Trevor Keegan – Syndication Server

List of National team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

As we continue getting a quick look at the Senior Bowl players this year, we now check out the offensive linemen for the National team. With offensive line a major need for the Jets this offseason, this group could be heavily focused on by general manager Joe Douglas and company. A good week in Mobile for these guys will go a long way toward deciding where and when they will ultimately get drafted.

Included in this group is a name already tagged as potential option at No. 10 for the Jets, Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. He has a chance to really stand out this week and solidify his standing among the top offensive tackles in this class.

Coaching the National team offensive line this year are Chris Cook of the Cardinals and Jim Dray of the Bears.

10 prospects to watch for Packers fans in CFB National Championship game

Here are 10 names for Green Bay Packers fans to watch tonight.

The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is 108 days away and the National Championship matchup between the University of Washington and Michigan features five prospects that have a real shot of hearing their name called on April 25th.

Rome Odunze, Washington’s No. 1 wide receiver could be the third wide receiver off the board and he’ll likely go in the Top 15.

Teams in search of a quarterback that miss out on Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels will likely turn to Washington’s Michael Penix Jr or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

In the trenches, Washington’s left tackle Troy Fautanu has a realistic shot of being a first-round pick. Bralen Trice, one of Washington’s talented edge rushers also has first-round aspirations.

Those five are the headliners in a National Championship game that features plenty of talented NFL Draft prospects. Here are 10 names for Green Bay Packers fans to watch tonight.

Dominique Hampton, DB, Washington

Hampton is a versatile safety that can line up in the slot, in the box or deep. He has outstanding size and length for the position. Hampton enters the matchup tonight with 99 tackles, two interceptions and six pass deflections.

Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington

Johnson is hard-nosed and slippery. He keeps his legs driving through contact and always seems to fall forward. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson picked up 673 yards after contact this season.

Rod Moore, S, Michigan

Will he stay or will he go? The Michigan safety missed the beginning of the season and started off slow. The rust started to wear off and he’s recorded 15 tackles and one interception over the past three games. With a strong showing against Washington’s aerial attack, Moore could vault for the NFL and be a day-three target for the Packers.

LaDarius Henderson, OL, Michigan

Henderson has tackle-guard versatility. Michigan’s starting left tackle and the Arizona State transfer has taken snaps at every position along the offensive line except for center. With his length and versatility, Henderson could be the next day three offensive lineman the Packers target.

Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

Edwards is an explosive runner and a weapon in the passing game. He enters the game with 68 career receptions and three receiving touchdowns. While a dynamic threat, Edwards is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry this season and could opt to return to school. If he declares, Edwards could be a versatile and dynamic weapon for the Packers.

Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

Like Henderson, Fautanu offers tackle-guard versatility. Unlike Henderson though, Fautanu is a Top 50 prospect and could be a potential target for the Packers with the New York Jets’ second-round pick. The Washington left tackle has quick feet and the lateral quickness to stick at left tackle on Sundays.

Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan

The man nicknamed The Mutant and the nephew of Cullen Jenkins, is a powerful defensive lineman. To go along with all that raw power, Jenkins is quick out of his stance, showcasing explosive movements to get upfield quickly and disrupt the action in the backfield.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Edge, Washington

The Washington edge rusher’s calling card is his power. He has adequate initial quickness and converts speed to power. ZTF projects as a late-day three selection and would provide quality depth behind Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Lukas Van Ness.

Trevor Keegan, G, Michigan

The Michigan starter at left guard, Keegan has been a brick wall in pass protection this season. According to PFF, Keegan has given up zero sacks this season and yielded just 11 pressures. A year after drafting zero offensive linemen, Brian Gutekunst could target Keegan to add depth along the interior of the offensive line.

Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington

From walk-on to captain, Ulofoshio plays with the relentless play style that Green Bay’s defense occasionally lacks. With his competitive spirit, football IQ and leadership, Ulofoshio could be a day-three target for the Packers as they look to improve on special teams and potentially replace De’Vondre Campbell.

Keegan, Loveland open up about Michigan football team sacrifice and leadership

The team, the team, the team. #GoBlue

Michigan’s roster is built as much around culture as it is talent. The Wolverines pride themselves on being a brotherhood tighter than teammates, regardless of how long a player has been with the program.

One of the position groups that has had the most new faces over the past year is the offensive line group. Michigan took three transfers total and utilized two (LaDarius Henderson and Drake Nugent) as regular starters. Starting guard Trevor Keegan said that Drake Nugent fit into the team effortlessly.

“His visit — we clicked,” Keegan recalled. “He just joined the brotherhood, like immediately. We went on spring break together and we only knew each other for like a month and a half.”

This bond is crucial for team chemistry, which helps units such as the offensive line that rely on communication. Keegan also took a moment to shout out Henderson, who transferred to Michigan instead of departing for the NFL.

“He came in here, he has no eligibility left.” Keegan pointed out. “Didn’t start, I believe, his first three or four games. And I mean, if I was in that position, I don’t know how I would react. You’re in your last year, you have the NFL aspirations and things like that. But he just kept sticking to it, kept working and he’s definitely flourished and blossomed on the field. I love playing next to him.”

That understanding and sacrifice is part of what makes this team so tightly knit. A roster of guys willing to work and sacrifice for each other and the team is scarier than a group of five-stars and first-round picks. Or at least, it has been the last three years.

Michigan is also welcoming a handful of early enrollee freshmen to Rose Bowl practices, marking the newest crop of Wolverines to join the team. Among them is quarterback Jadyn Davis, who has earned praise from tight end Colston Loveland.

“You could tell, too, just on the demeanor,” Loveland said. “He’s gonna be a leader. You could tell he’s a quarterback, you know what I’m saying, putting everything in place.”

Despite the high roster turnover that will likely follow this season, Michigan still has a young generation of players who are ready to step up.

It is exciting to see Michigan football continue to grow and add young leaders in an era of college football changed by NIL and the transfer portal. The Wolverines have a great program in place, and under the leadership of players like Keegan, Henderson, and soon, Davis, nothing will change.

Michigan football OL players ready to take on challenge of improved Ohio State D-line

Run. The. Dang. Ball! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After 2021, when Michigan football ran, ran, and ran some more on Ohio State in the second half of The Game, head coach Ryan Day knew he needed to make some changes. He brought in Jim Knowles to oversee his defense, and while he made the Buckeyes tougher up front defensively, the result ended up being the same in 2022.

Thus far in 2023, Ohio State’s defense has been particularly stout, coming in second in the country in scoring defense and not allowing much from opposing offenses. Teams can run, but not much. Plays can be had, but they’re not long. So, for Michigan, if it’s to win against its rival on Saturday, it will need to play more like it did in 2021 up front, because OSU doesn’t let you get much.

“It’s definitely a front seven that plays well together,” senior left guard Trevor Keegan said. “They’re stout, they’re athletic. And they’re playing good ball. Really good with their hands, really good technique-wise. It’s definitely a challenge. And we’re excited for it. Obviously, this game, the jerseys that they’re wearing heightens our preparation. So, are we prepared?”

The Buckeyes have several key players up front, particularly on the defensive interior. Tackle Tyleik Williams is the star, but Mike Hall Jr. and Ty Hamilton have also been a lot to contend with. On the edge, Jack Sawyer and J.T Tuimoloau have taken big steps forward year over year.

For right guard Zak Zinter, the offensive line will need to be a bit more cohesive than it has been over the past three weeks if the run game and pass protection is going to have success against the scarlet and gray.

“They’ve got good guys inside and on the edge,” Zinter said. “So we just got to do what we do — focus on little details, feet in the ground, get hands-on, don’t allow too much space. So they’ve got some twitchy guys up front for sure.”

Statistically, Ohio State isn’t much better at run defense than it was a year ago, moving up from No. 26 to No. 21 thus far, but it is allowing 20 fewer yards per game from 2022. Still, Zinter is confident that some of the things that Michigan has in store for the Buckeyes will be successful and that the Wolverines will find some advantages.

“They definitely changed some things on defense so shore it up a little,” Zinter said. “Some gaps schemes here and there but we’re gonna find different ways to attack them and I’m sure they’re gonna have something new for us as well.”

Preparedness, anger over allegations, pushing Michigan football players to win vs. Ohio State

It really is #Michigan vs. Everybody. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — All year until Week 11, pundits cried out about the Michigan football schedule — ‘They haven’t played anybody!’ Then, the Wolverines dominated Penn State up front and didn’t attempt an official pass (and didn’t need to) to securely beat the Nittany Lions in Week 12.

It wasn’t the explosive performance like we saw a year ago in that same game, which begs the question: how will The Game go on Saturday when Ohio State comes to town?

Now, the Wolverines have generally played bigger and better in the more high-profile games, at least in the two previous seasons. Though the game in Happy Valley may not have had similar flare as others in recent memory, we did see the run game feature more big runs than we’ve seen throughout most of the year. In order to beat Ohio State on Saturday, the team will need to play its best, and some players feel like they will.

“I feel like these big games come up and these are definitely the ones that we circled on the schedule when it comes out,” senior left guard Trevor Keegan said. “And our preparation, it just goes on to a different level. And these big games, you get the butterflies, get the nerves. I feel like the adrenaline just takes over for you. So not saying that the other team’s not excited for it, but these games that are circled are definitely most important.”

One thing the team will lean on other than preparation is the palpable anger the players feel.

Michigan has been under midseason NCAA investigation and have been castigated by the national media as ‘cheaters’ due to the alleged illegal sign-stealing operation. The Wolverines will be without head coach Jim Harbaugh and despite the players having outworked their opponents in recent years, their execution has been called into question, with pundits giving all the credit to Connor Stalions’ ability to decode the other team’s signals.

So it really is ‘Michigan vs. Everybody,’ Keegan says, and this team is planning to defend its honor in the best way it can: by winning.

“The thing that we say, we don’t care what anybody thinks about us, we only care about the people in this building — the staff, the players, the coaches,” Keegan said. “Our opinion and what we think of this program is all that matters. And we’re really blocked out the noise. Obviously, there’s been a lot the past month or so — we get that. But, we’re doing everything in our own in our power to complete our goals and do what we do — everything that we wanted to do, it’s right there in front of us. And we know that and we’re doing everything we can.”

The Game kicks off on Saturday at 12:17 p.m. EST at The Big House.

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.

Michigan football knows it will need run game, J.J. McCarthy legs, to win vs. Ohio State

The team that runs the ball better usually wins The Game. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Usually, the team that runs the football better in The Game goes home with bragging rights. Chances are, the same will be said on Saturday as Michigan football and Ohio State meet undefeated for the second straight year.

The Buckeyes have gotten junior tailback TreVeyon Henderson going three of the last four weeks after he returned from injury, and while the Wolverines’ running game hasn’t been quite as electric as the past two years, a pulverizing performance against Penn State proved that Michigan can put it together when it needs to.

The maize and blue have won two straight against OSU and have outrushed the Buckeyes in both. Senior left guard Trevor Keegan says the team is preparing for a similar challenge as Penn State, knowing they’ll need to run the ball while Ohio State will assuredly work to stop it.

“It’s gonna be a battle — and we know that,” Keegan said. “The past few years, we’ve been able to rush the ball on them, and they’re gonna do everything — I think they would do everything to try and stop the run, which a lot of teams have. And we’re just gonna have to figure out new ways to get hats on hats, get better rushing lanes, and really just all be on cue and in-sync — point where we’re going and everything like that. So it’s gonna be super important, vital, for this game to come out with a victory.”

Perhaps the key to unlocking everything is quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has the ability not only to extend plays with his legs, but when he keeps, it adds another dimension to the run game.

Last year, McCarthy only kept six times for 27 yards, but he made timely runs, extending drives and keeping OSU off-balance. Keegan notes that McCarthy’s ability to be multidimensional will likely be a big factor in the game.

“Definitely his legs, just a player he is, he just makes something happen,” Keegan said. “And it’s special because instead of having an extra hat, just him running the ball that leaves a guy short. So whatever J.J. does, we’re right there, trusting him. He’s a playmaker, he makes magic happen. So it’s a really cool thing.”

The caveat? McCarthy got hurt in the Penn State game and appeared limited both in Week 11 and the ensuing week against Maryland. However, at least as of Tuesday evening, Keegan felt that he didn’t see any limitations in the quarterback’s ability to use his legs. Asked if he’d be full strength, Keegan’s reply was simple:

“Yeah, I think so.”

We won’t know for sure until Saturday at 12:17 p.m. EST when Michigan football and Ohio State kick off.

Michigan football players: A loss to Ohio State on Saturday would render 2023 season worthless

Just beat Ohio State. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For both Michigan football and Ohio State, everything is on the line Saturday when the undefeated teams face off for The Game. The winner will advance to the Big Ten Championship Game to face Iowa and will have an inside track to a top two seed in the College Football Playoff semifinals — the last time it will be a four-team invitational. The loser will miss out on the former and almost certainly the latter.

Considering the ‘championship or bust’ mentality in Ann Arbor all offseason, losing is not an option for the Wolverines.

With a weak nonconference schedule and having only faced one ranked team in Penn State thus far, Saturday provides an opportunity to show that the early-season dominance wasn’t just beating up on bad teams, but that it was just evidence of who the Wolverines have been all along. Given all of the off-field allegations surrounding the maize and blue, a win would also silence many of Michigan’s critics — many, but not all.

For senior left guard Trevor Keegan, this game is so paramount in importance, a loss would completely erase any good things that took place in those games that precede The Game.

“We think about that every day. This is a game that we prepare for. We don’t win this game, the season doesn’t matter,” Keegan said. “All of our goals are right there in front of us, we want to go the national championship, we want to win the Big Ten championship. And we’ve got to beat the team down south in order to do that. So I mean — most definitely.”

Michigan entered the season with five goals, in this order: beat Michigan State, beat Penn State, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten, win the national championship. The first two have been accomplished, but neither of the latter two can be accomplished without the middle one, which is arguably the most important of the five.

The Wolverines don’t want to settle for a New Year’s Six bowl game, they want to make their third straight College Football Playoff appearance. Sixth-year linebacker Michael Barrett echoed Keegan’s sentiments while noting the importance of The Game in this moment.

“That’s kind of every season. We always know we got that big one at the end of the year that kind of matters more than the rest of them,” Barrett said. “We’ve had our goals from the beginning. And we’ve knocked them all off. And they’re the next team in a way. So if we don’t win this game, then yeah, like our season pretty much be over.

“We can’t get our next goal without getting to this one, without over getting over this one. So yeah, I could agree with that.”

Senior right guard Zak Zinter noted, like Barrett, it’s one of many goals for the maize and blue. And now that it’s here on Michigan’s doorstep, it’s time to scratch it off the list.

“It’s just one of our goals that we’ve had all year,” Zinter said. “Beat Michigan State, Penn State, the next one’s up. So we’re gonna do everything we can do that.”

Michigan football team captain takes exception to cheating accusations

The team thanks you for their newfound motivation. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the past week and a half, a mixture of facts and hyperbole have washed across the media as details emerge about Michigan football and alleged sign-stealing. But one thing Wolverines players take exception to is the accusation that what is being alleged is solely responsible for the team’s recent success.

In short, the players still worked to win, executed and won the games.

Fifth-year senior left guard and team captain Trevor Keegan addressed the allegations on Tuesday evening, noting that while many in the college football world are now dismissing Michigan’s last two-plus seasons, they’re completely undermining the work that went into player development and execution in the games.

“I don’t have too much say on that. But as a player that has been here a while, it’s kind of, you know, it’s bothersome, because we’ve worked so hard to change this program and bring it back to where it’s supposed to be,” Keegan said. “Everybody can make their allegations all they want but the people who were in here and — we know what we do, we know how we work. We know how we are as teammates and like as a family here. So yeah, it’s whatever. It’s whatever at this point.”

Where Michigan goes from here will be up to the players. Keegan isn’t brushing off the allegations entirely, but it’s his job as a team captain to keep his teammates focused.

He could just say they’re not paying attention to the news. Though he deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account so he wouldn’t see the constant derision of the program, he is aware it’s a distraction for the team, which is 8-0 and has the toughest part of the schedule forthcoming.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s a distraction. But you know the guys and the people in this facility, people in this program, our heads are so focused on our goals,” Keegan said. “There’s maybe a little roadblock, a little adversity we gotta go past, but we’re ready to roll — that’s our mindset right now.”

Keegan said he’s addressed his teammates about the rumors and allegations. He’s aware he can’t control what other people say, so he’s encouraging the team to let their response come by way of winning on the field in the upcoming four games.

“I guess, as a captain, yeah — it’s like coach said, ‘People, they got their opinions, are welcome to have it.’ But, as a team, and as a leader, we’re gonna continue to be us, what we’ve done the past three years, we’re gonna continue to work, continue to do what we do, and continue to work for each other in this team, in this program. So that’s really it.”

Michigan football players on 49-0 win over MSU: We remembered last year

As the Starks often said, ‘The North remembers.’ #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In the lead-up to the Week 8 game against rival Michigan State, Michigan football players said all of the right things. ‘We’re not focused on the tunnel incident from last year, we’re focused on this year.’ ‘That’s in the past, we’re not worried about it,’ and things of that ilk.

However, now that the Wolverines are over a week removed from annihilating MSU, 49-0, one thing is for sure: the North remembers.

Game of Thrones idioms aside, now that that game is past and the bye week is also in the rearview, players are admitting, yeah, we said that we put it in the past, but that’s just what we said. In reality, the remnants of the 2021 game were front and center in the minds of the players who endured from it.

“We came to that game, we wanted to make a statement for the bye week,” team captain and left guard Trevor Keegan said. “I think it really is just the thing that happened last year in the tunnel — that really motivated as well. I know guys were like, ‘Don’t let it distract you,’ things like that. And, you know, ‘We’re over it.’ No, we weren’t over it. We wanted to come there, really beat down on them. So it was nice. It was a good time.”

Not only did Michigan football remember, but it relished the opportunity to go and decimate — nay, embarrass — its rival as they did.

So if MSU players decided to do any talking on the field in between plays, the Wolverines were determined to let their play do the talking for them. 49 points scored offensively and zero allowed defensively later, mission accomplished.

“Absolutely. With them being our rivals, it’s always fun to be able to kick some butt, just get a rival win, get a state championship win under our belt,” senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said. “But, honestly, with that incident, I mean, like we’ve been saying, it’s an unfortunate, ugly incident, nothing that we stand for, we wanted to happen.

“So, with all that aside, you know, we just came in there to just kick some butt, win as one. We knew there was going to be talking related to that incident the second we got in there, but it didn’t matter. All we have, all we got is us. So, despite all the adversities we face or we faced last year, we continue to do what we do best.”