The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499505
The goal next year for me and for all the guys is to make [the NCAAs] — not just to make it, [but] to compete and win. Playing in it isn't enough. That's part of our culture." — Sophomore forward YOUSSEF KHAYAT (at left, with Will Tschetter and Tarris Reed Jr.) Michigan has done a really good job of locking down the state of Michi- gan and prioritizing the top guys in the state of Michigan. Obviously, winning battles for guys like [cornerback] Will Johnson and [wide receiver] Semaj Morgan is paying dividends be- cause those guys are influencers to the young guys in the city and the state. They're like mag- nets reeling in other guys." — Sound Mind Sound Body founder Curtis Blackwell My expectations for Mikey are to be one of the top DBs in the whole country. He's tal- ented enough; he's skilled enough. He's got the right mindset; he's made plays. What a move! Coach Harbaugh has all the credit in the world for that one." — Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on graduate captain Mike Sainristil, who made the switch from receiver to nickel back last season 4 Former four-star re- cruits were included in Michigan's list of 2023 NFL Draft picks, per the On3 Industry Ranking: defen- sive tackle Mazi Smith, cor- nerback DJ Turner, edge MIKE MORRIS and offensive lineman Ryan Hayes. Wide receiver Ron- nie Bell, tight end Luke Schoon- maker and punter Brad Robbins were three-stars, while offensive lineman Olu Oluwatimi and kicker Jake Moody were unranked. 10 Michigan edge rushers have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2017, with Mike Morris being the most recent. The Wolverines have had at least one edge rusher come off the board six of the last seven years. No. 11 Overall prospect for the 2023 NBA Draft is where analyst Sam Vecenie of The Athletic ranked U-M guard KOBE BUFKIN. Fellow Wolverine prospect Jett Howard stood No. 27. "Bufkin is the biggest mover up the board after having done more of a deep dive into his game following the season," Vecenie wrote. "Not only is he clearly Michigan's best prospect, but I have a lottery grade on him right now. There isn't really any- thing he does poorly." 15th Overall to the Las Vegas Raiders is where The Athletic analyst Dane Bru- gler projected junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his early 2024 NFL mock draft. Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins appeared No. 22 to the Baltimore Ra- vens, coached by John Harbaugh, older brother of U-M head man Jim Harbaugh. McCarthy was also a first-round pick in ESPN analyst Todd McShay's mock, going No. 20 to the Minnesota Vikings. "You don't need to squint to see the talent with McCarthy," Brugler wrote. "He is a loose athlete for his size with NFL-level arm strength and the poise to make plays." NUMBERS AND QUOTES ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 2nd Best offensive line in the country is where Michigan stands heading into the 2023 season, according to On3's Jesse Simonton. Georgia has the top-ranked group up front. U-M is the only Big Ten team to appear in the top 10. "The reigning back-to-back Joe Moore Award winners have a retooled OL unit that should still be among the nation's best in 2023," Simonton wrote. Simonton also ranked U-M the best running back group in the country, No. 2 at de- fensive line/edge rusher and No. 4 at linebacker. 16 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2023 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL GRAPHIC COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS