Best quotes from Michigan spring ball: ‘If you’re scared of competition, then you shouldn’t be here’

Breaking down some of the top Michigan Wolverines football quotes of the spring, with our take. Stay tuned for part two in the days to come.

• Five things we learned about the Michigan offensive line this spring

Compete or leave

Graduate offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart: [Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore] always talks about, if you’re scared of competition, then you shouldn’t be here. And I’m not scared of competition. Everybody wants to come here and be great, and so I’m just ready to do what I do and help this offense, help this offensive line and be the best I can do to help this team.”

Quick take: It wouldn’t surprise to see attrition during the April transfer portal window, but Michigan players are really embracing this. Not only is playing for a winning team that’s competing for the national title attractive for transfers and recruits, but it brings out the best in the current players.

In Barnhart’s case, there are so many different ways Michigan could go with its offensive line rotation — there are way more capable players than there are open spots — but the competition has been embraced. Whatever five are out there this fall, they’ll be better off for it.

‘One of the best cultures in college football’

Linebackers coach Chris Partridge: “This thing seems to be humming. Guys have gotten it rolling since I’ve been gone. It’s just the culture … it’s just awesome. It’s got to be one of the best cultures in college football. The players — how willing, how hungry they are. It’s a really good place, and just walking in and feeling it, you can feel it as soon as you enter the building.”

Quick take: Partridge was part of the climb under head coach Jim Harbaugh from 2015-19, before moving on to Ole Miss, where he was a co-defensive coordinator. Now back as the linebackers coach, he’s getting to see a program that finally got over the hump. Suddenly, Michigan is the class of the Big Ten.

An elite recruiter, Partridge has even more to sell on the trail this time around. This may have been a perfect hire, considering he can help the Maize and Blue build off the success they’ve had in winning the Big Ten and making the CFP each of the last two seasons.

‘A unicorn’

Jim Harbaugh on sophomore cornerback Amorion Walker: “Now we’re going to find out if that’s the right and best position for his career. If we’re right, he can be the type of corner … there are none like him. A unicorn. That’s the vision.”

Quick take: Walker made the switch from wide receiver to full-time cornerback, at least for the spring. It’s important to note Harbaugh said this during the first week of spring ball, when he also revealed that he considered Walker a “starter.” It’s clear, though, that after watching the Michigan spring game, it’s going to take Walker some time to become the type of cornerback the Wolverines need.

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said later in the spring that they expect him to get his feet wet and get better throughout the season, that it won’t come overnight. That sounds closer to what will happen. But Harbaugh has a point, too: with Walker’s athleticism, if and when it all clicks, the sky’s the limit.

‘Almost like a superhero’

Jim Harbaugh: “No matter what’s coming from the outside of here, I just see everybody here, it’s almost like a superhero. An attack comes in, they’re able to absorb it and spit it back out in some sort of laser fashion.”

Quick take: There were all sorts of distractions early on in the Michigan offseason, but we predicted at the time they’d blow over. Now, a few months later, nobody is talking about Matt Weiss or NCAA investigations or NFL flirtations. It’s all about the upcoming spring trip, the summer cycle and looking ahead to fall camp and the season.

Harbaugh made this comment in reference to the TCU game, too, and what Michigan learned from it. From the way the players have talked, the Fiesta Bowl loss has been a source of motivation, to get even further and win the national championship this coming season. If Michigan does win it all this fall, then we’ll fully believe the program is “recession proof,” another comment Harbaugh made.

Roman Wilson prediction on Darrius Clemons

Senior WR Roman Wilson on sophomore Darrius Clemons: “To see him working out by himself, and then we get to the winter cycle, and for him to be as strong as he is in the weight room, it’s pretty shocking. He’s a pretty strong guy. I think he’s going to shock a lot of people when he gets his opportunity this year.”

Quick take: Clemons’ athleticism is impressive, and Michigan could really use a player like him stepping up. The Wolverines haven’t had a first- or second-team All-Big Ten performer at the wideout spot since Amara Darboh in 2016. Clemons has been billed as a guy that could reach that sort of ceiling and be a go-to guy down the field, and while it’s still early, we’d love to see it this season. The Wolverines have a solid receiving corps right now but may need it to be better than that to reach those lofty goals mentioned above.

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