2024 Recruiting Update: October 31, 2023

 

(image via @UMichFootball on Twitter)

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2024

Kewan Lacy - RB - Lancaster (TX) Lancaster: Lacy (3-star, #30 RB, #351 overall) decommitted from Nebraska. Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss are all in the mix, and the current crystal ball leader is Ole Miss. Michigan seems pretty set at running back with Micah Ka'apana and Jordan Marshall.

Drelon Miller - WR - Silsbee (TX) Silsbee: Miller (4-star, #14 WR, #66 overall) decommitted from Texas A&M after having been committed to the Aggies since June. He had 59 catches for 1,401 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior in 2022. His two official visits went to Miami and USC.

Joseph Stone - WR - Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes: Stone (4-star, #46 WR, #300 overall) decommitted from LSU after pledging to the Tigers in July, just a couple weeks after being offered. It's a little surprising that a talented receiver would leave LSU since they have two of the best receivers in the country in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan's 10 Longest Plays vs. Purdue

 

Tony Boles

If you're like me and you enjoy big plays, here are some great ones against the Boilermakers over the years:

1. Tony Boles 85-yard kickoff return TD (1989)
2. Rick Leach 83-yard TD pass to Jim Smith (1975)
3. Chuck Ortmann 82-yard kickoff return (1949)
4. Martavious Odoms 73-yard punt return TD (2008)
5. Dave Glinka 72-yard TD pass to Bennie McRae (1961)
6. Jim Harbaugh 65-yard TD pass to John Kolesar (1985)
7. Phil Webb 65-yard TD run (1985)
8. Rick Leach 64-yard TD pass to Jim Smith (1976)
9. Raymon Taylor 63-yard interception return TD (2012)
10. Steve Smith 62-yard TD pass to Anthony Carter (1982)

Hit the jump for some clips.

Michigan's 10 Longest Plays vs. Michigan State

 

Dennis Fitzgerald (image via Go Blue History)

If you're like me and you enjoy big plays, here are some great ones against the Spartans over the years:

1. Dennis Fitzgerald 99-yard kickoff return touchdown (1960)
2. Desmond Howard 95-yard kickoff return touchdown (1990)
3. Cade McNamara 93-yard touchdown pass to Andrel Anthony, Jr. (2021)
4. Drew Henson 81-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Knight (1999)
5. Derrick Alexander 80-yard punt return touchdown (1992)
6. Shea Patterson 79-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Peoples-Jones (2018)
7. Rob Lytle 75-yard touchdown run (1976)
8. Mike Sainristil 72-yard interception return touchdown (2023)
9. Anthony Thomas 69-yard touchdown run (1998)
10. Tom Hendricks 67-yard punt return touchdown (1954)

Hit the jump for some clips.

2023 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 8

 

Eyabi Okie-Anoma (image via Charlotte Athletics)

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FORMER PLAYERS

TE Erick All (Iowa): All tore his ACL in week seven. He led the Hawkeyes in all receiving categories, catches (21), yards (299), and touchdowns (3) by a wide margin at the time of his injury.

WR Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma): Anthony is out for the season. He caught 27 passes for 429 yards and 1 touchdown this season before the injury.

QB Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State): Bowman completed 24/38 throws for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception in a 48-34 win over West Virginia.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan 49, Michigan State 0

 

Michigan 49, Michigan State 0 (image via AP/Al Goldis)

Emotional edge FTW. Going into this game, I felt like Michigan had more of a reason to win this game. I mean, aside from the fact that Michigan State sucks and surely really wanted to win because sucking isn't fun, Michigan should have had more of a reason. This stems mostly from the fact that Gemon Green and Ja'den McBurrows were viciously attacked in the tunnel last year. But this past week's cheating allegations probably cheesed off the Wolverines quite a bit since their accomplishments were considered to be tainted by some. But it seems like emotion sometimes forces players and/or coaches to press. So in my game preview, I predicted a 34-10 victory. I thought Michigan might come out a little slow, might get caught by a trick play, etc. But it turns out Michigan didn't have any trick plays up their sleeve. They didn't really have much of anything up their sleeve.

Hit the jump for more.

Preview: Michigan at Michigan State

 

RUSH OFFENSE vs. MSU RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #41 in rushing offense (182 yards/game) and #35 in yards per carry (4.88). I thought Michigan might take off a little bit against Indiana last week, which had the #91 rushing defense, but that didn't happen so much. Blake Corum (96 carries, 546 yards, 12 touchdowns) leads the way . . . and that includes nationally, because he tops the country in rushing touchdowns. Donovan Edwards has been a disappointment on the ground, averaging just 3.28 yards/carry this year, but he did break through with his first touchdown of the year last week. Kalel Mullings (23 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD) and Ben Hall (11 carries, 60 yards) are also options. Michigan State is #33 in rushing defense (114.8 yards allowed/game) and #36 in yards allowed per carry (3.48). They have only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns this year, which is tied for #8 nationally. But last week against Rutgers, MSU allowed Kyle Monongai to run 24 times for 148 yards and a touchdown. The teams they have shut down in the run game include FCS Richmond, Central Michigan, and the inept Iowa offense. Junior LB Cal Haladay (6'1", 235 lbs.) leads the team with 41 tackles, followed by S Malik Spencer (6'1", 195) with 36 and CB Dillon Tatum (5'11", 200) with 30. The leaders in tackles for loss include DE Zion Young (6'6", 265) with 4.5 and Haladay with 4. They're tied at #67 in tackles for loss per game with 5.83. I have a feeling that Michigan might try to bludgeon MSU, and considering the fact that the Spartans have only had success against weak teams, this might be a day for Blake Corum to have a signature performance.
Advantage: Michigan

Hit the jump for more.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Josh Metellus

 

Josh Metellus

Minnesota Vikings captain and safety Josh Metellus had one of his best games as a professional, totaling 8 tackles with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in a 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears. That fumble was returned for a touchdown. Unfortunately, it was on rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent out of Shepherd University and not Ohio State product Justin Fields, who is expected to be out for a few weeks with a dislocated thumb.

Josh Metellus with the strip sack! He has really become a great pro player recently! Go Blue! 〽️

pic.twitter.com/y2QqzQkySQ

— JD 〽️ (@MGoJDBlue) October 15, 2023

HONORABLE MENTION

• RB Zach Charbonnet (Seahawks): Charbonnet ran the ball 9 times for 46 yards in a 37-27 win over the Panthers.
• WR Nico Collins (Texans): Collins caught 4 passes, including three for first downs, and 80 yards in a 20-13 win over the Saints.
• DE Brandon Graham (Eagles): Graham made 2 tackles and 0.5 sacks in a 20-14 loss to the Jets.
• S Dax Hill (Bengals): Hill made 8 tackles and 2 pass breakups in a 17-13 win over the Seahawks.
• LB Khaleke Hudson (Commanders): Hudson made 3 tackles in a 24-16 win over the Falcons.
• DT Maurice Hurst, Jr.: Hurst made 2 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in the Browns' 27-3 victory over the Titans.
• DE Aidan Hutchinson (Lions): Hutchinson made 3 tackles in a 20-6 win over the Buccaneers.
• CB Jourdan Lewis (Cowboys): Lewis made 3 tackles in a 20-17 win over the Chargers.
• S Jabrill Peppers (Patriots): Peppers made 7 tackles and 2 pass breakups in a 21-17 loss to the Raiders.
• TE Luke Schoonmaker (Cowboys): Schoonmaker made his first professional catch for 1 yard. Unfortunately, he was targeted six times and reeled in just the one catch, but a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
• CB D.J. Turner II (Bengals): Turner made 4 stops in a 17-13 win over the Seahawks.