The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 16 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2024 NUMBERS AND QUOTES BY CLAYTON SAYFIE 9 Michigan football freshman early enrollees are participating in spring practices — quarterback Jadyn Davis (jersey No. 2), defensive back Jacob Oden (No. 5), linebacker Cole Sullivan (No. 18), tight end Brady Prieskorn (No. 22), linebacker Jeremiah Beasley (No. 23), edge Dominic Nich- ols (No. 33), offensive lineman Jake Guarnera (No. 53), offensive lineman Blake Frazier (No. 77) and tight end Hogan Hansen (No. 81). 10 Wolverines have won the Big Ten Men's Gymnast of the Year award, including Fred Richard in 2024. He owned the No. 1 all-around score in the NCAA with an 86.950 mark. On the women's side, U-M's Sierra Brooks took home Big Ten Women's Gymnast of the Year honors for a third consecutive season. 20th Is where Michigan quarterback J.J. MCCARTHY checks in on NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 draft prospect rankings list released April 3. He was the fourth signal-caller to appear, behind USC's Caleb Williams (No. 1), North Caro- lina's Drake Maye (No. 5) and LSU's Jayden Daniels (No. 6). "McCarthy is a lean, athletic quarterback with a live/loose arm," Jeremiah wrote. "He is very consistent because of his ability to always throw from a firm base, with his feet and eyes connected. He is selectively aggressive as a passer. He has the combination of velocity and accuracy to fit balls into tight windows, but he is also very comfortable taking checkdowns and piling up completions. He is very efficient. He shows the touch to take speed off the ball underneath and provide optimal run-after-catch ball location. The only throws that gave him some trouble were over-the-top outside shots, as he let too many of those leak and end up out of bounds. He is a very explosive straight- line runner. Overall, other quarterbacks in this class have more volume in the passing game, but it's hard to argue with McCarthy's results. I see some simi- larities to [former Utah and NFL quarter- back] Alex Smith coming out of college." I want to thank the former Michi- gan players, coaches and staffers. You guys built this place. I'm here to serve you and represent you as well as I can, but this is your program. I'm just a stew- ard, and I'm blessed to do that. I will represent this program with class and dignity, and that's something that we're never going to waver from. Michigan is a special place, because everyone's pulling in the same direction. We have a goal to develop young people and compete for champi- onships, and that goal will never change. "This is one place that everywhere you go, there's pride, respect and admiration for that block 'M,' for the brand of Michigan. I've never been at another university that had as much pride as every alum, student, whoever I come across has in this place. That's very, very unique." — Head basketball coach DUSTY MAY at his introductory press conference (pictured with athletics director Warde Manuel) I am very optimistic about what Dusty can bring to the Michi- gan basketball program and the university." — Former Michigan basketball head coach John Beilein on May (via "The HUGE Show") There are a lot of things that I have to grow in as a man, and last year just showed me what I need to do. I feel like I'm in a great spot." — Senior running back Donovan Edwards PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS