Tag: Spring Ball

Ranking 10 Michigan football spring ball risers

Expect to see these guys do amazing things in the spring game on Saturday. #GoBlue

The Michigan football spring game is in less than a week, on Saturday, April 1, at The Big House. Who will be the players likely to impress when they put on the winged helmet?

Based on multiple factors — press conferences, official Michigan football social media, general buzz, as well as various reports — we have a pretty good idea who’s making the most out of their spring opportunities. Thus, we’re taking a look at 10 players who have generated some kind of hype and ranked them based on their viability and how much they’ll make good on the buzz.

Here are 10 Michigan football players who appear to be spring risers and how we rank them.

Oklahoma No. 3 in ESPN’s future quarterback power rankings

With Dillon Gabriel returning and the arrival of Jackson Arnold, the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best quarterback situations in the country.

With a number of losses on the offensive side of the football to the NFL draft, there’s reason to wonder how good the Oklahoma Sooners offense will be in 2023.

The Sooners lost their leading rusher, top two receivers, and a pair of starting offensive tackles that are likely to be top 100 picks in the 2023 NFL draft. And still, they’re returning the player that matters most to offensive success; the quarterback.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] returns for his second season in Norman in what will be his last hurrah at the collegiate level. Gabriel brings back the most returning production at the position in the Big 12. That sets the Sooners up to be able to better mitigate the sting of the departures of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag].

With Gabriel for 2023 and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] waiting in the wings, offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] has the Sooners set up really well at the quarterback position for 2023 and beyond. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg ranked the top 25 quarterback situations for 2023 and beyond (ESPN+), and the Oklahoma Sooners landed at No. 3.

The start of the Brent Venables era in Norman didn’t go well, but Gabriel wasn’t the problem. He passed for 3,168 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 315 rushing yards and six scores. Despite missing a game and most of another, his numbers compared favorably to his first two seasons at UCF. He could play two more seasons at OU, which retained coordinator Jeff Lebby, and should continue to produce. Oklahoma seemingly is well-positioned for whenever Gabriel departs after signing Jackson Arnold, ESPN’s top dual-threat quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2023 class. Arnold earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors after passing for 3,476 yards and 33 touchdowns as a high school senior, while adding 921 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Arnold should help with depth, as Oklahoma struggled mightily without Gabriel in losses to TCU and Texas. OU lost a quarterback with Nick Evers transferring to Wisconsin, but returns veteran Davis Beville for another year. If Arnold delivers on the expectations around him, the Sooners should be in very good shape under center through 2025. – Rittenberg, ESPN

The Sooners landed one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 recruiting class in Jackson Arnold. He’s an ascending player, growing into a five-star player during his senior year, which included Elite 11 MVP honors and the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. Arnold got a jump start on his collegiate career as a mid-year enrollee but will serve as a backup quarterback for the Sooners in preparation for his turn at the helm, likely starting in 2024.

Though he hasn’t committed yet, the Oklahoma Sooners are heavily favored to land 2024 four-star quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag]. Lebby and the Sooners will have to do battle with Sonny Dykes, Kendall Briles, and the TCU Horned Frogs, but are in a good spot to land the talented Hawkins when he commits on April 8.

The Sooners have already received their quarterback commitment of the 2025 recruiting class with the pledge of [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. He’s a talented dual-threat quarterback that will be a fantastic fit in Jeff Lebby’s offense.

The Sooners came in behind USC at No. 1 and Ohio State at No. 2.

The Trojans are set up well with Heisman trophy winner [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and 2024 five-star signee [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag]. They’ll be a force offensively for as long as Lincoln Riley is in Los Angeles. But will the defense make enough improvements to help the Trojans get into national title contention?

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Report: Texas QB Maailk Murphy is now a full participant in spring practice

Texas QB Maalik Murphy took second-team snaps on Tuesday.

Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy is back to taking reps after starting spring ball limited by a leg injury. Continue reading “Report: Texas QB Maailk Murphy is now a full participant in spring practice”

Why Amorion Walker feels primed to be a Michigan football starting cornerback

Can’t wait to see him in action! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With all the various storylines that Michigan football has this spring, the biggest is arguably Amorion Walker making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback.

While that’s at least marginally noteworthy in normal cases, what has made this groundbreaking is the second-year player is currently considered a starter opposite Will Johnson, the former five-star. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh called Walker a unicorn due to his ability on that side of the ball.

In his eyes, what makes him ‘a unicorn?’

“I would say, from an athleticism standpoint, I definitely would say I’m one of the best athletes in the country, for sure,” Walker said. “As far as running and jumping good and being able to change direction — just in those two categories, I guess.”

Walker has learned a lot from Mike Sainristil, who made a similar switch from wideout to nickel back at this time last year. Though the Louisiana native is full-time as a defensive back (he plans to play both ways once he gets the defense down), his playing on defense isn’t new as his first position in high school was cornerback, and he even saw time in the Hawaii game last year playing on defense.

Getting those early reps in the defensive backfield has certainly helped Walker with his transition, because, while he intended to play wide receiver at the next level, he realized he has the ability to be a high-level cornerback. Once he came to that epiphany, he started further applying himself, readying himself for the opportunity he’s currently making the most of this spring.

“Every now and then I’d go to defense for few periods or two during the season last year,” Walker said. “Never permanent at all, just trying to get me to learn some things. I would go in and play some man — I really know the man coverages that we have. Toward the end of the year, I kind of started learning a little bit more because I kind of had the notion that if I’m gonna make this transition, I’m gonna take it serious.

“So I said toward the end of the year, I started learning as much as I can, have a little bit of momentum rolling into spring. Transitioned pretty well. Feel like I’m learning things OK right now. Like I said, when I fully grasp it, I’ll be OK.”

There is still something of a learning curve for Walker at this juncture. Some of it is learning the playbook and having that down as rote. But, additionally, he says some of his habits from playing on the offensive side of the ball occasionally inhibits him.

Once he’s eradicated those, he’s sure he’ll be good to go as the starting cornerback.

“I would say trying to lose like the receiver tendencies that I had no for playing it for a long time,” Walker said. “On some plays, maybe like, as a receiver, you get your head around a lot, I might get my head around too fast or something like that. Just trying to get back into the DB motion and back to where I used to be before the switch.”

Fans will get a chance to see Walker making the most of his newfound position in the annual spring game, which will take place on April 1 at 3 p.m. EDT at The Big House.

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Everything Michigan football QB J.J. McCarthy said in spring ball press conference

#Michigan is going to be so good this year. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the first time since his brief appearance at the College Football Playoff semifinal postgame press conference, Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy met with the media on Thursday.

Unlike this time last year, when he was limited with a shoulder injury, despite a competition with then-incumbent Cade McNamara, McCarthy is the star of the show, the veritable starter at the position. That means he has a much different approach.

He touched on several topics, including that, as well as the loss to TCU as well as what he’s looking forward to this upcoming season.

Here is everything he had to say.

Braiden McGregor getting past mental hurdles, ready to step into starring role

He’s going to be really good this year. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When you’re a Michigan football edge rusher, there’s a good chance you’re going to be an early-round NFL draft pick, at least if you’re a starter. In the Jim Harbaugh era, every starter thus far who has departed for the NFL has been a high-level draft pick, while Mike Morris is set to await his turn in April. Thus far, Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton, Chase Winovich, Rashan Gary, Kwity Paye, Josh Uche, Aidan Hutchinson, and David Ojabo have all been, at worst, third-round NFL picks, with many of the aforementioned going in the first round.

But for the unproven younger players, they first need to show they can play up to the level of their predecessors.

Michigan needs a replacement for the aforementioned Morris, and Braiden McGregor, entering his fourth year with the program, is hoping for a complete turnaround. McGregor tore his ACL in his senior year of high school and then had to overcome both the physical and mental hurdles that came along with that. With the latter, he didn’t quite realize how debilitating it was until things started to click for him — which it did late in the season last year.

His difficulties held him back, but now that he’s gotten a taste of success, he’s letting go of any of his constraints.

“I think a lot more than I thought,” McGregor said of feeling held back by his physical ailments. “First year, freshman, edge guy, you’re not really expected to do anything. But I think just mentally was the biggest thing for me of I was this recruit in high school and all that. And, thinking like, when I first got here, man, maybe I pick the wrong — I should have played tight end, or, just something different from like — why is it not working? Something’s not clicking.

“And then sophomore year, I felt like it started to click a little bit. And then last year, I felt like my body and the way that I moved was good, but I think it was all like, the confidence, you know? I haven’t played real football in two, three years of meaningful snaps against good, great competition when it means the most. So, I think it really made me to where I am now where towards the end of the year, against Ohio State, OK, I got knocked down on a play and I’d say, alright, whatever, come back next play. It sounds cliche, but it really was it was all mental for me. And finally past it now and feel strong mentally and physically. So excited.”

Now McGregor is in spring ball and expected to be the next great Michigan edge rusher. It’s a much different scenario from where he was previously when he was a complement to the other pieces at the position.

He says his defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, has compared him to Aidan Hutchinson, noting he has all the similar physical tools, so as long as he’s mentally ready to go every rep, he has that capability to play at the highest level.

“Going into last spring it was, ‘What can he do?'” McGregor said. “‘He played a little bit here and there, he didn’t really make an impact. He’s just out there.’ So I think last spring was just like, ‘OK, let’s see what he can do.’ But this spring, it’s like, ‘You’re expected to be our guy on the edge and make an impact.’ It’s the guys before me, stepping into their shoes. So it’s a lot different than the previous spring. But I’ve taken it and ran with it. So, I like it.”

Instead of wondering, McGregor knows he’s going to be out there with Jaylen Harrell, and possibly transfer Josaiah Stewart. Now that his struggles are behind him, he’s confident that he can go out there and be an impact player. Thus, spring ball this year is a huge building block for him.

“I think it helped me a lot, just the coaches feel like they have my back. And, you know, stuff like that,” McGregor said. “I’m excited. It’s spring ball. And everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you know, like, this is where we get better.’ But I’m like I wish we had a game right now. So I’m just excited. It’s awesome.”

Fans will get a chance to see McGregor in action on April 1 at 3 p.m. EDT at the annual spring game at The Big House.

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Michael Barrett shares early returns on new Michigan LB Ernest Hausmann

He’s gonna be a beast! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — As the idiom goes, the more the merrier. And while that may appear counterintuitive when your college football program is suddenly bringing in established, high-level talent to the position group you play in, that actually is the attitude that Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett has regarding Ernest Hausmann.

Hausmann is listed as the No. 2 transfer in the country by 247Sports this cycle, having come aboard from Nebraska. Though he’s entering a room with several established starters — Barrett, Junior Colson, Nikhai Hill-Green (who missed 2022 with injury) — as well as up-and-comers such as Jimmy Rolder, Barrett says there’s no one in the linebackers room who’s down on the idea of having more competition. It’s more the case of they’re welcoming Hausmann into the fold while also taking it as a challenge to improve their own game to stay on the field.

“I feel like it’s different here with guys because I don’t think we look at it negatively. I think we take everything that gets thrown at us with a positive attitude,” Barrett said. “That’s one thing that coach Herb instilled in us. You never know what was gonna happen. You never know the adversities you’re gonna face. But you’re defined by how you react to it.

“So I feel like just in a room, I’d say for the past couple of years, we just kind of look at it as competition, look at it as a way to better ourselves, better to team better to group. And so anytime, we’re happy for the guy’s success. We’re always teaching each other, coaching each other up. We’re never looking at it like, ‘Oh, he’s gonna take my spot. So let me get away from him.’ It’s never that; it’s always love. Everyone in that room always shows love to each other, support. And we’re always there for each other.”

With that in mind, how has Hausmann looked in the early going? Barrett says he’s seen a lot from him thus far in spring ball and is excited to see what he brings to the table once games arrive.

“Just his natural athletic ability. He’s smart, fast, can move,” Barrett said. “Just how fast he’s learning the defense, coming along with our guys, blending in, meshing together well with everyone. He’s gonna be a great player. I like his enthusiasm, the way he flies around at practice. He always has a smile on his face. He’s gonna bring something to this team.”

Fans will get their first chance to see Hausmann in action on April 1 in the annual spring game at The Big House.

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Why Roman Wilson thinks one young receiver will ‘shock a lot of people’ in 2023

Brb, salivating. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With Ronnie Bell moving onto the NFL this offseason, the Michigan football wide receiver room will return, in part, to its 2021 form, with Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson leading the charge. But unlike 2021, there’s a different cast of characters behind them.

Fans gained a small glimpse of the bumper crop last year when Tyler Morris and Darrius Clemons — both entering their second years with the program — received some late or spot duty in games. Certainly, they’ll be called upon much more this year considering Bell’s departure, as well as Andrel Anthony’s transfer to Oklahoma.

Wilson is working to become more of a leader in Bell’s absence, and there’s one young receiver who has really impressed him this spring: the aforementioned Darrius Clemons.

“When I came in for winter cycle; I’m one of the guys — I’m from Hawaii, so I don’t really go home that often, so I’m always in the building,” Wilson said. “And to see him just like working out by himself, and then we get to the winter cycle, and for him to be as strong as he is in the weight room, it’s pretty shocking. He’s a pretty strong guy. And I think he’s going to shock a lot of people when he gets his opportunities this year.”

Clemons’ emergence is necessary for the passing game to thrive, but other younger players are stepping up as well.

Wilson had praise for the two early enrollees, Fredrick Moore and Semaj Morgan, noting they aren’t playing like true freshmen in spring practice.

“Fred and Semaj have been a really good addition to our team,” Wilson said. “Being young guys and as far along as they are, I think they’re both really good. Tyler Morris, Darrius, all the guys look really good.

“I think the wide receiver room is in pretty good hands. They look good.”

Fans will get an opportunity to see all of the above on April 1 when Michigan hosts its annual spring game at The Big House.

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First look at Texas QB Arch Manning at spring practice

Arch Manning took the field as a Longhorn for the first time.

Freshman quarterback Arch Manning hit the field for the first time as Longhorn on Monday as Texas held its first practice of the spring. Continue reading “First look at Texas QB Arch Manning at spring practice”

Michigan football has an embarrassment of riches on both lines entering 2023

It’s impressive just how deep the lines are! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — What a difference a few years make.

In 2017, the Wolverines showed promise on the offensive line, but it became quickly evident that unit wasn’t coming together. It wasn’t until Big Ten play in the 2018 season that Jim Harbaugh’s promise the offensive line would become a stalwart portion of the team would come to fruition.

That all seems like the distant past.

Now? Well, the unit has found an extra gear.

For two years in a row, Michigan football has brought home the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line. It’s the first time in the history of the award one school has earned it in consecutive years. The maize and blue certainly hope to make it three years in a row, which may seem unlikely. However, six returning players have starting experience in Ann Arbor and multiple transfers also have starting experience. All are set to duke it out this spring to whittle the pool to five starting linemen. It is going to be something of a challenge, head coach Jim Harbaugh says.

“That’s a good problem to have, right? How hard is it going to be to get the five starters? It will probably be pretty hard. Like it was last year. We had seven, eight guys, that were starters,” Harbaugh said. “If you look at it now: Karsen Barnhart, Trevor Keegan, Greg Crippen, Gio, Trente, Zak Zinter, Jeff Persi. I consider them all starters and LaDarius Henderson, Drake Nugent, Myles Hinton — all capable. Andrew Gentry is going to be really good. Reece Atteberry’s really good, Dom Giudice has come over, he’s really good — from the defensive side. And three really good freshmen coming in.

“But, just keep attacking and everybody paying the price. As long as we’re doing that as long as everybody’s paying the price. Everybody is doing that then they and each person can grow to their potential. The only thing to avoid is that there’s so many good players that others think that they can maybe give half the effort they should and still reap the benefits of success, but it just never works that way. Everybody’s got to pay the price to win. If that doesn’t happen, then everyone pays the price of losing. Nothing comes cheap. (No) cheap victories for the team or anyone on it.”

Harbaugh couldn’t speak solely about the offensive line without mentioning how good he feels about the defensive front on the other side of the ball.

The defensive line doesn’t have quite the same type of depth as its offensive counterpart, and it also lost Mazi Smith — the tip of the spear — to the NFL this offseason. However, Harbaugh is still enthusiastic about the depth in the middle of the front, noting the three players who are primed for breakout seasons in 2023.

“Very excited about the offensive line. I’ve said the same about the defensive as well,” Harbaugh said. “Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham, Kris Jenkins — potentially our best player on the defense. He’s going to be really good. Rayshaun Benny is really, really coming on. And then we got Josaiah Stewart added, TJ Guy — somebody that has the potential to do good, so does Cam Goode. Alessandro Lorenzetti moved from offensive line to defensive line. Ike Iwunnah and now a whole bevy of incoming freshmen. Big guys that have played the nose tackle and end position that we’re really excited about.

“So just have — we talked about the lines, the front, offensive, defensive lines, where that goes? If guys really work hard, if they do everything they can to maximize their potential, we’ll be in good shape.”

Unlike some relatively recent years, Michigan football appears to be in very good standing, not just along the lines, but across nearly every position group. The Wolverines have the fifth-most returning production in college football, including at the most important position: quarterback. As long as the team stays relatively healthy, the sky is the limit for the maize and blue in 2023.

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