Michigan football, the 3-2-1: Early fall camp intel
Michigan football has started fall camp in anticipation of a huge season, on a quest for a third straight Big Ten title. Most of the Wolverines returned in incredible shape — head coach Jim Harbaugh said they were crushing records by their strength and conditioning metrics — and it’s shown early on in practice.
Here are three positives we’ve picked up from the first week of practice, two potential surprises, and one question mark.
Three positives after the first four days of Michigan fall camp
3. Offensive tackle is a battle, and there are several capable candidates. Heading into the summer, it seemed a lock that Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson would win the left tackle position. While we still believe he’ll be the guy — his work with strength coach Ben Herbert this summer was “incredible” — the others have upped their games, as well.
“Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones welcomed the competition,” one source told us. “They’ve been here long enough to know that [the coaches] are always going to do what they can to strengthen every position].”
Though neither is an ideal left tackle candidate, both have made huge strides over the last year. And then there’s Myles Hinton, who is simply massive and has all the tools to be elite. The only thing missing was that “extra gear,” as his former Stanford teammate and current Michigan center Drake Nugent noted. When he wants to move somebody and make a statement, he’s moving someone. And now he’s showing signs of that “want to” that could make it hard to keep him off the field.
We weren’t sure what to believe when senior running back Blake Corum said this spring this line had a chance to be better than the last two Joe Moore Award winners. We can say with confidence that there’s at least a chance (“this is the deepest and most talented group [Harbaugh has had, man for man,” our source said. “Now it’s about finding the right combinations”].
2. The interior defensive line is legit. “The ones vs. ones is going to be like Godzilla vs. Kong or something,” our source said. “Watching Zak and Trevor against Mason [Graham], Kris [Jenkins], Kenneth [Grant], and Rayshaun [Benny] … it’s at another level. Again … you’d have to go back to the ‘90s to see this kind of talent and depth on both sides of the ball.”
Grant is the guy everyone wanted to see after the summer, and the signs are encouraging. He’s such a down to earth kid off the field (like Graham), but “he knows he needs that extra gear and nastiness if he wants to see the field … and he really wants to be out there,” our source said. “It starts with improved pad level and playing lower, and he’s come a long way.”
1. The skill position talent is the best it’s been since 2007 … with one exception. And that’s the wide receiver position, which is still pretty good. The veterans made significant gains this summer, led by Cornelius Johnson. The fifth year has never been the “rah rah” type, but he’s been “a great leader” throughout summer and in the early going.
“Roman [Wilson] looks great, and we’ll see more deep balls for him — but CJ is still going to lead this team in receiving,” one insider told us. “He’s just consistent … always where he’s supposed to be.” Sophomores Tyler Morris and Darrius Clemons have made good early impressions.
The rest o the positions, meanwhile, are elite. Junior J.J. McCarthy is “generational,” Harbaugh said, and it’s playing out that way. His confidence is sky high, and “if he’s not a captain, it’s only because there are so many great seniors to choose from,” our source said (Corum, Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, etc.). Another who has been around for both Chad Henne and McCarthy said, “Chad worked hard, but J.J. is at another level. [Harbaugh] wasn’t joking. He’s the best I’ve seen here.”
Corum and Donovan Edwards are ripped and provide the best 1-2 running back punch in decades, and there’s not one, but two elite tight ends in sophomore Colston Loveland and senior and Indiana transfer AJ Barner. If the receivers step up, this could be the best and most balanced Michigan offense we’ve seen since the early 1990s.
Two early camp battles that could have surprising outcomes
2. Cornerback. Sophomore Amorion Walker was given the vote of confidence at the beginning of spring, especially from Harbaugh. By the end of it, however, there were more questions than answers here. Walker struggled mightily in the spring game, and while that didn’t lead directly to Michigan grabbing corner Josh Wallace from UMass in the portal — they were going to try to snag another one anyway — it seemed to up the importance.
But they haven’t given up on Walker — far from it. In fact, as good as Wallace has been (and he’s a competitor) — and we still believe he has a great chance to start the opener — they still believe Walker can be the guy by midseason. Corners coach Steve Clinkscale has taken the approach that “it’s my job to coach him up and get him ready.” He’s got the athleticism, after all, and he’s being coached by one of the best.
1. Defensive end. While sophomore Derrick Moore and senior Braiden McGregor are bigger and have shown flashes of their pass rushing ability, there’s been more and more buzz about Coastal Carolina transfer Josaiah Stewart … specifically, “how do we take this guy off the field?” He’s also had a great summer and gotten stronger under Herbert, and though he’s not big, he’s hard to block, playing with incredible pad level. He’s been impressive on run downs, too, and that’s caused the “other guys” to elevate their games.
That includes Jaylen Harrell, Harbaugh’s fourth “starter” at edge. He’s elite at holding the edge and has only gotten better and stronger. All of these guys have All-Big Ten potential … legitimately.
One Michigan football camp question mark
What will the kicking game look like? Yes, Louisville transfer James Turner had a nice season for the Cardinals last year, going 20-for-22. He was 13-for-15 in 2020 but dipped to 14 of 22 in 2021. Three of his misses that season were from 50-plus yards … he was 0 for 3.
And that’s the concern here. Though his numbers have been good, Turner is not Jake Moody. If there’s a kick over 50 yards, our insider told us, “Expect [them] to go for it more often down there when, in the past, they’d put Jake out there with confidence even up to 55 yards.”
Or more, as we saw in both the Ohio State and TCU games last year when he attempted 57 and 59 yarders. If they’re going to give the opponent good field position (potentially), they’re going to have a decision to make — are the chances better that they’ll make it on fourth down or drill a 50-plus yarder? All signs point to a more aggressive offensive strategy on that part of the field.
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