brought another pressure, we’re getting the pressure off the edge. We got some different things that we’ve been adding in to shore things up for sure.”

We’ll know more come Saturday at 12:17 p.m. EST when The Game kicks off.

Jim Harbaugh is really, really working to become more blue-collar

Jim Harbaugh’s blue-collar shtick isn’t just for show! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — What impresses Jim Harbaugh? Is it football acumen? Acts of physical prowess? An ability to diagnose plays quickly?

Probably. But you know what also impresses Jim Harbaugh nowadays? Someone who can operate heavy machinery.

The Michigan football head coach signed on for an name, image and likeness deal of his own with the Wolverine Boot Company this offseason, along with several players. And he’s often doled out blue-collar shirts to his players to emphasis a similar mentality. But it turns out, it’s not just for show — he’s really interested.

In discussing offensive tackle Karsen Barnhart on Monday, Harbaugh gushed about his parents, particularly the elder Barnhart. Because Karsen’s dad, Jeff Barnhart, apparently operates heavy machinery in Paw Paw, Michigan, and the Wolverine head coach may be a little envious.

“You know, Jenny and Jeff Barnhart. Nobody works like Jeff,” Harbaugh said. “Jeff Barnhart, it’s six, seven days a week operating the big machines. Man, that guy’s — he’s like a hero to me, man. I might have mentioned a few times, have gotten into some of the tools and kind of upped in my game when it comes to skid steers and tractors and chainsaws and that’s kind of who I idolize in that department is Jeff Barnhart.

“I got a chance to work with him a few times on a project and watch him move that dirt around with a skid steer. Teach me how to do it. That was cool, you know? Yeah, you’d go back to those to know what they poured into Karsen and then be — wouldn’t be a surprise at all. See, apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, at all. Yeah, he’s one of my favorite guys.”

Karsen Barnhart heard about the incident from Monday and was super excited to hear Harbaugh speak so kindly about his father. He shared more about what his dad does and about another time when Harbaugh stood, mouth agape, watching Jeff Barnhart work.

“It’s pretty cool to see Coach Harbaugh give a compliment, like that’s my dad and my dad is a crane operator,” Barnhart said. “He works in the Union for Local 324. And he also runs a bunch of heavy equipment. And it’s pretty cool to see that. And a couple summers ago, Coach Harbaugh bought a new cabin up north and my dad had an opportunity to work with him. And I went up there as well. And it’s pretty funny to see my dad run the skid steer and then Coach Harbaugh, like, mouth wide open like, ‘Wow! This is really impressive compared to the way he was running it,’ and it’s pretty funny.”

It turns out that it’s a pretty constant thing these days. Barnhart says that Harbaugh is always asking about his dad and hopes to become more proficient at using skid steers and other heavy machinery.

“He’ll ask me about my dad or like, about the job and what he’s working on right now,” Barnhart said. “Coach Harbaugh was like really interested in expanding his repertoire with heavy machinery and like, I guess a blue-collar job — in that nature.”

Michigan offensive linemen embracing fierce competition for starting roles

The culture in Ann Arbor is unreal right now. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — On Tuesday, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh said the offensive tackle competition may go the way of last year’s quarterback competition.

Calling it “the Michigan method,” Harbaugh anticipates a starter will not be determined until in-season, thus, he’s loosely planning on starting one tackle on each side in Week 1, and another on either side in Week 2.

Such is the case when you have an embarrassment of riches as the Wolverines have, with Karsen Barnhart and LaDarius Henderson battling for the left tackle position while Trente Jones and Myles Hinton work for the right tackle spot. All four have starting experience to go along with the many other players on the interior of the line who also find themselves in similar battles.

It’s not something that Barnhart, who Harbaugh said may be having the best camp of anyone, is sweating. After all, he wasn’t named the starter at right tackle last year, but he ended up playing more than half the season as the first man up regardless of that.

“It’s great that the room has that 10-plus starters that we have. And we have so much depth,” Barnhart said. “I mean, you’ve seen in years past where the first five that walk out there, aren’t the first five that walk out there and game 12-13. And it just brings so much depth and so much competition. And the ceiling that we have just keeps growing every day.

“And for LD to push me, me to  push him, guys to push Myles — everybody wants to be the best and everybody wants to be out there.”

So, what does he think of the so-called “Michigan method?” Barnhart says whether he wins the starting job or not, he will be a team player.

“I mean, if that’s the way we go, that’s where we go,” Barnhart said. “I think there’s nothing new about it and I’m willing to — if I have to watch and if somebody’s better than me, I’m gonna be right there supporting them and helping them all the way through, throughout games. And I hope I get the same respect back.”

The battle for left tackle has been fierce, but both Barnhart and Henderson have each other’s back, Barnhart says. And as the duo work to supplant the other, it’s making each better in the long run.

After all, iron sharpens iron.

“I guess the main thing is that he wants to be out there and I want to be out there at the same time,” Barnhart said. “And I guess that’s a way to push each other. And at the same time, if he’s doing something wrong, I’m coaching him up if I’m doing something wrong he’s coaching me up. And we just play off of each other like that.”

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Four Michigan football ‘risers’ Jim Harbaugh mentioned in fall camp press conference

Watch out for these guys in 2023! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Every year during the offseason, a player goes from ‘Who’s that?’ to being a bona fide contributor. That change may happen earlier in the year, but generally cements itself during fall camp.

And this year is no different.

Jim Harbaugh met with the media on Tuesday and peppered throughout his 25-minute media availability, he singled out multiple players who have really taken their games to the next level. While did speak about more than four overall, he spent more time on four in particular.

An already established starter

Photo: Isaiah Hole

First, echoing a sentiment he made on the Big Ten Network’s fall camp series, looking at the offensive line — a group that’s bursting at the seams with talent — no player has been more impressive than Karsen Barnhart.

Barnhart was the second starter, behind Trente Jones before his injury, at right tackle last year, but Harbaugh notes that across the line in fall camp, Barnhart has been the best overall.

“I’d say, if I had to pick the best one right now so far through 12-13 days of camp, Karsen Barnhart is having the best camp so far,” Harbaugh said. “But here we are halfway through.”

Of course, LaDarius Henderson has been penciled into that position, after transferring from Arizona State. Harbaugh notes that with both tackle positions, they’re too close to call in fall camp and the competition will likely go into the season.

A linebacker who had been buried on the depth chart

Photo: Isaiah Hole

A four-star recruit from talent-rich Florida and high school powerhouse Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, Jaydon Hood was starting to become an afterthought, quite similar to his former high school teammate at the same position, Anthony Solomon.

Solomon ended up transferring to Arizona, and with first-year linebacker Jimmy Rolder having appeared to surpassed him on the depth chart, the now-college junior in Hood was in danger of not seeing the field at all.

But, as Harbaugh spoke about the defensive front seven on Tuesday, he sang Hood’s praises, noting that he’s made arguably the biggest jump from last year to this year.

“The guy who I’d say who’s asserted himself the most is Jaydon Hood,” Harbaugh said. “As far as where he was last year to where he is now, he is really getting right there in the mix. Special teams and defensively.”

Whether or not that equates to playing time is another story. Rolder still exists, and then there’s the anticipated trio of Junior Colson, Ernest Hausmann, and Michael Barrett. But if Hood comes on strong, that really bolsters a linebacking corps that’s been steadily rising.

TWO MORE on the NEXT PAGE!

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Michigan football players look back on TCU game, championship game that wasn’t

They need to get back to the playoff and win this time. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There’s a problem when a team is coronated to win a big game before playing in it — sometimes the other team has something to say about it.

That was the case for the Michigan Wolverines against the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl — the maize and blue were far and away the favorites. And when Donovan Edwards ripped off a big run on the opening offensive play, it looked all but ordained that Michigan would emerge the victor.

However, they play games for a reason, and after two J.J. McCarthy pick-sixes, two missed scoring opportunities on the goal line, a handful of missed tackles that resulted in TCU touchdowns, the Wolverines were heading back to Ann Arbor while the Horned Frogs went to LA to play Georgia in the national championship game.

Now that the Wolverines are in spring ball and preparing for another season where they’ll likely be prohibitive favorites to at least play in the championship game, many of the players are going back and reflecting on what happened in late December, knowing that he who forgets the past is doomed to repeat it.

“There’s a lot of things that we did wrong. We just didn’t play our best ball but — it sucks,” fifth-year tackle Karsen Barnhart said. “But I mean it is what it is and it’s only gonna fire us up more to get ready to do we got to do the coming up season.

“Like, I mean, we watched it and then you start to like have in the back of your mind that that happened. But I mean, you’ve just got to move forward and we’re moving forward now in the right direction with the 2023 season. Just got to ball out.”

Senior edge rusher Braiden McGregor didn’t just rewatch Michigan’s loss to TCU, but he watched the other playoff game featuring Ohio State and Georgia, as well as Georgia’s romp over TCU. Seeing how close OSU came to taking down the Bulldogs, he couldn’t help but wonder what might have been had Michigan taken care of business as expected in its own College Football Playoff game.

“Yeah, I watched it. And it’s just — it wasn’t great to watch because, you’re watching it, like, we should have gotten there,” McGregor said. “I feel like we had a lot of mistakes that game, we kind of beat ourselves. And, you watch the other semifinal game, and I was like, OK, (Ohio State) hung with them, and they’d had a good game, maybe should have won, you know? Speculation and everything. But it was like — we handled them and you see what happened in the final game, you’re like, ‘Man, that should have been us.’

“The biggest takeaway, we get to that time this year, shot ourselves in the foot two years — not prepared first year, and then this year being prepared, and it was like, we just got to get there. And just, when adversity hits, we just got to say, whatever, you just got to keep going. Because I feel like that was the biggest thing of like — we didn’t lose a game, and it really wasn’t a lot of games where there was adversity. So I think when that happened, it was a little tough for us. But I think we’ll be prepared this year for sure.”

Being more prepared was the mindset heading into last year’s CFP game, but now these Wolverines have to take that mentality and push it forward into 2023.

Junior linebacker Junior Colson admits he’s gone back and watched the game multiple times, but now is not a time to lament. It’s more so fuel to push he and his teammates to the point where they can go back to the playoff and actually win.

“Watched it quite a bit, watched it quite a bit,” Colson said. “But I’ve been trying to move on. There’s a lot of things, a lot of plays didn’t go our way — a lot of things. And just trying to get back to that spot and just further, in a way, because two times now we’ve gotten to that spot, that’s where our end has come.”

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Two Michigan players out vs. Hawaii

Hope he heals fast!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Wolverines are taking the field at 9 p.m. against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors after a long lightning delay.

Michigan is looking to get out to a 2-0 start to the season, but the maize and blue will try without a key player.

Michigan was without starter Ryan Hayes, who was part of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line last year, but he warmed up and it appears that he will take the field with the rest of the starters.

While Michigan gets its starter back, the Wolverines will be without Karsen Barnhart against Hawaii. Barnhart started in place of Hayes last week, but he went out towards the end of the first quarter last week. Barnhart was seen with a walking boot, so we do not know yet how long he may be out. Sophomore Giovanni El-Hadi took the place of the injured Barnhart against Colorado State, so we would assume he may be the first lineman off the bench if needed.

Michigan linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green missed Week 1 due to injury. He was dressed and warmed up, but there are reports that he is not going to play against the Rainbow Warriors.

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