The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526802
16 THE WOLVERINE ❱ OCTOBER 2024 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 9 Rookies from Michigan appeared on the two-deep of NFL depth charts entering the 2024 season, more than any other college. The Wolverine first-year pros who were on two-deeps coming into the year were linebacker JUNIOR COLSON (Los Angeles Chargers), running back Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams), defensive end Jaylen Harrell (Tennessee Titans), defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (Cincinnati Bengals), offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (Philadelphia Eagles), cornerback Mike Sainristil (Washington Commanders), cornerback Josh Wallace (Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Roman Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers) and offensive lineman Zak Zinter (Cleveland Browns). 2 High school junior quarterbacks were named preseason first-team All-Americans by MaxPreps, in- cluding Cocoa (Fla.) High four-star U-M pledge BRADY HART, who was joined by Folsom (Calif.) High's Ryder Lyons. Hart is the No. 97 overall player and ninth-best signal- caller in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. 34th In the country is where Michigan men's basketball checks in on Bart Torvik's national preseason ratings. That's seventh in the Big Ten, behind Purdue (16th), Michigan State (17th), Rutgers (18th), Illinois (20th), Indiana (30th) and UCLA (32nd). 48th Is where Michigan junior cornerback Will John- son ranks among college football players with a $775,000 On3 NIL Valuation (as of Sept. 15). Three other Wolverines are in the top 100 — senior edge Josaiah Stewart (72nd; $672,000), junior tight end Colston Loveland (78th; $659,000) and junior defensive tackle Mason Graham (79th; $658,000). 9.35 Million average viewers for Michigan's game against Texas Sept. 7, the top college football audience through two weeks of the 2024 campaign. Only five regular-season games drew more viewers in 2023, including the Wolverines' rivalry game with Ohio State, which was the highest-rated game with 19.07 million sets of eyeballs. $50 Million is the amount four former Michigan football players are seeking in a filed class-action law- suit against the NCAA and Big Ten Network. The plaintiffs are former wide receiver Braylon Edwards, quarterback Denard Robinson, defen- sive tackle Mike Martin and outside linebacker Shawn Crable. The suit claims that the NCAA and Big Ten Network profited off past Michigan football athletes by "broadcasting, advertis- ing, and selling merchandise featuring their performances" without receiving the athletes' consent or providing financial compensation. "He is a physical specimen, in all types of ways. He's super quiet, and so that makes him a little more mysteri- ous and scary. [Senior tight end/fullback] Max Bredeson said it's the hardest dude he's ever hit — and Max Bredeson likes to hit. But Max is like, 'That dude is like a wall.'" — Head coach Sherrone Moore on junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham Look, we haven't had to deal with a crisis on the field for Michigan football in a few years here. This is going to challenge them in ways that they haven't been challenged. It's been a long time since they'd lost a game, and it's been an even longer time since they'd lost a game like that. Crisis management is a skill set that this staff has to show." — Radio play-by-play commentator Doug Karsch after the Wolverines' loss to Texas The thing that jumps out to me is he wants to elevate everyone — coaches, players, especially the play- ers. You ask him how many times he talks to the team. He talks to the team in a team meeting, but he's always talking to the team — by position groups, on the field, he'll come and sit in meet- ings. And the thing that you can see, if you have experience, is how the kids react to him when he's in the room and when he's around them. I think that's pretty cool." — Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale on the "Pat McAfee Show" discussing head coach Sherrone Moore It felt great, just to be back out there and just to move around. I felt like a kid again, almost, like a big kid. I was so happy. — Senior defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny on his 2-TFL, 1-sack performance against Fresno State, his first game back after injuring his leg in the Rose Bowl PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PHOTO COURTESY LOS ANGELES CHARGERS NUMBERS AND QUOTES BY CLAYTON SAYFIE