Big Ten Championship: Michigan 42, Iowa 3

 

Donovan Edwards (#7) and Roman Wilson (#14) (image via USA Today)

BIG TEN CHAMPS!!! A lot of people doubted this Michigan team - including yours truly - but they're right where almost everyone wishes they could be. They beat the brakes off Ohio State and then the Big Ten West opponent, and now they're headed to the playoffs. I thought they would be 8-4, so I certainly didn't think they would be 12-1 and in this spot, but I also never lost faith in Jim Harbaugh's ability to coach. That 2-4 season in 2020 made a lot of people forget that this guy turned around two other college programs, returned the 49ers to the Super Bowl, and made a 5-7 team into a 10-3 team immediately upon arriving in Michigan. He now averages 9.8 wins per season at Michigan if you give him a full year.

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Zeke Berry, Wolverine

 

Zeke Berry (image via 247 Sports)

Concord (CA) De La Salle safety Zeke Berry committed to Michigan on Friday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, and USC, among others.

Berry is listed at 6'0" and 195 lbs. He claims a 4.55 forty.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 81 grade, #33 CB, #283 overall
On3: 4-star, 96 grade, #3 S, #59 overall
Rivals: 3-star CB, 5.6 grade
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #8 S, #64 overall

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Semaj Morgan, Wolverine

 

West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield wide receiver Semaj Morgan (image via 247 Sports)

West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield wide receiver Semaj Morgan, a 2023 prospect, committed to Michigan. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Missouri, Ole Miss, and West Virginia, among others.

Morgan is listed at 5'10" and 175 lbs. As a junior in 2021, he caught 61 passes for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns. He claims a 4.5 forty.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
On3: Unranked
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #39 WR
247 Sports: 3-star, 88 grade, #43 WR

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2021 Big Ten Championship Game Preview: Michigan vs. Iowa

 

Tyler Goodson (image via The Athletic)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. IOWA RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #9 nationally in rushing with 225 yards/game and tied for #16 in yards per carry (5.25). Hassan Haskins leads the team with 244 carries for 1,232 yards (5.1 yards/carry) and 18 touchdowns. His rushing load has picked up significantly since Blake Corum suffered a high ankle sprain, resulting in Haskins averaging 26.5 carries per game over the final four weeks of the regular season. Haskins has 8 touchdowns over the stretch. Luckily, Corum returned last week to the tune of 6 carries for 87 yards, so a little bit of lightning is back to join Haskins's thunder. Michigan is #1 in the country in tackles for loss allowed with just 2.0 per game. Iowa averages 4.58 tackles for loss per game, which is tied for 111th in the nation. They're led by senior defensive end Zach VanValkenburg (6'4", 267 lbs.) with 11.5 TFLs. Nose tackle Logan Shannon (6'0", 289) and defensive tackle Logan Lee (6'5", 277) man the middle with technique and quickness more than brute strength. The defense is led by junior middle linebacker Jack Campbell (6'5", 243), who has 124 tackles. He's paired with 6'1", 229 lb. weakside linebacker Seth Benson, who has 89 tackles. Senior safety Jack Koerner (6'0", 204) is third on the team with 75 takedowns. It's a relatively stationary defense, but they're good and well coached. They're #14 in rush defense (106 yards allowed/game) and #8 in yards allowed per carry, at just 2.97. They won't stop you in the backfield, but they will gang tackle you shortly beyond the line of scrimmage.
Advantage: Michigan

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Ethan Burke, Wolverine

 

Austin (TX) Westlake defensive end Ethan Burke (image via 247 Sports)

Austin (TX) Westlake defensive end Ethan Burke committed to Michigan on Wednesday. Burke chose the Wolverines over offers from Baylor, Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Utah, among others.

Burke is listed at 6'7" and 225 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 76 grade, #82 DE
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #33 Edge
Rivals: 3-star SDE, 5.7 grade
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #42 Edge

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2021 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 13

 

Zach Charbonnet

FORMER PLAYERS

LB Jordan Anthony (Troy): Troy went 5-7 this season. Anthony made 4 tackles in a 37-10 loss to Georgia State. He finishes the season with 35 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.

RB Zach Charbonnet (UCLA): Charbonnet had 22 carries for 106 yards and 1 touchdown in a 42-14 win over Cal. He also caught 6 passes for 41 yards.

WR Kekoa Crawford (Cal): Cal went 5-7 this season. Crawford made 5 catches for 42 yards in a 42-14 loss to Cal. This was Crawford's final college game, as he was in his sixth year. He finishes the season with 36 catches for 491 yards (13.6 yards/catch) and 0 touchdowns. He also returned 2 punts for 18 yards and completed 1/1 passes for 34 yards.

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Joel Starlings, Wolverine

 

Joel Starlings (image via On3)

Richmond (VA) Benedictine defensive tackle Joel Starlings, a class of 2023 prospect, committed to Michigan on Sunday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, and Texas A&M, among others.

Starlings is listed at 6'5" and 310 lbs. He supposedly runs a 4.83 forty, benches 325 lbs., and squats 475 lbs.

RATINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #13 DT, #181 overall
On3: 4-star, 90 grade, #25 DL, #230 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.8 grade, #7 DT, #188 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #32 DL, #224 overall

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