Tag: Michigan Football

Michigan football loses backup linebacker to transfer portal

Best of luck to him. #GoBlue

Now that spring ball is over and the transfer portal remains open for just another day (or so), we’re seeing the last hurrah of players who are choosing to try their hands elsewhere. And apparently, Michigan football isn’t immune to that.

Michigan has already lost a few surprising names — expected starting cornerback DJ Waller transferred to Kentucky, early enrollee linebacker Jeremiah Beasley and sophomore offensive lineman Amir Herring both entered the portal but have yet to commit anywhere — but hardly anyone worth panicking over at this juncture. But, the linebacker depth is thinning out with yet another transfer from the position.

Big things were expected in the future from former four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgeman from Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep. Bridgeman had been mentioned as someone who was starting to connect the dots as a sophomore, but he apparently is on his way out, having entered the transfer portal on Monday.

Bridgeman did not register any stats or snaps (according to PFF) and will have the full complement of four years available at his next school of choice. With him and Beasley gone, the Wolverines will have to look to recruit the position more heavily down the road — or attack the transfer portal, as it has the past two years bringing in Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham.

Mike Sainristil didn’t expect to end up in ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ with Washington

Washington got itself a leader and a playmaker. #GoBlue

Mike Sainristil knew he was soon to come off the NFL draft board, but he had a much different idea of where he’d end up in mind.

Given Mike Tomlin’s love for Wolverines — the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a mainstay at Michigan football pro days every year — and that he’s always looking for a certain amount of grit and toughness, it made sense that Sainristil and the Steel City could be a mutual fit. But in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, Pittsburgh had the No. 51 pick. And Washington, at No. 50, saw a player on the board it couldn’t refuse.

Thus, Sainristil is now a Commander, and he told the in-house team reporter that it was unexpected that he ended up in the DMV.

“I’ll say this, it was definitely a dream come true, growing up dreaming, wish and pray to be in this position,” Sainristil said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was not expecting it to be the Commanders. I thought I was going to the Steelers at 51. But I felt my phone vibrating, I looked down, there was a Virginia number. I’m like, ‘Man who the heck from Virginia’s calling me right now.’ I pick up the phone and right away my heart was just, I felt at ease. I felt at peace. My mind was finally at peace.”

The Commanders have perpetually been in a similar situation to Michigan football. Once a proud franchise, it’s been mired in mediocrity for many years. Though there have been some occasional playoff appearances, Washington has more than likely to miss the playoffs and look to change its identity to get back to the winning ways of yesteryear.

Sainristil knows a little something about rebuilding a program. As one of the leaders on the Wolverines during their turnaround, he shares some insight as to what can help the Commanders regain their foothold on the NFC East.

“It takes 100 percent from everybody. It has to take everybody to be bought in,” Sainristil said. “Everybody has to have the same mindset, the same goal, and we all have to buy into that every single day. And we have to hold each other accountable, whatever that looks like. We all have to just be jelled as one, and it starts with the little things.

“So, I’m ready to bring that aspect to the program and I’m going to do whatever’s asked of me. I have to come in and prove myself of course, but that doesn’t mean I can’t lead. So, I’m just going to go in there and be myself and do the things I know that I can do.”

With that in mind, what will Sainristil bring to Washington on the field? Noting that he prefers to play the nickel position, he’s a versatile piece — as Michigan football fans know — who can be used in pretty much any situation, anywhere on the field.

“I’m definitely just the complete package,” Sainristil said. “I grew up watching football a certain way, and that’s the brand of football I still play to this day — very, very instinctual. I’m a complete football player. Whatever’s asked of me, I’m going to do. Whatever the coaches need me to do, I will do to my best ability. I’m a guy that’s looking to make an impact on the field, wherever that is. Doesn’t matter to me whether it’s special teams, defense and even offense. So, wherever I’m needed, whatever the coaches need me to do, I’m going to do it. I’m bringing leadership and I’m bringing a winning mindset.”

What J.J. McCarthy is expected to make in his rookie contract

That’s some life-changing dough. #GoBlue

Once upon a time, after the NFL draft, in order to learn what the newfound professional players were going to make, you had to wait for a team near the top of the draft to set the market value.

Either the No. 1 overall pick or someone in the top five would negotiate a monster contract, and every other team would then act accordingly. However, as that started to get out of hand, there was something of a restructuring, and now every pick, more or less, knows what they’re going to get based on where they were drafted.

For former Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was selected at No. 10 overall by the Minnesota Vikings, he’ll end up with a four-year deal with a fifth-year option. That deal should be close to $22 million with an almost $13 million signing bonus.

For McCarthy, that’s life-changing money, even though he reportedly made a killing in the name, image, and likeness game, so much that he turned down a lot of opportunities to focus more on football. For the Vikings, that’s a steal, especially considering their former quarterback, Kirk Cousins, signed a $100 million deal, all guaranteed, with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Certainly, McCarthy will be looking to get to that fifth-year option and beyond, and that’s where he could really break the bank.

Michigan fails to break Georgia’s NFL draft record

Michigan fails to break UGA’s seven-round NFL draft record despite the Wolverines having 18 players invited to the combine

The Michigan Wolverines were hopeful to break Georgia’s record for the most players selected in a seven-round NFL draft. Michigan had 18 players invited to the NFL combine, which was the most of any college football program.

Despite a late run with several Wolverines drafted in the seventh round, Michigan ended up short of Georgia’s record of 15 players drafted in the 2022 NFL draft. Michigan finished the drafted with 13 players selected.

Georgia had eight players drafted in the 2024 NFL draft, which is the sixth-most (tied) of any college football program. For Michigan, there’s no shame in having 13 players drafted. It is a tremendous accomplishment, but the Wolverines were hoping to break Georgia’s record in front of tons of Michigan fans at the NFL draft in Detroit.

Many of Michigan’s players that ended up being drafted played against Georgia in the Orange Bowl during the 2021 College Football Playoff. The Wolverines were not ready for the big stage at that point in time, but bounced back in 2023 to win the national championship.

How LaDarius Henderson fits with the Houston Texans

Former Michigan tackle to protect Ohio State quarterback. #GoBlue

With the 249th pick in the NFL draft, the Houston Texans selected offensive tackle LaDarius Henderson.

Henderson started 10 games at left tackle for Michigan in 2023 and was voted first-team All-Big Ten. Prior to transferring to Michigan, Henderson played four years at Arizona State, with which he made 10 starts at left tackle and 19 starts at left guard.

The most interesting part about the Henderson selection was he was announced as a tackle. Though he technically has more college experience at tackle than guard, I projected him to the NFL as a better interior blocker than exterior. Henderson plays with solid pad level and has naturally long arms, but he might struggle with power in the NFL and gave up pressures around the edge last season. Houston recently paid its left tackle, Leremy Tunsil, a hefty chunk of change, so he will not be going anywhere. While Henderson was selected as a tackle, I still think he will kick back inside at some point.

Projecting Henderson to start soon is tough. I honestly think he is a solid prospect, but Houston has a strong offensive line, and Henderson is not the type of athlete who can step on the field and automatically compete. Injuries are always a possibility in the NFL, but Henderson winning the job outright over Tytus Howard, Shaq Mason or the current backups is low.

The funny part about the pick, and the nature of the NFL draft, is Henderson will be blocking for former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud, who went 0-2 against Michigan in college, never played against Henderson directly, but he likely still feels the burn of the rivalry. Maybe Henderson and fellow former Wolverine Nico Collins make a bet with Stroud and Cade Stover on the result of this year’s Michigan vs. Ohio State game. Strictly friendly, of course.

Cornelius Johnson to reunite with Jim Harbaugh via the NFL draft

CJ is gonna kill it in the league! #GoBlue

It was something of an up-and-down career in Ann Arbor for Michigan football wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, but fans will always remember the big plays he made in some of the biggest games.

A former four-star from Connecticut, Johnson is a precise route-runner and a big-bodied receiver who improved yearly for the Wolverines. While he sometimes suffered from drops, he often made up for it. Even in certain games, such as in 2022 at Indiana when he had early drops, he ended up taking over, scoring two touchdowns.

However, the two-touchdown performance that’s likely to resonate most with Michigan football fans is his game at Ohio State in 2022. Johnson had two long scores — one a catch and run and the other a bomb he caught after shaking the safety in the open field.

In 2023, he was steady and reliable. He only got into the end zone once all year (a circus catch against Bowling Green), but he often was the recipient of quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s third-and-long passes, extending the chains with regularity.

Now Johnson is NFL-bound, having been selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 253rd pick. He reteams with Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.

Johnson is the 13th Michigan football player selected in this year’s draft. While he might not have been a statistical leader for the Wolverines over the course of his tenure, the maize and blue will miss his general reliability to go along with his stellar route running.

Jaylen Harrell picked in seventh round of 2024 NFL draft

He went far too low. #GoBlue

For some reason, the hype surrounding Jaylen Harrell has always been quiet. Perhaps that’s why he excelled at getting to the quarterback as Michigan football’s premier edge rusher in 2023.

A 2020 recruit, Harrell hailed from Florida and was something of a tweener as an edge rusher. Likened to former outside linebacker Josh Uche, Harrell perfectly fit that mold and really thrived once the defense changed, first under Mike Macdonald and then under Jesse Minter.

While he was a backup player his first few seasons with the Wolverines, he came on strong as a starter, particularly in 2023. He led the maize and blue with 6.5 sacks in their championship season, but getting to the quarterback is only one part of the battle. Perhaps Harrell’s biggest play was the final defensive play against rival Ohio State, when he overcame the Buckeye guard to pressure Kyle McCord, forcing him into a game-sealing interception.

Now Harrell is NFL-bound after being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 252nd pick. With Harrell off the board, Michigan has had 12 players selected in the 2024 NFL draft.

LaDarius Henderson headed back to home state after pick in 2024 NFL draft

The big man is headed back to Texas! #GoBlue

LaDarius Henderson got his start at Arizona State before transferring to Michigan football in December 2022, and it turns out that was a smart choice.

And now the one-year tackle is headed back to his home state of Texas.

From Waxahachie (Tx.), Henderson came to Ann Arbor via Tempe, and while he didn’t get the early nod as a starter in 2023, he persevered and ended up earning the spot a few games into the season. Considering the Wolverines’ depth on the offensive line, it was a struggle to retain the role — especially since Henderson ended up having a late-season injury.

But he left Michigan as a national champion, and now an NFL draft pick. .

Selected by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft, Henderson went with the 249th overall pick.

With Henderson off the board, Michigan football now has 11 draft picks selected in this iteration of the NFL draft. While there was an expectation that the Wolverines could set the NFL draft record (which stands at 15 by Georgia in 2022), it appears that the maize and blue will fall a little short

How Michael Barrett fits with the Carolina Panthers

The winningest player in program history finds a new home. #GoBlue

With the 240th pick in the NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected linebacker Michael Barrett.

Barrett recorded 65 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2023. Barrett was also voted a team captain in 2023 and has the most wins as a player in program history.

Barrett is the epitome of a ‘glue guy.’ He is the first player in and the last one out, he is a student of the game and understands the value of being coachable. There aren’t many players you would rather have in your locker room from a chemistry and effort point of view.

His best asset is his brain. Barrett doesn’t have the physical traits of his former running mate Junior Colson, but he does understand football on a very deep level. He’s the type of player who can call the defense on the field and understand everybody’s role and fit. After his hopefully long playing career is over, expect to see Barrett move into a coaching role if that’s what he desires.

Barrett joins a Panthers team that is coming off the worst record in football. Of course, Barrett was around for the Michigan program’s overhaul from 2020-2023, so he understands how to be a part of a transitioning team.

So, will Barrett play in year one? It’s doubtful. The Panthers don’t have a strong linebacking group, but Barrett is an outside shot to become a starter regardless. It’s possible he fills in for a potential injury, but Carolina spent their third-round pick on a different linebacker who probably has depth chart priority. Either way, if the situation does come up where Barrett has to play serious snaps on defense, he will be as prepared as possible. For now, I would project him to play mostly on special teams or late in games as a reserve backer.

Michael Barrett picked in seventh round of 2024 NFL draft

Great to see Mike B. in the NFL! #GoBlue

It was a long, long road for Michigan football linebacker Mike Barrett.

A 2018 recruit from Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes, Barrett played quarterback at the high school level but came to Ann Arbor as an athlete. Though he could have been used as an offensive weapon, he was moved to the defensive side of the ball where he initially started at safety, while also being groomed for the hybrid linebacker position, VIPER, in Don Brown’s defense.

With the departure of Khaleke Hudson after the 2019 season, Barrett got his chance to start in 2020. He acquitted himself well in Week 1, but was shaky the rest of the season. Then-DC Don Brown was relieved of his duties and the defense changed to the current scheme, then under Mike Macdonald. He didn’t see much time to start, but after Michigan struggled to keep pace with Michigan State’s personnel changes late in the season, Macdonald had a solution: bring in Barrett as a linebacker.

The dividends didn’t come quickly. Sure, Barrett was good and a pleasant surprise, but it was late the following season, 2022, when suddenly the lights turned on for Barrett. His multiple interception game against Rutgers set the tone for what would be the rest of his Wolverines career. By the time Barrett left, he was a stellar linebacker, and all-around playmaker, a starter, and a team captain.

And now Barrett can add NFL player to his resume, as he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 240th pick overall.

Barrett departs Ann Arbor as a fan favorite, known not just for his defensive prowess, but also the quote he often said: ‘We’re in the (expletive deleted)-kicking business, and business is booming!’ With his experience next to linebacker Junior Colson, the duo dominated en route to Michigan’s national championship in 2023.

Barrett’s selection marks the 10th Wolverine selected in the 2024 NFL draft.