The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513253
34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2024 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL lined by Big Ten Quarterback of the Year J.J. Mc- Carthy and Big Ten Running Back of the Year Blake Corum. McCarthy's nod makes him the first quarterback in Michigan history to win the award since its incep- tion in 2011. McCarthy threw for 2,483 yards with 19 touchdowns and 4 interceptions during the regu- lar season, completing 74.3 percent of his passes at 9.7 yards per attempt. He holds a 24-1 record as a starter at Michigan. Corum's recognition as the best running back in the conference marks the second year in a row he has won the award. He is the fourth player in Big Ten history to win the award twice, joining Wisconsin's Montee Ball (2011-12) and Jonathan Taylor (2018- 19), and Penn State's Saquon Barkley (2016-17). Corum has 976 yards rushing and an FBS-leading 22 rushing scores, a single-season program record, this year. He is also this year's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. — Anthony Broome LINEBACKERS COACH CHRIS PARTRIDGE FIRED AFTER NCAA PLAYER INTERVIEWS The Michigan athletics department fired lineback- ers coach Chris Partridge Nov. 17, one day before the team played at Maryland and notched its 1,000th all-time victory, amid the ongoing NCAA investigation into the Wolverines for alleged illegal off-campus scouting. "Effective today, Chris Partridge has been relieved of his duties as a member of the Michigan football staff," Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "[Defensive analyst] Rick Minter will serve as the team's linebackers coach. … Due to employee privacy laws, we are unable to comment further." Head coach Jim Harbaugh first hired Partridge in 2015. He was in his fifth season as a member of the Wolverines' coaching staff and his sixth year with the program overall in 2023. He was rehired Feb. 8, 2023, to begin his second tenure at U-M, to coach the linebackers. According to Yahoo Sports, someone provided evidence to the NCAA on others potentially involved in funding the sign-steal- ing operation and on Partridge "attempting to destroy computer evidence" pertaining to the in- vestigation, not involvement in Connor Stalions' activities. Partridge later released a statement of his own Nov. 27 saying that some media reports on the matter were inaccurate and shedding some light on his termination. "Out of deep respect and consideration for the young men of Team 144, I waited to issue this state- ment to avoid additional distractions to the Team as they achieved their goal of defeating Ohio State and completing an undefeated regular season," Partridge began. "Unfortunately, the manner in which the termi- nation of my employment and my role as a coach at Michigan has been reported is inaccurate and has resulted in people speculating and making as- sumptions about my knowledge of, and connection to, the sign-stealing allegations within the football program. I want to be clear: I had no knowledge whatsoever of any in-person or illegal scouting, or illegal sign stealing. Additionally, at no point did I de- stroy evidence related to an ongoing investigation. "As explained to me by Michigan Athletic Direc- tor Warde Manuel in person on the morning of November 17, 2023, and as set forth in my ter- mination letter of the same date, signed by Doug Gnodtke, Michigan Athletics Chief of Staff, I was terminated because of a failure 'to abide by the University directive not to discuss an ongoing NCAA investigation with anyone associated with the Mich- igan Football Program.' "I take pride in being a trusted mentor to the ath- letes that I coach. One of my core values is to be a source of support, through thick and thin, for each and every student-athlete that I am responsible for. I have never wavered from that responsibility. While I am extremely disappointed by the University's de- cision to terminate my employment, their decision does not change my continued love and support of Coach Jim Harbaugh the coaches and the players of Team 144 as they continue on their quest for a National Championship!" — Chris Balas BIG TEN HONORS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS • Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year: J.J. McCarthy • Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year: Blake Corum • Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Winner: Blake Corum ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS Offense Pos. Honorees QB Jr. J.J. McCarthy – 1st, coaches and media RB Sr. Blake Corum – 1st, coaches and media WR Sr. Roman Wilson – 2nd, coaches and media TE So. Colston Loveland – 1st, coaches; 2nd, media OL Gr. Drake Nugent – 1st, coaches and media Sr. Zak Zinter – 1st, coaches and media Gr. LaDarius Henderson – 1st, coaches; 2nd, media Gr. Trevor Keegan – 2nd, coaches and media Gr. Karsen Barnhart – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Defense DL So. Mason Graham – 1st, coaches; 3rd, media Sr. Kris Jenkins – 2nd, coaches and media So. Kenneth Grant – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media LB Jr. Junior Colson – 2nd, coaches and media Gr. Michael Barrett – 3rd, coaches; HM media DB So. Will Johnson – 1st, coaches and media Gr. Mike Sainristil – 2nd, coaches; 1st, media Jr. Rod Moore – 3rd, coaches; HM media Special Teams K Gr. James Turner – 2nd, coaches; HM media P Jr. Tommy Doman – 3rd, coaches; HM media Honorable Mention WR Cornelius Johnson (media), TE AJ Barner (coaches and media), DL Jaylen Harrell (coaches and media), DL Braiden McGregor (coaches and media), DL Derrick Moore (coaches and media), DL Josaiah Stew - art (coaches), CB Josh Wallace (coaches and media), S Makari Paige (coaches) and KR/PR Semaj Morgan (coaches and media). Junior J.J. McCarthy (9) and senior Blake Corum (2) earned the Big Ten Quarterback and Running Back of the Year awards, respectively, playing behind an offensive line stocked with All-Big Ten performers including Drake Nugent (60) and Karsen Barnhart (52). PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER