59 days until Michigan football: 5 best moments, 9 best players from 2023
There are 59 days until the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines football team takes the field in the Aug. 31 opener against Fresno State. Each day until then, we’ll discuss current Michigan events, the upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
As we close the book on the 2023 campaign and look forward to 2024 for Michigan, we remember the five best moments and 9 best players from Team 144, a 15-0, unscathed College Football Playoff National Champion.
Here’s a subjective ranking of the best moments and players from the year.
Best Michigan moments in 2023
1. The Rose Bowl
Everything about the Rose Bowl win over Alabama was like a movie. The 27-20 overtime defeat of the Crimson Tide provided a euphoria to Michigan fans akin to the United States taking down the Russians in hockey in 1980. There was more work to do afterward, but to finally get over the hump, and to do so against college football’s boogeyman in Nick Saban – especially after a wisecrack about “integrity of the game” the day prior – was just spectacular. The venue and atmosphere is everything they said it was and more.
2. National title glory
You would think that winning a national title would be the moment that trumps all, but so much about that game in Houston, a 34-13 drubbing of the Huskies, felt like a coronation. It got a little sketchy in the middle two quarters, but Michigan threw both the first and last punches in the game en route to the confetti raining down upon NRG Stadium.
3. Rod Moore calls game
Speaking of cinematic days, you will not find many like Michigan’s third-straight win over Ohio State last year. From a several-week ramp-up of storylines and venom between fanbases to the actual game itself, helmed by Sherrone Moore, this was a heavyweight prize fight that lived up to the hype and more. Blake Corum’s touchdown run after the Zak Zinter injury is up there, but it’s hard to pick against the Ohio kid calling game with an interception on the final drive.
4. Penn State heroics
No Jim Harbaugh? No problem. A frenetic 24 hours led to the coach being sidelined essentially during warmups in Happy Valley with Moore thrust into the spotlight in the biggest game of the season to that point. What followed was a pseudo-bludgeoning that included 32 straight runs to end the game in a 24-15 victory. This was Michigan football distilled to its purest form, and it was uniquely them.
5. Win No. 1000
For the second week in a row, Harbaugh drama extended late into the week and Moore was called into action. Michigan had control early but wound up having to hold on in an all-hands-on-deck effort for the program’s 1,000th victory.
9 best players
1. RB Blake Corum
The Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year leaves U-M not only as a three-time Big Ten Champion and with a national title under his belt but also as one of the most prolific offensive players in school history. Corum ended the year with 1,245 rushing yards, making him the first Wolverine with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Denard Robinson in 2010 (1,702), 2011, (1,176) and 2012 (1,266). The last Michigan running back to accomplish the feat was Mike Hart in 2006 (1,563) and 2007 (1,361).
2. QB J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy, the Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, finished the campaign with 2,991 passing yards, which was good for fourth most in a single season all-time at U-M and nine yards shy of becoming the team’s fourth 3,000-yard passer in a season behind John Navarre (3,331 in 2003, 2,905 in 2002), Shea Patterson (3,061) and Jake Rudock (3,017).
3. DB Mike Sainristil
The first-team All-American selection by Sporting News was a two-time captain and the heart and soul of the Michigan defense. He led all defensive backs on the team with 44 tackles, including 4 behind the line of scrimmage and 1 sack, and posted 6 interceptions, the most by a U-M defender since cornerback Blake Countess posted 6 in 2013.
4. WR Roman Wilson
Wilson had a monster senior season, registering team highs in catches (48), receiving yards (789) and receiving touchdowns (12). His 12 receiving touchdowns were the most by a Michigan player since Mario Manningham recorded an identical number in 2007.
5. DT Mason Graham
Graham was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten receipient from the coaches, posting 35 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 3 sacks. He was also the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl.
6. CB Will Johnson
Johnson was a first-team All-American (Sports Illustrated) and consensus first-team All-Big Ten performer, registering 27 tackles and 4 interceptions.
7. LB Junior Colson
A defensive stalwart, Colson started every game last season and had 95 total tackles. Over the course of his career, he had 256 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and five passes defended.
8. DT Kris Jenkins
Jenkins, a team captain, had 37 total tackles with 2.5 sacks this year to go along with a fumble recovery and an interception. His play earned him second-team All-American nods by the AFCA and FWAA and third-team recognition by the AP, The Athletic and CBS Sports.
9. OL Zak Zinter
Zinter, a captain last season, was named a unanimous All-American in 2023, Michigan’s first since Jake Long in 2007.
The post 59 days until Michigan football: 5 best moments, 9 best players from 2023 appeared first on On3.
