Maize n Brew - All PostsA Michigan Wolverine communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49241/mb-fv.png2024-03-28T19:49:39-05:00http://www.maizenbrew.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T19:49:39-05:002024-03-28T19:49:39-05:00Dusty May, Michigan reach out to first four transfer portal targets
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<p>May is not wasting any time getting to work.</p> <p id="rmudmF">Dusty May has taken over as the head coach of the <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> men’s basketball program, and he’s got plenty of work to do. There are plenty of scholarships availability to distribute, and there is a world where there are no returning players from last year’s team. While that’s unlikely, May and the Wolverines are not wasting any time reaching out to players in the portal.</p>
<h3 id="9iRFty"><strong>Connor Essegian</strong></h3>
<p id="PIpb02">The first named with rumored mutual interest was Connor Essegian. The combo guard entered the transfer portal from Big Ten rival Wisconsin due to a lack of playing time his sophomore season. But as a true freshman, Essegian was sensational. The 6-foot-4 Fort Wayne native shot 35.9 percent from deep and averaged 11.7 points per game that year, earning him All-Big Ten Freshman first-team honors.</p>
<h3 id="90QJkB"><strong>Jason Rivera-Torres</strong></h3>
<p id="Zvz00m">Another guard in the mix is Vanderbilt freshman Jason Rivera-Torres. The former four-star recruit out of Virginia was recruited by May at FAU, so there is familiarity. In his freshman season, Rivera-Torres came off the bench scoring 6.4 points per game in 29 appearances. Three-point shooting was disappointing for the true freshman, hitting only 24.1 percent from behind the arc. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Since entering the Portal, Vandy Freshman Jason Rivera Torres has heard from: <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonriv23?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jasonriv23</a> <br><br>⁃Virginia Tech<br>⁃Ole miss<br>⁃Michigan <br>⁃Fordham<br>⁃Mississippi St<br>⁃San Diego <br>⁃California <br>⁃Iowa State<br>⁃Iona<br>⁃Monmouth <br>⁃Providence<br>⁃Minnesota <br>⁃Maryland <br>⁃St Louis<br>⁃Columbia… <a href="https://t.co/MBz91Eykzl">pic.twitter.com/MBz91Eykzl</a></p>— PDT (@PDTScouting) <a href="https://twitter.com/PDTScouting/status/1773090253617717599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<h3 id="WPzkH5"><strong>Cade Tyson</strong></h3>
<p id="8e5sl1">May said in his introductory press conference he wants Michigan to shoot the three-ball with consistency. It makes sense then for him to reach out to one of the top shooters in the country in Belmont small forward Cade Tyson.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Updated list of schools who’ve been in Contact with <a href="https://twitter.com/cade_tyson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cade_tyson</a> <br><br>Kansas<br>Villanova<br>Auburn<br>Michigan<br>Virginia<br>Arkansas<br>Florida<br>Miami<br>Indiana<br>Virginia Tech<br>Oklahoma<br>Wake Forest<br>Nebraska<br>Notre Dame<br>BYU<br>Texas<br>Colorado<br>Oregon<br>Stanford<br>South Carolina<br>Ole Miss<br>Georgia Tech<br>Wisconsin<br>VCU… <a href="https://t.co/SY7ZVgZvrZ">pic.twitter.com/SY7ZVgZvrZ</a></p>— Nick Jones (@CoachJonesMPB) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJonesMPB/status/1773402071816884561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="NiXG8L">He’ll be a junior in 2024-25, but he shot an unbelievable 46.5 percent from deep on 5.5 attempts per game while scoring 16.2 points per contest. 247Sports lists Tyson as the No. 15 player in the portal. </p>
<h3 id="z3cJ5u"><strong>J’Vonne Hadley</strong></h3>
<p id="V6gtsO">The most experienced player Michigan has checked in with is Colorado guard J’Vonne Hadley. Hadley began his career at Northeastern in 2020 and then went to Indian Hills Community College in 2021-22. The last two years he has been with the Buffaloes and started almost every game. As a senior last year, he scored 11.6 points a game and shot 53.8 percent from the field. He could come to Ann Arbor and help establish a culture as an experienced leader of this team.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Colorado transfer J’Vonne Hadley tells me he’s heard from these schools since hitting the portal:<br><br>Minnesota<br>Michigan <br>Michigan State <br>Nebraska<br>DePaul<br>Utah<br>UCLA<br>BYU<br>Iowa State <br>Texas A&M<br>Grand Canyon<br>Arkansas<br>Cal <br>Oregon State<br>Florida <br>Texas Tech <br><br>He averaged 11.6PPG,… <a href="https://t.co/bSq0AlPSMH">pic.twitter.com/bSq0AlPSMH</a></p>— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/247HSHoops/status/1773377994205040789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/28/24115111/dusty-may-michigan-wolverines-basketball-transfer-portal-connor-essegian-cade-tysonDaniel Plocher2024-03-28T15:00:00-05:002024-03-28T15:00:00-05:00Could the unpredictable Wolverines go on an unexpected run in the NCAA Tournament?
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<figcaption>Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Michigan has struggled with consistency this season, but has the ceiling necessary to make it a contender for the National Championship.</p> <p id="JRIJXG">The <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> are back in the NCAA Tournament and are pursuing their third straight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-frozen-four">Frozen Four</a> appearance. The only thing standing between them and this reality — and hopefully more — is the hardest path of any of the 16 teams in the tournament.</p>
<p id="Bf9Y5x">First up, Michigan has to face former teammate Keaton Pehrson and North Dakota in the opening round before potentially facing the Western Michigan/<a href="https://www.theonlycolors.com">Michigan State</a> winner. If the Wolverines can win this region of death, they will likely face either defending national champion Quinnipiac or the top overall seed, Boston College, in the Frozen Four.</p>
<p id="OVuxSo">If Michigan makes it to its first national title game since 2011, it could be a 2022 rematch against Denver in a matchup that would once again personify the <a href="https://www.polygon.com/22947332/spider-man-no-way-home-pointing-meme">Spider-Man meme</a>. The path to Michigan’s first national title since 1998 is treacherous and seems highly unlikely the Wolverines could make it through the four games unscathed.</p>
<p id="osDOBJ">However, this team has been unpredictable all season, and what better way to capitalize on its penchant for the dramatic than by delivering high drama on the biggest stage in the sport? Here are three reasons why the Wolverines can make a run at that elusive national championship.</p>
<h3 id="XVMaTR"><strong>Power Play Proficiency/ Surging Penalty-Kill</strong></h3>
<p id="DqQa3O">Under head coach Brandon Naurato, Michigan’s power play has gone from good to great. This season, the Wolverines lead the country converting at a 35.3 percent clip, six percentage points higher than the second-best team (Boston College). This six-point margin is the same margin that separates the No. 2 and No. 15 teams in the country.</p>
<p id="wGkKq9">If the Wolverines can get on the attack, it’s only a matter of time until this unit strikes. However, solely relying on this strategy to generate offense in the postseason is a dangerous game. Two years ago in the Frozen Four, Michigan was upset by Denver, 3-2, in overtime and its power play unit never saw the ice.</p>
<p id="lqMMvZ">In these high-pressure, single-elimination games, officials are more likely to swallow the whistle compared to a regular season game in November. If a tight game is called, this could be to the Wolverines’ benefit and for the first time in years, shouldn’t have as much to fear on the defensive end when killing penalties either.</p>
<p id="UOTgxz">On the season, the Wolverines are below-average on the penalty-kill, stopping 78.5 percent of all power plays, but over the last two weeks, in the two most important games of the season, the Wolverines have killed off a perfect 100 percent of power play opportunities.</p>
<p id="whJU9R">With a more connected attack and a willingness to block shots from all four defenders, Michigan’s unit is peaking at the right time. Speaking of… </p>
<h3 id="yuJGav"><strong>Peaking at the right time</strong></h3>
<p id="icJYAT">The entire team is peaking at the right time! Despite falling to Michigan State in overtime last weekend, the Wolverines are playing their best hockey of the season at the most important time.</p>
<p id="RxkZ4m">Offensively, the Wolverines have <em>finally </em>been able to balance their four lines.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight's lines ⬇️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBlue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBlue</a>〽️ <a href="https://t.co/5BmR6NqHL8">pic.twitter.com/5BmR6NqHL8</a></p>— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/umichhockey/status/1771686451979186553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2024</a>
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<p id="HE4jLB">The rise of freshman Garrett Schifsky into the top line has allowed Frank Nazar to excel with the second unit and let T.J. Hughes bring some playmaking and shot-creation to the third line. This new-found depth has invigorated the fourth line, especially to resemble former Michigan “grind lines” of recent history. Whatever Kienan Draper lacks in pure skill, he more than compensates with effort and tenacity.</p>
<p id="cPKZK6">Defensively, the most impressive part about the forwards has been their reinvigorated commitment to back-checking. This concerted effort has helped neutralize transition and breakaway opportunities and ease the blue liners’ responsibilities.</p>
<p id="sFmWHy">With the help of the forwards, the team and the defenders are playing more connected and assignment-sound hockey. In the middle of the season, players would make mistakes like dominoes trying to overcompensate turning a small problem into a goal-scoring problem. Now, the team is mitigating any mistakes and not compounding them with overcorrections.</p>
<p id="cwa4kS">One mistake that was the norm earlier in the year was zone exits. Michigan routinely struggled to exit the puck turning 15 seconds of opponent-zone time into more than a minute. Now, these mistakes have become the exception. Although they do reemerge occasionally, they are no longer the new normal.</p>
<h3 id="UejxTw"><strong>Experience </strong></h3>
<p id="74bgFd">Last season, this team was incredibly young in the NCAA Tournament and more or less flying by the seat of their pants. Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, Frank Nazar, T.J. Hughes, Seamus Casey, Luca Fantilli and Kienan Draper were all freshmen. Dylan Duke, Mark Estapa and Ethan Edwards were mildly experienced sophomores.</p>
<p id="lGQ34D">This season — coupled with the experience of transfers and players such as Marshall Warren, a healthy Jacob Truscott, Philippe, Lapointe, Steven Holtz, Jake Barczewski, and Tyler Duke — the Wolverines fully understand the magnitude and stakes at hand. This team only has four players without tournament experience (Schifsky, Nick Moldenhauer, Tanner Rowe and Josh Eernisse) and there is no way to replicate this level of familiarity. </p>
<p id="BubmEH">The loss to the Spartans last weekend set off alarm bells to some, but I think it helped reinforce the fragility of what is on the line. One bouncing puck, one moment of lapsed concentration, and this season and this team could come to an end. But on the other hand, one bouncing puck, one power play opportunity, and the unpredictable Wolverines could unexpectedly become National Champions.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/24112914/michigan-wolverines-unexpected-run-ncaa-tournament-college-hockey-2024Andrew Bailey2024-03-28T13:00:00-05:002024-03-28T13:00:00-05:00The precarious start to Dusty May’s career at FAU, and how it will help his adjustment to Michigan
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<img alt="Syndication: Detroit Free Press" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B7NBA8NRn6jIz-0EPdJiTOoY5aY=/0x0:2400x1600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73239433/usa_today_22871967.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>May had 48 hours to put a team together.</p> <p id="xKSMOa">The <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> men’s basketball team is going through extreme turnover right now.</p>
<p id="Z3yKOS">The positives: Michigan has a new coach who is accustomed to winning.</p>
<p id="dHxfod">The negatives: <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/18/24101133/dug-mcdaniel-enters-transfer-portal-michigan-basketball-wolverines-juwan-howard">Dug McDaniel</a>, <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/19/24105867/michigan-wolverines-college-basketball-tarris-reed-jr-enters-transfer-portal-2024-juwan-howard">Tarris Reed Jr.</a>, <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/17/24104236/freshman-guard-george-washington-iii-transfer-portal-michigan-wolverines-college-basketball-juwan">George Washington III</a> and Youssef Khayat all entered the transfer portal, Olivier Nkamhoua is out of eligibility, and decisions for next season have yet to be made by Nimari Burnett, Terrance Williams II and Will Tschetter.</p>
<p id="MsV93w">This situation could be daunting for some head coaches, but this isn’t Dusty May’s first rodeo taking over a limited roster going into his first season with a new team.</p>
<p id="UaJOWn">May’s first few weeks in Boca Raton presented a difficult challenge that ultimately led to his successes. May had 10 open scholarships to give out his first year at FAU, but he was not allowed to leave campus for any official recruiting since the team exhausted the official number before he arrived.</p>
<p id="aO4kJ1">Fortunately, the NCAA did him a favor in helping him get the players he needed.</p>
<p id="ji6UYi">“We borrowed two days from the the following year, the NCAA let us borrow two days from the next season so I could go watch some local players — Mike Force, who’s been with us for five years as one of those guys, and we end up piecing together a really good team in year one with the 10 signees and then three holdovers that we really liked and became close with,” May said in an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=peZuq08qtUvDf1S-&v=k02FV-8U6aQ&feature=youtu.be">interview with Rich Eisen</a> last March.</p>
<p id="fnImCJ">The clever thinking helped FAU start the season 9-3 with wins against Illinois and UCF, two tournament teams that year.</p>
<p id="jj1FTR">The back half of the season was riddled with season-ending injuries, so May regrouped for year two by adding players from the transfer portal. May learned the transfer portal can be useful for short-term roster building, but not for his long-term vision.</p>
<p id="fnoItb">“By preference, I enjoy the younger players and having continuity, building, growing together, and therefore, the lifelong relationships that I feel like I have with almost every player I’ve ever coached,” May said during his opening press conference on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="0yiEOD">Because of this preference, May found hidden gems all over the country in the 2020 recruiting cycle that became four-year starters for the Owls and led FAU to the Final Four in 2023.</p>
<p id="QrcSDb">“Nick Boyd, Elijah Martin, Johnell Davis and Giancarlo Rosado — they’re as close of a group as I’ve ever seen,” May said to Eisen. “These guys are truly family. If you said they’re cousins or brothers by blood, I would believe you, and they all work incredibly hard. They’re all extremely intelligent. So they brought all the winning intangibles to our group. And now those guys are the core, the foundation, the leaders of our team, so as they’ve gotten older and got better as players and improved because of their leadership — and they’re really good players — they’ve really taken over our locker room. And then all the other guys are just like them or they’re great people that could hold each other accountable. They’re self-aware, so we just have a really nice winning mix.”</p>
<p id="iBs3fd">Coming into his first season at Michigan, May is tasked with a similar challenge. The easy solution is to fill the roster with transfers until landing high school recruits for 2025. However, May is still looking to win in 2024 and does not want to push the mentality to the following year when he could lose recruits, the fan base and the current players on the roster. He is looking for a nice mix of high schoolers and transfers who can adopt his winning mentality.</p>
<p id="VQUSu0">“Recruiting now in the portal is more like speed dating than the traditional recruiting,” May said Tuesday. “And I think it’s very valuable to have a network of people that you trust and they trust you. And hopefully between former players and former coaches, our programs are gonna have thousands of agents working for us — when I say agents, people that are going to say great things about us and want players to play for us. So we’re going to cast a big net. We’ll narrow it down, we’ll be very, very patient because we’re not going to take the wrong guys. We have several spots, but we’re gonna be very thorough but understand that we need to be right. We need to do our research in advance and make sure we make very calculated decisions because there’s a lot of options, and they’re not all great options.”</p>
<p id="TmQd1k">May has some tough decisions to make, but he has more resources now than he did at FAU. He currently has two commits — guards Durral Brooks and Christian Anderson — and is also keeping an eye on his <a href="https://247sports.com/college/florida-atlantic/season/2024-basketball/commits/">three FAU commits</a>, guards Elijah Elliott, Lorenzo Cason and Ty Robinson. In addition, the Wolverines have not lost out on former commit, four-star forward Khani Rooths, who <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/18/24105032/2024-recruiting-class-khani-rooths-decommits-michigan-wolverines-basketball-juwan-howard">decommitted</a> on March 18.</p>
<p id="tj8hqr">On top of those players, George Washington III — who entered the transfer portal after Juwan Howard was fired — was in attendance at May’s introductory press conference. Speaking to reporters, he made it seem like a return to Michigan isn’t out of the question.</p>
<p id="t6gAiF">“Schools have reached out but I am still in the middle period,” he said. “The whole reason why I left the option to come back is because I didn’t want to be stuck somewhere, but I am really interested in building a relationship with (coach May).”</p>
<p id="sY4FbT">May’s path to Ann Arbor is a precarious one, but he has every intention of reigniting the program and appears to have a plan for what the roster will look like for 2024 and beyond.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/28/24113723/dusty-may-florida-atlantic-adjustment-michigan-wolverines-college-basketballJacob Singer2024-03-28T11:00:00-05:002024-03-28T11:00:00-05:00Out of the Blue: Dusty May is hired, hockey is dancing, and spring ball is underway
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Alabama at Michigan" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IK979DON_8dahHUzay5xKE_r4h0=/0x0:6254x4169/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73239042/usa_today_22206506.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The future of Michigan athletics is on the upswing across the board.</p> <p id="GdvWP2">The boys are back to cover all things <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> and there are no off-seasons or slow periods for Michigan athletics. The basketball team has already found its Juwan Howard replacement in FAU’s Dusty May. Michigan hockey is back in the NCAA Tournament and is in the region of death. Michigan football is back in action for spring ball, so what are reasonable expectations for freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis? In a new series profiling Michigan freshmen, the boys discuss the immediate outlook for the young signal-caller. </p>
<p id="wYUHv6"><em>DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded before the report of Rod Moore’s injury was released. Get well soon, King.</em></p>
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https://www.maizenbrew.com/24113892/out-of-the-blue-podcast-dusty-may-hockey-ncaa-michigan-wolverines-football-spring-ball-2024Andrew BaileyJared Stormer2024-03-28T09:00:00-05:002024-03-28T09:00:00-05:00Michigan’s Donovan Edwards discusses getting his ‘fire’ back
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<figcaption>Melanie Maxwell / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption>
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<p>The new lead running back talks about how he got his groove back.</p> <p id="pqojZq">The <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> will be getting a key piece of their offense back in 2024 in running back Donovan Edwards, who finally gets an opportunity to lead the backfield after splitting carries with Blake Corum over the last couple years.</p>
<p id="BKHdL6">For Edwards, replacing Corum will not be easy. The Marshall, Virginia native was a back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 (1,463 yards) and 2023 (1,245). He nearly posted another 1,000-yard rushing season in 2021 (952), as Michigan led the NCAA in rushing touchdowns that season with 39. With Corum’s help, the Wolverines would replicate that same feat in 2023 with 40 rushing touchdowns, and also finished second in 2022 with 41.</p>
<p id="UYkH9b">Simply put, Corum spent the last three seasons as the offensive identity of a program that won the Big Ten three times and a National Championship. So where does that leave Edwards in 2024?</p>
<p id="dJsUI2">Last season, Edwards had 119 carries for 497 yards and five touchdowns — all marks that were well below expectations. While he was still seen as a potential top-100 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, a chance to regain the fire in his heart and possibly helm the role of lead back were factors that contributed heavily to his return.</p>
<p id="ZmJhZr">“I’ve always had this fire in my heart, and the fire and my heart started COVID year going into my senior year of high school,” Edwards said on this week’s <a href="https://mgoblue.com/podcasts">In The Trenches</a> podcast. “Working out, watching ‘The Last Dance’ with Michael Jordan and what the Chicago Bulls were doing. And that just inspired me, that made the fire in my heart continue to grow, right? And I’ll be honest, I kind of lost it like going into my junior year. Not feeling great, I’m not getting the carries that I want. But it clicked for me again, that fire in my heart was there, it became evident that — it was a practice that it just showed back up.”</p>
<p id="v4oxeg">“So, I’m praying that everything is happening for me because all it’s going to do is just continue to push me as a player and as a man, you know? I can’t sit up here and say that I haven’t faced adversity because I have. Whether the adversity has made me a man and adversity is gonna make me a better football player. So I’m still confident that — don’t mistake my confidence for arrogance, but I’m confident within myself and my abilities and my capabilities. So, my obligation is to just continue to bring everybody else up with me, because as long as we can do that, we will be successful.”</p>
<p id="DvXASo">With Corum off to the NFL, Edwards regaining his fire is crucial for Michigan football in 2024. Luckily, according to Edwards, that fire has already returned — and did so just in time for some of his biggest moments last season.</p>
<p id="AeJpUf">“Just in a practice,” Edwards said. “I think it was before one of our rivals’ games or something. Something just switched within. I was taking a knee, just like just having my head down. And I felt the fire just emerge and back into my body. So I’m happy that that happened. It’s up to me just to continue to work every single day to make today better than it was yesterday and to make tomorrow better than today. So that’s what I live by and that’s what I’m going to continue to do. To help this team win and to bring guys up and to emerge them as leaders as well.”</p>
<p id="cEsGuP">So what happened in the first place to throw him off his groove? Through 14 games of his junior year, he had gained just 393 yards on 113 carries — 3.48 yards per carry — and scored only three touchdowns; that was after rushing for 520 yards on 70 carries in Michigan’s final three games of 2022, part of a 991-yard, nine-touchdown sophomore year. Edwards credits his absence from spring ball specifically as one of the primary confidence-killers on his 2023 season.</p>
<p id="No8LBr">“I think that last year, spring ball, not being able to participate in spring set me back tremendously,” Edwards said. “What spring ball is about is being able to get your confidence, being able to get a feel for the game, and I wasn’t able to get there last year. Coming up with a knee surgery, I didn’t start practicing again until August, and I was still having other issues within my body that I’m still working through today.”</p>
<p id="MCAU9p">“When you’re not feeling good — now I feel great. I feel like my cuts are looking better. I’m playing better — the speed is back and the speed is where it needs to be. And I put on 14 more pounds. So being able to stay healthy all last year and to be able to participate in spring ball right now is continuing to boost my confidence.”</p>
<p id="oDzZl0">Edwards won’t be expected to replace Corum’s production on his own. Michigan has a stable of backs that have been patiently waiting for their opportunity to receive meaningful snaps.</p>
<p id="zM3Inb">“I think Kalel (Mullings) is a lot like Hassan (Haskins) — I think everybody sees that,” Edwards said. “I think that Ben Hall has some Blake Corum in him. I think Cole Cabana has some me in him. I think (Bryson) Kuzdzal has a mixture of what I have and what Blake has.”</p>
<p id="qpt1cG">“‘Downhill (Henry) Donahue’ is ‘Downhill Donahue.’ There’s no other Downhill Donahue. The nickname itself explains what ‘Downhill Donahue’ is all about.”</p>
<p id="E79BW9">When it comes to replacing Corum, no one player will be able to replicate his production. But maybe, with a dynamic running back room, Michigan can recreate Corum’s success in the run game.</p>
<p id="7pNZwO">“It’s very diverse. Multiple people can do multiple things,” Edwards said. “You’re gonna be surprised when you see somebody doing something outside of their role because everybody can do everything. I’m excited for this group. This group has been through a lot together. We’ve grown together. We’ve seen the highs together, we’ve seen the lows together. As a team aspect, all we have to do is continue to build the camaraderie with each other. Losing to Georgia, losing to TCU, winning the national championship — we’ve been at the highest pinnacle and we’ve been at the lowest pinnacle. All we have to do is get better, push one another, push one another. Be happy for the other man’s success and the sky’s the limit for us.”</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/28/24113471/donovan-edwards-michigan-football-2024-season-blake-corumMatt Hartwell2024-03-28T07:00:00-05:002024-03-28T07:00:00-05:00Recruiting Roundup: Top-100 Ohio RB reflects on weekend visit
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<figcaption>Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Plus, a top-100 CB plans a return visit for April, and a 2026 QB visits for the third time.</p> <p id="6vuJi0">On today’s edition of the Recruiting Roundup, we’ll discuss recent visits from a top-100 2025 running back and 2026 quarterback, and dive into the news of a top-100 cornerback planning to make a return visit next month.</p>
<h3 id="WWIghd"><strong>Four-star Ohio RB reflects on recent visit</strong></h3>
<p id="FmiGAs">Bo Jackson, one of the top ranked running backs in the 2025 class, posted on social media about his Michigan visit last weekend.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had a Great visit <a href="https://twitter.com/UMichFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UMichFootball</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTonyAlford?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTonyAlford</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_SMoore?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_SMoore</a> Thanks for everything <a href="https://t.co/intM4stAHg">pic.twitter.com/intM4stAHg</a></p>— Bo Jackson (@BoJackson2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoJackson2025/status/1772413713003278586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="DX5HHr">He spoke about that visit <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/board/102410/Contents/fourstar-rb-bo-jackson-has-great-visit-to-michigan-229309367/?page=1">with 247Sports’ Allen Trieu ($)</a>, telling Trieu his family came with him for the trip.</p>
<p id="SNm43T">“The visit to Michigan was great,” Jackson said. “My mom, dad, and both of my younger brothers went with me. We spent the entire day on campus. I got see and absorb so much information about the school and the football program.”</p>
<p id="0thby2"><a href="https://247sports.com/player/bo-jackson-46133496/">On the 247Sports composite</a>, the four-star recruit is ranked as the 66th-best prospect in the 2025 class, along with the fifth-best running back and the fourth-best recruit from the state of Ohio. 247Sports has an <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> Crystal Ball prediction, but it’s important to remember that Tony Alford, who recruited Jackson at Ohio State, now works for the Wolverines.</p>
<p id="vf0vWa">“I’ve been knowing coach Alford since my freshman year and he loves it (in Ann Arbor) and thinks highly of everyone there so far,” Jackson said.</p>
<p id="2wadYv">Hopefully that connection with Alford is enough to sway Jackson, who appears to still have Michigan as a contender.</p>
<p id="7tbD1u">“It’s pretty late in the process for me and with all the changes that happened there I wasn’t sure about them,” he said of Michigan. “We spent a lot of time on campus yesterday loved every minute of it and got to get a real feel for the school and football program.”</p>
<h3 id="yGsQEw"><strong>Top-100 CB planning return visit to Michigan next month</strong></h3>
<p id="6Le1pd">2025 four-star cornerback Dawayne Galloway, who put Michigan in his <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/2/29/24085607/michigan-football-recruiting-roundup-dawayne-galloway-avery-gach-marcus-garcia-sherrone-moore">top-12 back in February</a>, is returning to Ann Arbor for a visit before next month’s spring game, as reported by <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-recruiting-on300-ohio-cb-expected-to-make-return-visit/">Zach Libby with The Wolverine ($)</a>.</p>
<p id="oCnOHd">Galloway’s offer to come Michigan came from Steve Clinkscale, who is now working on Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Los Angeles Chargers</a>. Galloway has still kept in touch with new defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, who he’s excited to see coach this spring.</p>
<p id="YM9pvO">“I want to know what type of guy he is,” Galloway said. “How he coaches DBs, what type of man he is. I also want to see the team balling. The coaches are new, so I want to see how (the players) ball with the new coaches. I want to see how the DBs get along with (Morgan).”</p>
<p id="aCgOPr">Libby also noted that Galloway’s cousin, Tayvion, is an early enrollee at Purdue, and Galloway has official visits planned for Purdue, Penn State and Syracuse.</p>
<p id="o897BO">Perhaps Galloway can swayed by being back on Michigan’s campus and seeing spring practice. Michigan has also garnered a good reputation for developing defensive backs, as Galloway acknowledged.</p>
<p id="0tTNCE">“They have some lockdown DBs,” Galloway said. “They’re the best DBs in college football, along with a couple of others at Ohio State. They’re national champions, so they have to be the best.”</p>
<p id="1DFbnD">Galloway is rated just inside the top-100 in his class <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/dawayne-galloway-46144049/">on the 247Sports composite</a>, ranking 11th among cornerbacks and fifth among Ohio recruits.</p>
<h3 id="YH6rbi"><strong>2026 QB reflects on third Michigan visit</strong></h3>
<p id="vuz6iz">Highly touted 2026 quarterback Noah Grubbs was also in Ann Arbor this past weekend. He has yet to be ranked <a href="https://247sports.com/player/noah-grubbs-46137781/">on the 247Sports composite</a>, but that won’t be lasting too long.</p>
<p id="J6utRt">He recapped his time at Michigan with <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/board/102410/Contents/excellence-at-michigan-continues-to-catch-the-eye-of-bluechip-2026-qb-noah-grubbs-229303580/?page=1">247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong ($).</a></p>
<p id="5Y4vOM">“This is my third time coming to Michigan and I felt the same way I did each and every time, blown away,” Grubbs said. “So much championship tradition and it starts with the academic excellence Michigan has to its athletic facilities with trophies and banners. Everything is based on excellence.”</p>
<p id="3EflfI">The 2026 passer has garnered interest from more than a few other schools. He was at <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> before visiting Michigan, and reportedly visited Ohio State earlier this week. He also has offers from Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State and <a href="https://www.goodbullhunting.com">Texas A&M</a>, among others.</p>
<p id="Ci3RvA">Grubbs said he’s had conversations with offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell and that the Wolverines are at the top of his list.</p>
<p id="uSaToQ">“Michigan is one of my top schools and I’ll never forget my game experience when they played Ohio State and having the feeling of my belonging on the big stage, so I know Michigan is just that.” Grubbs said. “It was also great getting to spend time with a Michigan great in Denard Robinson. He was real down to earth and got to spend some time with my family which was really cool.”</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/28/24113467/recruiting-roundup-michigan-wolverines-football-bo-jackson-dawayne-galloway-noah-grubbs-tony-alfordKellen Voss2024-03-27T15:00:00-05:002024-03-27T15:00:00-05:00Kim Barnes Arico speaks on Dusty May hiring, Round of 64 exit, excitement for next season
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<figcaption>Kim Barnes Arico & Dusty May take a photo together on the day of May’s introductory press conference | Michigan Women’s Basketball (<a class="ql-link" href="https://twitter.com/umichwbball" target="_blank">@umichwbball</a>) on X/Twitter</figcaption>
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<p>Maize n Brew caught up with Barnes Arico after May’s introductory presser in Ann Arbor on Tuesday.</p> <p id="x7HsnU">The Junge Family Champions Center was packed Tuesday afternoon for Dusty May’s introductory press conference, where <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/26/24112604/dusty-may-warde-manuel-michigan-wolverines-basketball-press-conference">he was officially introduced</a> as the next head coach of the Michigan men’s basketball program.</p>
<p id="wjitYf">The room was packed with media, members of the Maize Rage, Michigan fans, current Michigan players, and fellow head coaches at the university, including women’s head basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michigan Basketball <a href="https://twitter.com/KBA_GoBlue?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KBA_GoBlue</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDustyMay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDustyMay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBlue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBlue</a> <a href="https://t.co/2PAQXnnsVC">pic.twitter.com/2PAQXnnsVC</a></p>— Michigan Women’s Basketball (@umichwbball) <a href="https://twitter.com/umichwbball/status/1772705043910717614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="0jEfbD">Speaking with Maize n Brew following the press conference, Barnes Arico said she had briefly interacted with May up to that point, but had already heard great things.</p>
<p id="rDjcnA">“We went to dinner (Monday) night,” Barnes Arico said. “I’ve had a chance to talk with him a little, but not really, he’s being pulled in 100 different directions, but he seems amazing. Everyone I’ve talked to about him really seems to get along with him. Just excited to have him here.”</p>
<p id="1S4K8s">This past season, the Michigan women’s basketball team made the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season under Barnes Arico. <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/23/24109745/takeaways-from-michigans-overtime-loss-to-kansas-in-the-round-of-64">The 9-seeded Wolverines fell to the 8-seeded Kansas Jayhawks</a> in overtime in the Round of 64; in seven NCAA tournaments with Michigan, it was the first time Barnes Arico had lost in the Round of 64.</p>
<p id="gK7Zv8">She hasn’t had much time to reflect on this season, as she is preparing to meet with players from this past year’s team soon.</p>
<p id="vXcZkh">“I think in the ever-changing landscape of college athletics with the transfer portal and all that stuff, you never really get to take too much time off,” Barnes Arico said. “Just gave our student athletes a few days and the chance to regroup with them next week, figuring out what we need.”</p>
<p id="hXVktN">The Wolverines will have a lot of key players to replace, including Cameron Williams, <a href="https://twitter.com/theblockm/status/1772746161767723480">who entered the transfer portal</a>, and grad student starters Elissa Brett and Lauren Hansen. Barnes Arico said she’s only briefly spoken with those players, and will support them throughout the rest of their basketball journey.</p>
<p id="FxQKcN">“Elissa Brett, her family from Australia flew to (Los Angeles for the Round of 64 game), they were with us and just trying to help her figure out what she wants to do, she wants to continue to play, whether that’s in Australia or in Europe,” Barnes Arico said. “Lauren Hansen is another player that wants to continue to play, (I’m) going to meet with the other seniors (on Tuesday). They’re just awesome, so going to try to meet with the seniors today and close those gaps and see if they need anything from us.”</p>
<p id="KQ4RN4">Despite the early tournament exit, the future is bright for Michigan women’s basketball. The Wolverines have the highest-ranked recruiting classes in program history coming to Ann Arbor, <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2023/11/8/23952969/national-signing-day-michigan-basketball-olivia-olsson-syla-swords-christian-anderson-durral-brooks">headlined by five-star guards Syla Swords and Olivia Olson</a>. Barnes Arico, the winningest coach in program history, <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/2023/11/14/23961513/kim-barnes-arico-michigan-wolveriens-womens-basketball-laila-phelia-cameron-williams-laren-hansen">signed an extension</a> back in November that makes her the head coach through the 2028-29 season.</p>
<p id="W3Girw">“(I’m) excited for the future of our program,” Barnes Arico said. “We’ve signed one of the best classes, and (I’m) excited to start thinking about next season.”</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/27/24113509/kim-barnes-arico-dusty-may-michigan-womens-basketball-elissa-brettel-cameron-williamsKellen Voss2024-03-27T14:26:02-05:002024-03-27T14:26:02-05:00Michigan hiring Jack Dunaway, John Collins as assistant directors of recruiting
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<img alt="NCAA Football: CFP National Championship Head Coaches News Conference" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UUc-PXGodugaVG2LJ7Q7yAYD52M=/0x0:8640x5760/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237070/usa_today_22241304.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Sherrone Moore continues to pad his recruiting department.</p> <p id="TtN5Dq">Michigan is hiring former player Jack Dunaway and Georgia’s John Collins as assistant directors of recruiting within the football program. This is according to <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-set-to-add-two-assistant-directors-of-recruiting-to-staff/">On3</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/board/102410/contents/new-recruiting-staff-hire-229435307/">247Sports</a>, respectively.</p>
<p id="Fp15Cw">Collins previously held a personnel and recruiting analyst position with the Bulldogs the last two years. Before his time with UGA, he served as a scouting and recruiting assistant for Temple for five months before being scooped up by the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> as a training camp player personnel intern.</p>
<p id="QK7au3">Dunaway’s name is a little bit more familiar. The former Michigan linebacker suited up for the Wolverines from 2016-18 and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Dunaway was also named MLive’s Detroit Player of the Year on Defense as a senior.</p>
<p id="pVsRgZ">While this will be Dunaway’s first true recruiting role, the former linebacker does have some familiarity with the program as a coaching intern and graduate assistant. Most recently, he was an account executive for FCB Chicago.</p>
<p id="0FS003">Keep an eye on the recruiting department this offseason as Sherrone Moore continues his efforts to modernize Michigan’s NIL presence.</p>
https://www.maizenbrew.com/2024/3/27/24113777/michigan-wolverines-football-hiring-georgia-john-collins-as-assistant-director-of-recruitingMatt Hartwell