INSIDE THE FORT, Part III: Michigan football positives (many), hoops, more

Part III of our INSIDE THE FORT, inside scoop on Michigan football, basketball, and much more. The Michigan football team is in a great place coming out of spring, and today is another big step in the right direction on the “good news” meter.

That’s because Michigan senior Blake Corum, who has been busting his butt in the weight room and as a leader while rehabbing his torn meniscus, starts running again. He’s ahead of schedule and feeling great … and so is his backfield mate Donovan Edwards, who has been recovering from his hand injury.

Corum (who will skip the team trip to New York, D.C., etc. to work out and train) is expected to be full go this summer but is progressing as well as anyone could have hoped … better, frankly (though nothing he does in that building surprises anyone anymore).

He’s not the only one. As most have seen, cornerback Will Johnson has been photographed on crutches this spring. He’ll be back, too, and better than ever. It appears he had something affecting him from high school, in fact … so, “just think about what he’ll be capable of with another gear, even” is the word.

That’s exciting stuff given how well he played by the end of last season.

The new additions, meanwhile, have been outstanding fits … and they’re going to be great players, too. Though none of the offensive linemen played in spring, they’re all on campus.

Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson had to finish some classes remotely, and he’s getting it done. He is an “unbelievable guy,” per those who work with him, and has already made huge strides in the weight room. He loves to work with Ben Herbert, to the point that he can’t help but smile after the pain.

Our strong opinion — he’s your starting left tackle. The former ASU captain could have an “Olu Oluwatimi type effect” on this year’s line. He’s a “great college football player, and beyond ‘capable’ of playing left tackle.”

He’ll be pushed, but this is a great guy. And he’s not alone. Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton “feel like family,” some of their teammates told us. The first night they went out together it was like they’d known each other for years.

Raheem Anderson and Greg Crippen both had really good springs. Nugent didn’t practice, recovering from an injury, but he’ll be right there. It’s going to have to be earned.

Hinton “is absolutely huge,” meanwhile, and has great potential. They can’t wait to see what he does when healthy. And folks asking about Andrew Gentry …

“He’s going to be a starter for us at some point. No question.”

Maybe not this year, but someday.

Other tidbits:

• How good was Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy this spring? So good that in some practices, coaches saw him for 10 or 15 snaps and said, “we’ve seen enough — let’s get other guys some work.” He’s just a special kid, and the work he puts in … unmatched.

But they feel good about the backups, too. Alex Orji made huge strides with his arm (we saw some of that in the spring game), and he’s a “special athlete.” They like him competing at quarterback, and there will likely continue to be packages for him.

• There are already rumblings that Michigan’s opener with East Carolina Sept. 2 could well be a night game. Some of the same folks that told us last year Michigan State would be the one are seeing the same signs. While it’s not set in stone … well, be prepared.

Also, the new TV contract language — it seems November night games are no longer off the table, either, no matter where they’re played. So, U-M vs. MSU in November down the road, for example … very possible.

More Michigan basketball rumblings …

We know Michigan made a great impression on Tennessee transfer Olivier Nkamhoua, to the point that some at U-M were preparing for him to join the roster. We’re still waiting, however. As we’ve reported in ITF Part II, other schools are stepping up with NIL offers not just for Michigan players, pledges, etc., but also the Wolverines’ targets.

West Virginia is the latest to get involved with Nkamhoua. At one point, it appeared this was done for Michigan. Then it was U-M or professional ball (somewhere). Now, other options are emerging.

We’ll see what happens over the next several days, but we’ll say it yet again — what’s on paper now isn’t a given when it comes to fall roster.

Junior big man Hunter Dickinson arrived in Kansas last night. The intention there, from what we’ve gathered, is to not let him leave without committing … and again, they’re prepared to make it worth his while. He’s now talking about visiting Villanova, too, having already seen Maryland, Georgetown, and Kentucky.

This one’s about to get even crazier, we believe. It seems a stretch to believe Michigan can match it given where NIL is at this point for hoops.

More basketball from our Clayton Sayfie …

We addressed the frequently asked question, “Why didn’t Tray Jackson play more at Seton Hall?” with a midweek article discussing what he was asked to do in South Orange. Now, we’ll dig into the role he’ll play at Michigan.

Jerry Carino, who covers both Seton Hall and Rutgers (so he knows the Big Ten) provided some more thoughts on that.

While Nkamhoua, should he commit, could play some backup center (though it probably wouldn’t be ideal), Jackson wouldn’t be a great fit, even though he saw most of his time there last season out of necessity, with the Pirates having been banged up in the front court. Even playing the power forward spot, at least in a traditional capacity, is a stretch. He’s more of a combo forward — like senior-to-be Terrance Williams II, though the two are a lot different — than one who will play in the post.

“The Big Ten is a really physical league,” Carino said.” It’s got really good bigs. The physicality is very high. I think Jackson’s biggest impact is as a wing. I don’t know the construction of Michigan’s roster for next year — I’m sure it’s still a work in progress — but I just don’t foresee Jackson playing 30 minutes a game at the 4 for a good team.

“I think what he does is he plays the wing and he fills in here and there. Could he start at the wing? Maybe. I just don’t see him at the 4. It’s just way too physical; I don’t think he’s cut out for that type of physicality.

“I think Tray Jackson’s gotta be a 3. If you ask him to play the 4 in a league like the Big Ten, I don’t think he can. Maybe to fill in, to pitch in if somebody’s in foul trouble or if somebody’s hurt, or to fill in for somebody who needs a rest. But I don’t see Tray Jackson playing a full season at the 4 successfully in the Big Ten. I don’t see it. I think he’s gotta be a 3.”

Carino said Jackson can be a “matchup nightmare” due to his height, length and athleticism. Michigan lacked bench production in a big way last season, and at the least, he can bring just that.

“When he was hot, he was instant offense from three,” Carino said. “So it was really the coach’s feel. They’d put him in and he’d commit a turnover and brick two shots, and he’d just come out and that would be it. And then there would be games where he’d come in, they run him off a screen and he’d drill a three on the catch and shoot. They’d be like, ‘OK, he’s hot.’ And before you know it, he’d have four threes and Seton Hall would have a 10-point lead. That’s what he was really good for that year.

“I feel like Jackson is very role-dependent as a player. Now, could he evolve, could he click better in a new environment with new teammates and a new coach? Maybe.”

Michigan was a young team last year and head coach Juwan Howard has made clear with his actions that he wants a more experienced squad in 2023-24. Jackson is a high-character individual who will add a veteran voice in the locker room.

“Nice guy, too,” Carino said in an unsolicited comment. “He got along with his teammates — I think he did. There never seemed to be any issues or drama surrounding him.”

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