Michigan Friday: Mixing Blue with Green

It's not very often a former Wolverine works for Michigan State Football.  Thomas Wilcher a former Michigan Football Player and the famous head coach of Cass Tech took a job on Mel Tucker's staff a few years ago.  The Michigan Football community had mixed emotions about the hire. It's great that a high school coach gets a shot at Big Ten Football but it's Michigan State. 

Michigan is also an offender in this rivalry hiring.  Jimmy hired Dan Enos for 18 minutes one day before he jumped ship to another program.  Dan is famous for leaving jobs for other positions very quietly, reportedly Dan left Alabama for another gig by not showing up to a Saban staff meeting.  I would have loved to have heard an FBI wiretap at that meeting.  Stay Classy Mr. Enos.  

Reports out of East Lansing is that Thomas Wilcher is no longer with MSU.  Which clearly leads me to believe he was a double agent spying on MSU for the good of Wolverine Nation.  

The internet tells me with you mix Blue with Green you get the color Cyan.  Which means that Thomas's next stop is Tulane.   😃

• Remember the recruitment of Dorian Thompson-Robinson?  He is now in this year's NFL Draft.

• XFL vs. USFL this weekend.  If you like football, April is the month for you!! Names in the USFL you might recognize: Big Willie Henry, Delano Hill, and Channing Stribling. 

• New official visit rules go into effect this August where prospects now can take more than 5 visits, but just 1 per program.  The schools can only have 56 official visitors a year, which did not change.  Yes, if there is a coaching change you can take 2 to that school.  

• 2024 4-star Edge Dominic Nichols just spent 3 days in A2 and has already booked an offical visit to come back.  He has 100% CB's to Penn State

• 2024 4-star TE Max LeBlanc is down to Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee, with a commitment expected in the next few weeks

Michigan Thursday: Teams Interested in Hunter

Hunter Dickinson is in the portal looking for a new location to finish his career.  He has been a good college center but his professional options are limited at the next level.   Which means he needs to cash out in NIL and wants to win championships.  Michigan has gotten better since he jumped to the portal but it's unknown if he is even considering staying in Ann Arbor.  “Because I’ve been so quiet about everything, everybody is trying to figure out anything,” Dickinson said. “Any type of bit they can get. But I really don’t want to publicize my recruitment and stuff too much. I’d rather keep it on the down low.”

Hunter has had two Zoom calls with Kentucky and Kansas.  One is expected with Syracuse this week and he plans on visiting Maryland and Georgetown when he goes back home for a visit this weekend.   Hunter was really upset at Maryland for not recruiting him out of high school but seems to be considering them as his new program.  In a strange twist, Hunter may end up playing for Ed Cooley anyway, who is now at Georgetown.  

Hunter seems to be open to new programs and new NIL offers.  

• Michigan makes the top group for 4-star 2024 Charlotte (N.C.) Christian WR Micah Gilbert along with South Carolina, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Duke, and Pitt.

• Colt McCoy will be doing USFL games for NBC.  Yes, another spring pro football league is coming. 

• How much is Washington asking for its NFL franchise if Jeff Bezos is out?  If I were Bezos, I would buy an NFL franchise in a minute.  50/50 if I still would do the blog! 😁

Michigan Thursday: Coach B Gets Into Another Hall

Coach Beilein just got inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame and now will enter the College Basketball Hall of Fame.   He will be included in the Hall with a long list of famous coaches.   Congratulations to Coach B! 

• Michigan lost another recruit and recent visitor Johntay Cook 4 star WR to Texas.  He lives in Texas, so this was a no brainer. 

• There are a number of announcements to keep an eye on this holiday weekend:

Charles Jagusah - 4 star OT- leaning towards ND 

Jaxon Howard - 4 star DE/TE - Lots of offers, visited a couple weeks ago

Enow Etta - 4 star DE from Texas - Michigan lean but from Texas 

Fred Moore - 3 Star WR - Michigan lean 

• Local Boy and former #1 ranked basketball recruit in the country Emoni Bates is transferring from Memphis to Eastern Michigan.  There has to be more to this story. 

• Not sure I understand why the Pistons continue to trade with the Knicks?

• There is a social media video of Jimmy singing to Eminem on vacation

• Both USFL playoff games had just below a million viewers.  I know they wanted more, but I think that is pretty good for the rebooted league.   That league needs a way to find more offense. 

Michigan Thursday: Shea Gets Cut from The Michigan Panthers

Shea Patterson, the USFL's #1 draft pick got cut late on Wednesday night from the Michigan Panthers.  The Panthers are 1-5 and Shea has the lowest QBR in the league.   Though probably not 100% his fault as the Panthers offensive line and all of its offense is pretty limited to say the least.   Shea threw for 973 yards, sacked 13 times, and ran for 171 yards.  He threw 4 TD's, ran for 2, and threw 5 picks.  

The good news is, he was immediately picked up by the New Orleans Breakers who are 4-2 in the USFL. The Panthers play the Breakers on Saturday night, which is clearly now a Shea Rivalry game. 😀

• I've been trying to watch the NBA Playoffs but they are incredibly boring with lop sided games, injured superstars, and bad offense.  

• Brady has showed social media clips of him hitting baseballs and sinking a golf iron shot from the fairway from a drone camera this week.   His "Brady" Brand clothing line might not be doing as well as other aspects of his life, as the brand-new line is having a 60% off sale already.   I think he might have overshot the market with $100 T-shirts right now. 

• There is some funny business going on with the listing of future Big Ten Football schedules.   I'm sure we will hear soon about the new format that gives Michigan the hardest possible schedule every year.  

• Dante Moore will take a visit to Texas A&M in June.  As we know, there has been a lot of smoke around the Aggies program using NIL to "buy" players.  

Michigan Thursday: News and Notes

 Distracted by the PGA Championship this morning, so throwing some N&N at you!  😀

• Moussa Diabate testing #'s at the combine were pretty good (compared with Centers): Lane agility #1, Shuttle #1, Sprint #1, Standing Vertical #2, Max Vertical #1.   He gone! 

• Looks like NCAA Football Conference Divisions are going away.  I just don't want to play OSU twice in a row.   I am for moving any Michigan game in Columbus to Indy and playing it as the Big Ten Championship game. 

• Funny how NIL is giving boosters the right to "buy" recruits.   So nothing has changed, just what has happened in the dark, is now in the light. 

• Ryan "Pay" Day gets a nice raise and a 2-year extension.   I didn't think that happened after losing to "The Team Up North".

• USFL expands roster with 5 more players, trying to protect players against the XFL next season. 

• Speaking of the XFL, they have signed a deal with ESPN.

Michigan Tuesday: Poole Party

Jordan Poole likes the NCAA Tournament and now the NBA Playoffs.  He has one of the most memorable buzzer beaters in the tournament and now is putting up big numbers in his first experience in the Playoffs.  Game 1: 30 points on 69% shooting, Game 2: 29 points on 62% shooting.   I think the Splash Brothers have added a Poole! 

• Per reports De'Veon Smith was cut from his USFL Team because he wanted Pizza instead of Chicken Salad for a pregame meal.  WTF?  Smith has been in the NFL, AAF, XFL, CFL, and now a short stint in the USFL.  

• I watched the ESPN JoPa 30 for 30 last night and thought it was weak and just a retold story of things we already knew. 

• Which franchise do you trust more with Hutch's career?  JAX or Detroit?

Michigan Monday: Transfers, 3 Pointers, and Notre Dame

Last week was bit of a slow news cycle, so of course that changes on Friday afternoon when the news that Jordan Morant had jumped into the portal.  I was really hoping he would play in Ann Arbor and that I could call him Jo Morant, but it never happened.  It seems the injury bug got Jordan in Ann Arbor and now he wants to take his unlimited eligibility to a new school.   Unlimited is a joke, but with his COVID year and a redshirt, he could play 4 years at his new school.   If his injuries didn't happen, I think we might be taking about Jordan as the next Dax or Jabrill.   Michigan also has some great young depth at the position.  Jimmy's program is still over the 85 cap and will need a few more players to move on prior to Fall Practice. 

• Hello NBA Playoffs! Jordan Poole goes off for 30 on Saturday and Duncan Robinson has 27 on Easter as both Wolverines propelled their teams to Round 1 victories this weekend.  

• Notre Dame looks to be a big thorn in Michigan's recruiting lately.  2023 5-star QB Donte Moore has been trending towards ND, 2024 QB CJ Carr (grandson of Lloyd) just got a CB to ND (WTF?), Caleb's Houstan's brother a 4-star DL got a bunch of CB's to ND, and NC 4-star OT Sam Pendleton the same.  Can ND go into Michigan and get the state's best 2 QB's in back-to-back years?

• Juwan Howard and Michigan BB are leading for Texas Tech forward transfer Terrence Shannon Jr., pending admission acceptance.   Which is always a tricky thing, as U of M is known for not taking a ton of transfer credits.    Shannon averaged 10 points per game and also missed time with some injuries. 

• Shea Patterson played professional football on TV on Sunday.  I texted Augusta J, that it was SOS, Same Old Shea.   He looked good in spurts (better at running than throwing) and almost had a comeback win but the WR only got 1 foot down for the winning TD catch.  Shea finished 17-for-24 for 192 yards and a TD. He had 31 yards on seven carries and a fumble on the 5 yard that was returned 95 yards for a defensive TD.   In other USFL action, Stribling had an interception.  

• Former Wolverine DE Lawrence Marshall has joined Cass Teach as its DLine coach.  Congrats Lawrence! 

 

Michigan Friday: One More Wolverine to the USFL

Day 2 of the draft included one more former Wolverine as De’Veon Smith was drafted by Pittsburgh.   Here is the final tally of Wolverines and locations:

Michigan Panthers: Shea Patterson, QB

Philadelphia Stars: Channing Stribling, CB

Pittsburgh Maulers: Carlo Kemp, DE and De’Veon Smith, RB

Tampa Bay Bandits: Juwann Bushell-Beatty, OT

• Troy Aikman to the MNF Booth.  Now who are they going to team him with?

• That also leaves a big hole at Fox and a few Super Bowl winning coaches might be candidates. 

• There are reports NBC is looking to bid on the Big Ten package.   Please don't, too ND and commercial heavy. 

• J.J. McCarthy, Andrel Anthony and Donovan Edwards will release the first university-licensed non-fungible tokens (NFTs) this weekend.

Wolverine Wednesday: Former Wolverine Edition

The latest attempt at spring professional football is the reboot of the USFL which starts in April.  Yes, the Michigan Panthers are back! For those that are too young to remember or even know, the Panthers won the USFL's first championship way back in 1983.  There were even 60,000 fans in the Silverdome for a playoff game that year.  Legendary Michigan WR Anthony Carter (who made wearing #1 famous) played on that team.  

The new USFL had its first day of its draft on Tuesday and the Panthers took with the #1 pick in the draft, Shea Patterson.   Also drafted Day 1 was Carlo Kemp, JBB, and Chaning Stribling  

Good luck to all the Wolverines drafted.   I hope the USFL brass did enough financial planning to stay in business the full season. 

• The Colts have hired Cato June to be their assistant LB coach 

• Michigan Basketball takes the floor for the first time tonight since the slap and tickle show in Madison.   Michigan will take on Rutgers shorthanded, as you know. 

Michigan Friday: A Couple of PWO's

This time of year is great for Michigan filling out depth and scout team roles through Preferred Walk-On offers (PWO).  Sometimes you strike gold and find a contributor or even a starter.    The Glasgow's come to mind as a recent gold mine.  Michigan landed two guys yesterday to its PWO program.   

1. Charlie Lovell, DE from Pinckney 

2. Josh Nichols, CB/S from Loyola High School in Detroit 

Welcome guys! 

Harbaugh Watch - Nothing new to report. The Raiders have asked to interview Patriots OC Josh McDaniel's.  Would love for these NFL jobs to be filled so we can close this damn thing down.   To Jimmy's credit, he keeps on working and now needs a new DC.  (As you will see below, these NFL hires are also affecting the Michigan DC search)

• The USFL is back, and The Michigan Panthers have hired Jeff Fisher to the be their head coach.   I hope this league last more than a couple of weeks.

• If Byron Leftwhich gets the JAX job, its expected he would bring Larry Foote with him as the Jags DC.  That could happen as early as this weekend.   Nobody wants to work with GM Trent Baalke, so they have to clean that up as well.   If Todd Bowles gets a head coaching job, Larry could be in line as Tampa's next DC as well.   

• A strange name that has popped up in Michigan's DC search is former Washington Head Coach Jimmy Lake who Michigan rolled over in the Big House this year.   The guy can coach defense, with his specialty in the secondary but he had some issues with "putting hands" on his players at UW and was seen the door.  Not sure Michigan would sign up for that career reclamation project.

Here are my criteria for the new Michigan DC:

1. Can run/teach multiple coverages 

2. Is young and has a ton of energy 

3. Can make in game adjustments 

4. Will hit the recruiting trail hard