The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1514918
42 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2024 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL U-M SENDING EIGHT PLAYERS TO 2024 REESE'S SENIOR BOWL Eight key players from the 2023 sea- son will head to Mobile, Ala., on Feb. 3 for the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl, it was announced days after the team's national title game. The list of Michigan attendees in- cludes tight end AJ Barner, linebacker Michael Barrett, outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell, offensive tackle LaDar- ius Henderson, offensive guard Trevor Keegan, defensive end Braiden Mc- Gregor, defensive back Mike Sainristil and wide receiver Roman Wilson. Barrett, Henderson and Sainristil en- tered the event after their college eli- gibility lapsed this past season. Barrett was in Ann Arbor for six years and was a third-team All-Big Ten linebacker. Henderson made 10 starts at left tackle in 14 appearances and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and second-team by the media. Sain- ristil spent the last two seasons playing nickel defensive back and had a team- high 6 interceptions in 2023, being named first-team All-Big Ten and a CBS Sports All-American. Keegan was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten performer and could have returned for a sixth season, but he de- cided to enter the all-star showcase. Barner, an Indiana transfer ahead of the 2023 campaign, finished the sea- son with 22 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown while playing in tandem with sophomore Colston Loveland. McGregor finished the season with 4.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, earning an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod. Wilson had a career-high 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, grabbing second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media. Barner, McGregor and Wilson all had the option to return for a fifth season. The Senior Bowl is considered the top collegiate football all-star game for up- perclassmen and one of the first major steps on the road to the NFL Draft. It is the longest continually running prospect showcase game, having been held in Mo- bile for the last 74 years. Last season, the event produced 100 total draft picks for the third straight year, good for around 40 percent of the players selected. A new rule was passed this year al- lowing selected underclassmen to per- form in the event with an invite, but none were extended to any draft-eligi- ble third-year players from Ann Arbor. The Senior Bowl is helmed by execu- tive director Jim Nagy, a 1996 Michigan graduate. Before his appointment, he worked 17 years in NFL front offices, spending his time with Washington (2001-02), New England (2002-09), Kansas City (2009-13) and Seattle (2013-18). The week is headlined by practices and meetings with NFL teams ahead of the NFL Combine, which is set for Indi- anapolis from Feb. 29 through March 3. — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN ADDS TWO STANDOUTS FROM TRANSFER PORTAL Amid its run to the national champi- onship, Michigan reeled in two talented Big Ten players from the NCAA trans- fer portal in former Maryland linebacker Jaishawn Barham (Dec. 20) and former Northwestern offensive lineman Josh Priebe (Dec. 28). Barham, who has two years of eligibil- ity remaining, provides the Wolverines much-needed experience at linebacker with both Michael Barrett (out of eligibil- ity) and Junior Colson (declared after his junior season) headed to the NFL. The 6-4, 233-pounder was the No. 75 over- Grad offensive tackle LaDarius Henderson (73) and senior tight end AJ Barner (89) are among the eight Wolverine NFL Draft prospects who earned invites to the Reese's Senior Bowl on Feb. 3. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER