The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MAY 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 29 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL for a hybrid linebacker/safety when he lines up on the edge. But make no mistake — he's big enough, fast enough, and strong enough to not only play in the Big Ten, but also excel. Michigan fans got a first taste of what he could do during the spring game April 1. Stewart was all over the field for the Blue team, often in the back- field whether it was coming off the edge or finding a crease in the middle of the offense. "He's different than some of our edge rushers with his measurables, so … we're just really excited about him," Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said of Stewart in the week leading up to the spring game. "He's had a productive spring. I think if you talk to some of our guys, they'd say he stood out at times." Stewart lived up to the hype in notching a sack and 2 tackles for loss among his 4 stops in the Blue team's 22-21 loss to the Maize. He probably would have had another sack or two if the quarterback hadn't been off limits. It didn't faze him. At 6-foot-1 and a self-reported 245 pounds, he was just looking to fit in with his teammates. "It's not if I get there or not, it's if we win or not. It's all fun and games," Stewart said of the scrim- mage, noting he couldn't be happier to be in Ann Arbor. "[I was looking for] a family-based environ- ment, a place where I can develop, learn, come in and make an impact." And, of course, contribute to another champion- ship team. "That's my goal — to win. I came here to win, just somewhere I can develop and have fun [too]," Stewart said, noting he came in with the same mindset he had at Coastal Carolina. "I'm coming in hungry. I feel like I always have a chip on my shoul- der. I was undersized, underrecruited, whatever the case may be. I'm always hungry. That never changes." The new Michigan addition noted that he has one big thing to prove. "That I belong here. Simple as that," Stewart said. "Everybody is doubting, has questions … how can he play in the Big Ten? I'm going to show you guys. That's all there is to it." — Chris Balas COORDINATORS, HERBERT SIGN CONTRACT EXTENSIONS Three pivotal Michigan football staff members signed contract extensions, according to MLive, which obtained details through a FOIA request. Offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and strength and conditioning director Ben Herbert all received raises. Moore signed a new three-year extension on Feb. 16 that keeps him in Ann Arbor through the 2025 season. He was originally set for a base salary of $1 million per year before a March 20 amend- ment gave him another raise that brings his guar- anteed salary to $3.6 million over the next three years. Michigan will pay Moore $1.15 million in 2023, $1.2 million in 2024 and $1.25 million in 2025. Moore's base salary came in at $900,000 in 2022. With his new deal, Moore can earn $100,000 bo- nuses each year if Michigan finishes top-two in scoring in the Big Ten and top-10 nationally. He could also get a $50,000 bonus for every win over eight each season. Moore's deal includes a $1 million buyout if he leaves Michigan before the end of the 2024 sea- son. That number falls to $500,000 in 2025, but he would not owe the school anything if he leaves for a Division I head-coaching job. Minter 's base pay structure is the same as Moore's. He will make $1.15 million this year, $1.2 million in 2024 and $1.25 million in 2025. Minter can also earn $100,000 bonuses for finishing top- two in the Big Ten and top-10 in the nation in scor- ing defense. He can also receive $50,000 per win over eight. He accrued $900,000 in base salary last year but had $1.325 million earned after bonuses. Minter's buyout is structured differently than his coordinator counterpart. He would be required to pay $2 million if he leaves for a college coordinator job before the end of 2024, $1.2 million if he left for a job in the Big Ten in his third year or $1 mil- lion with any other FBS school. If he leaves for an NFL job, however, the buyout is $800,000 in Year 1 and Year 2, and it would fall to $600,000 in Year 3. Herbert, meanwhile, has become the second strength and conditioning coach in the country to earn a million-dollar salary, signing a fresh five- year deal. Herbert will be paid a $400,000 signing bonus and $600,000 base salary in 2023. His base salary will increase to $900,000 in 2024 with a $100,000 retention bonus paid out each year on Aug. 1 for the duration of the deal. He's also eli- gible for a $50,000 bonus for each regular-season victory over eight wins, capped at $200,000. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN FOOTBALL'S ANNUAL TRIP THIS YEAR Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has remained true to his word on annual academic spring trips, hav- ing taken his program overseas three times (Rome, France and South Africa) and around the state of Michigan last year. This year's squad will visit Canton and Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; New York City and Gettysburg, Pa., among its stops. Canton, of course, is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is another planned stop. New York City, the White House, the Capitol and the Smithsonian mu- seums in Washington, D.C., are also on the agenda. The program is also planning a trip to the Holo- caust Museum while in D.C., they announced several weeks ago. Harbaugh started the trips in 2017 as part of a "study abroad" program with Michigan. "I don't know who would have a problem with or how they could," the Michigan coach said a while back. "Unless they're not for student-athletes. This is bringing academics and athletics together. This is what being a student-athlete is supposed to be. It's one of the reasons we're so excited by it." A team spokesperson said some of Michigan's se- nior players approached Harbaugh about restarting the trips, citing their positive experiences as under- classmen. This year, it's going national. — Chris Balas Stewart (5), a transfer from Coastal Carolina, notched a sack and 2 tackles for loss among his 4 stops in the Blue team's 22-21 loss to the Maize squad. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL