The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL some transfers on both lines of scrim- mage, including a pass rusher, that should shore up some of the things that they've lost. "They've done a really good job in the transfer portal the last couple of years, particularly on the lines of scrimmage. They've got their running backs coming back, plus a couple of wide receivers that might even be bigger threats. A transfer tight end from Indiana, I believe. "If I had to fill out the ballot right now based on what I know, the type of produc- tion I know I'm going to get, I think I'd put Michigan No. 1." Michigan's odds to win the 2023 na- tional title sit at +1000 as of May 9, be- hind Georgia (+220), Ohio State (+600) and Alabama (+600). — Anthony Broome COLE CABANA, MYLES HINTON ARE NEARING FULL HEALTH Michigan early enrollee running back Cole Cabana was off to a strong start dur- ing spring ball, until a knee injury about midway through held him out the rest of the way. However, he's nearing full health as the summer training cycle approaches. "I'm just about at 100 percent right now," Cabana revealed to The Wolverine May 4. "It was just something minor." He was happy with how he performed prior to going down. "I feel like I was doing a pretty good job," the Dexter (Mich.) High product said. "The playbook is definitely a little difficult to pick up on, but I'm getting used to it. As spring was going on, I was getting bet- ter and better, for sure, and I was making some pretty big plays. Overall, I think I had a big spring." The 6-foot, 180-pounder is one of two freshman running backs on the roster, along with Benjamin Hall, who also en- rolled early and racked up 96 yards and 1 touchdown in the April 1 spring game. The Wolverines have a dynamic duo in senior Blake Corum and junior Donovan Edwards at the top of the heap, and Cabana hopes he and Hall are a similarly formidable tan- dem down the road. "Ben and I are kind of the next little generation of Blake and 'Dono' in how we're supposed to be used," Cabana noted. "I'm more like Donovan — catching the ball, quicker. And Ben is just like Blake. He can bang the rock. I'm really excited about our future and excited to start playing." Cabana doesn't just view himself as similar to Edwards — the Michigan staff is planning to use him that way. He can play in the slot and in the backfield, and he did so this spring. "We do a lot of empty stuff, so I've been running the ball, catching the ball, just a lot of different stuff," Cabana revealed. Known for his speed — he ran a 10.55-second 100-meter dash in high school — Cabana was a dangerous weapon from multiple positions as a prep player at Dexter High. He said he'd like to compete at kick and punt returner, after Michigan lost A.J. Henning to the transfer portal following spring practices. Senior offensive tackle Myles Hinton, a Stanford transfer, also told The Wolverine he's close to being 100 percent and expects to be by the end of May. He was limited in the spring with a shoulder injury he suf- fered last season with the Cardinal. Hinton said he could play either tackle spot, even though he only saw time on the right side for Stanford. The Wolverines have two returning players who've started games at tackle in graduates Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones, neither of whom are planning on conceding a starting job. The competition should be fierce, but Hinton is excited for the challenge. "My mentality is just nose to the grind- stone and just working," Hinton stated. "If I work the best I can do, then I'll get the job, but you never know." Both newcomers, Cabana and Hinton, could impact this fall. — Clayton Sayfie FOUR U-M PLAYERS EXIT VIA TRANSFER PORTAL U-M was bitten by the transfer portal when the spring period opened, losing a pair of former defensive starters in line- backer Nikhai Hill-Green and safety RJ Moten. Hill-Green is headed to Charlotte, and Moten to Florida. Both have two years of eligibility remaining. Additionally, senior wide receiver/re- turn man A.J. Henning and sophomore safety Damani Dent also entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of spring drills. Henning will stay in the Big Ten and play at Northwestern this fall. Hours after entering the portal, Hill- Green revealed that he would be play- ing for former Michigan staffer and high school head coach Biff Poggi. He is the second Wolverine this offseason to fol- low Poggi to Charlotte, joining pass rusher Eyabi Okie. Hill-Green had been working on re-en- tering the competition at linebacker this spring for Michigan, but now gives U-M the opportunity to play its younger pieces. A soft tissue injury in 2022 forced Hill- Green, who played 14 games and made six starts in 2021, into a support role. He did not play in game action last season for the Wolverines. Moten racked up 31 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception and 2 pass breakups as a junior in 2022, starting 10 of 13 games. His playing time was dialed back as the season went on due to the emer- gence of Makari Paige and his own tackling issues. He joins former Michigan linebacker Deuce Spurlock, who also transferred this offseason, at Florida. His father, Ron Mo- ten, played for the Gators and was a sixth- round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. Henning was a two-time All-Big Ten selection as a return specialist (second team, coaches and media in 2022) and ap- peared in 33 career games for U-M. He had 25 career receptions for 198 yards to go along with 15 carries for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henning also returned 17 kicks for 241 yards and a touchdown in his career, while adding 57 punt returns for 475 yards and another score. Dent was redshirted and did not see game action last fall. — Anthony Broome 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Location/Time (TV) Sept. 2 EAST CAROLINA Ann Arbor Sept. 9 UNLV Ann Arbor Sept. 16 BOWLING GREEN Ann Arbor Sept. 23 RUTGERS Ann Arbor Sept. 30 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Oct. 7 at Minnesota Minneapolis Oct. 14 INDIANA Ann Arbor Oct. 21 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. Oct. 28 Bye — Nov. 4 PURDUE Ann Arbor Nov. 11 at Penn State University Park, Pa. Nov. 18 at Maryland College Park, Md. Nov. 25 OHIO STATE Ann Arbor Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship Indianapolis