The Wolverine

December 2024

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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Over 140 pages including: ❱ In-depth features on Jim Harbaugh, Blake Corum and J.J. McCarthy, among others ❱ Exclusive highlights on the dynamic defensive line and the path to the championship ❱ Comprehensive game-by- game coverage ❱ Stunning photography, insightful columns, statistics and much more! Limited edition. While supplies last! Wolverines Parade Through Cold, CELEBRATE CELEBRATE GLORY GLORY At Crisler Center Players and fans alike displayed an enthusiasm unknown to mankind during a victory parade in Ann Arbor on Jan. 13. From l-r: Kris Jenkins, Mike Sainristil, J.J. McCarthy, Trevor Keegan, Zak Zinter, Blake Corum and coach Jim Harbaugh. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY 6-8.The Celebration.indd 6 6-8.The Celebration.indd 6 2/9/24 8:55 AM 2/9/24 8:55 AM 14 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E THE RISE OF MICHIGAN How The Wolverines Went From 2-4 To 40-3 BY JOHN BORTON M i c h i ga n p l u m b e d t h e depths of the Jim Har- baugh era only four sea- sons ago. The Wolverines seemingly death-spiraled to a 2-4 record, and many fans were not devastated that the latter half of the season got lost to COVID-19. Michigan hasn't lost four games since. The Wolverines stand as 15-0 undis- puted national champions. The president of the NCAA declared their national title to be won "fair and square." Clutch victories over Ohio State, Alabama and previously undefeated Washington — a daunting trio down the stretch — declared them domi- nant. Arguably the best season in Michigan football history capped an incredible 40-3 rampaging run over the past three seasons. How did it happen? How did a program getting run over by Ohio State, rife with questions on defense and seemingly far- ther than ever from its first College Foot- ball Playoff appearance become the big bully on the biggest stage? Let's take a look. J.J. McCarthy wasn't around for the cringe-worthy 2020 season, except on the look-in fringes. The now former Michigan quarterback committed to a program that registered one victory over the Buckeyes in 16 seasons. McCarthy saw enough in Michigan's coaching staff, facilities and potential to cast his lot with Harbaugh. After the national championship vic- tory, the soon-to-be NFL quarterback reflected on the beginnings of the rise. "I'd say we came a long way, but in or- der to accomplish things like this, you've got to go to those dark places where ev- erything's not great," he assured. 14-19.The Rise of Michigan.indd 14 14-19.The Rise of Michigan.indd 14 2/7/24 1:11 PM 2/7/24 1:11 PM 2 2 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E Junior J.J. McCarthy only threw for 140 yards against the Huskies but he added 31 yards on 4 carries to help push Michigan to the national title. PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CERITANO ONE & ONLY Michigan Captures Program's First Undisputed Title Since 1948 With 34-13 Win Over Washington 22-27.CFP Feature.indd 22 22-27.CFP Feature.indd 22 2/7/24 1:12 PM 2/7/24 1:12 PM 2 8 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WASHINGTON • JAN. 8, 2024 BY CHRIS BALAS P icking the brain of a Michigan staffer before the game on how he felt about the matchup with Washington, he told us what many prob- ably felt: "Especially if we get off to a good start," he said, "we feel really good about our chances." In the press box, the debate was what Michigan should do if it won the coin toss — take the ball and make a statement or defer and take its chances with the potent Huskies offense. Washington made the decision easy for U-M when it won the toss and deferred, giving the Wolverines the ball first with a chance to score the initial points in the national championship contest. And did they ever make a statement— one we'd really expected to see much of the year, but that really didn't show up until the final game. The Wolverines' offensive line opened huge holes with a duo scheme, creating great vertical push and allowing the running backs to read the linebackers and react. It was exactly what maligned Michigan running back Donovan Edwards needed to get his mojo back. He got to show his speed on touchdown runs of 41 and 46 yards that set the tone for the game, part of a first-quarter offensive explosion that — even though it wasn't known at the time — was enough on its own to win. That it was Blake Corum who won MVP honors and not Edwards shows just how dominant the Wolverines were, minus a somewhat typical mid-game lull. The se- nior ran for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries — "Business is finished!" he exclaimed from the championship podium after noting that "unfinished business" was the reason he returned — as part of a bullying on both sides of the ball. "Nothing fancy here," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "There was nothing surprising. It was just good old- fashioned teamwork, good old-fashioned hard work by these players and these coaches. None of us are up here taking a deep, long bow because we know this was just good old-fashioned teamwork." "Bunch of blue-collar guys," Corum added. COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL Score one for "manball," a word that had become a pejorative among some in the Michigan fan base in the latter part of Lloyd Carr's tenure. They wanted a flashy offense that could score points in seconds and run everyone off the field … yes, like Washing- ton's. ESPN analysts raised the Huskies' ire Sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (No. 78) — flanked by junior Josaiah Stewart (5) and classmate Mason Graham (55) — had U-M's lone sack in the national championship game, but the Wolverines' defense hit, hurried and harassed UW quarterback Michael Penix Jr. all evening. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF Michigan Demolishes Washington, 34-13, To Claim 'The Natty' 28-31.Game 15 - Washington.indd 28 28-31.Game 15 - Washington.indd 28 2/8/24 9:47 AM 2/8/24 9:47 AM THE WOLVERINE ❱ 3 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN SPECIAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP COMMEMORATIVE EDITION ISSN 1048-9940 Senior Writers Chris Balas John Borton Staff Writers Clayton Sayfie Anthony Broome EJ Holland Zach Libby Drew Hallett Contributing Editors Matt Herb Cathy Jones Chris Riffer Steve Downey Layout And Design Jeanette Blankenship Chris Miller Contributing Photographers Lon Horwedel, Per Kjeldsen, Dominick Sokotoff, Gabriella Ceritano, Michael Miller, Michigan Photography, Steve Manuel, Frank Hyatt Cover Photo Gabriella Ceritano Publishers Stu Coman Mark Panus Business Analyst Sarah Boone Business Manager Linda Autry Circulation Manager Crystal Clayton Advertising Sales Maria Taustine (502) 552-4390 Customer Service Cathy Jones Stephanie Petchers (800) 421-7751 The Wolverine Special Commemorative Edition is printed by Walsworth in St. Joseph, Mich. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. The Wolverine Special Commemorative Edition is a publication of Coman Publishing Company, a division of On3 Media, Inc., located at 905 W. Main St., Suite 24F, Durham, NC 27701. E-Mail Address: thewolverine@comanpub.com Website: www.thewolverineondemand.com 2023 Michigan Football Results DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME TV RESULT Sept. 2 EAST CAROLINA Ann Arbor 12 p.m. Peacock W, 30-3 Sept. 9 UNLV Ann Arbor 3:30 p.m. CBS W, 35-7 Sept. 16 BOWLING GREEN Ann Arbor 7:30 p.m. BTN W, 31-6 Sept. 23 RUTGERS Ann Arbor 12 p.m. BTN W, 31-7 Sept. 30 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 1:30 p.m. FOX W, 45-7 Oct. 7 at Minnesota Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. NBC W, 52-10 Oct. 14 INDIANA Ann Arbor 12 p.m. FOX W, 52-7 Oct. 21 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 7:30 p.m. NBC W, 49-0 Nov. 4 PURDUE Ann Arbor 7:30 p.m. NBC W, 41-13 Nov. 11 at Penn State State College, Pa. 12 p.m. FOX W, 24-15 Nov. 18 at Maryland College Park, Md. 12 p.m. FOX W, 31-24 Nov. 25 OHIO STATE Ann Arbor 12 p.m. FOX W, 30-24 Dec. 2 vs. Iowa* Indianapolis 8 p.m. FOX W, 26-0 Jan. 1 vs. Alabama# Pasadena, Calif. 5 p.m. ESPN W, 27-20 (OT) Jan. 8 vs. Washington^ Houston 7:30 p.m. ESPN W, 34-13 * Big Ten Championship, # Rose Bowl/CFP Semifinal, ^ CFP National Championship THE RISE OF MICHIGAN How The Wolverines Went From 2-4 To 40-3 PAGE 14 3-4.Contents.indd 3 3-4.Contents.indd 3 2/9/24 11:14 AM 2/9/24 11:14 AM 4 0 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E BY CHRIS BALAS W h e n i n te r i m a t h l e t i c s director Jim Hackett set out to make the hire that could change Michigan football's fortunes after seven years in the abyss (minus 2011's 11-2 season), he understood what most elite businessmen at the top of their profession know: With such a narrow focus on one can- didate, the consequences of a failure to land the top target could be catastrophic. To most Michigan fans, the program had already reached the bottom af- ter 2014's 5-7 mark under Brady Hoke in his fourth year (31-20 mark for four seasons). Three years of Rich Rodriguez (2008-2010, 15-22 record) had proven to be a high-risk, high-reward experi- ment that didn't work, and other than the Sugar Bowl championship season, Hoke couldn't turn it around, either. But Hackett, an esteemed Michigan alumnus and former CEO of world- renowned Steelcase in Grand Rapids, Mich., showed no hesitation in shooting for the candidate he believed to be the perfect fit to essentially save the program he loved. "We called it 'Project Unicorn,'" Hack- LEGACY COMPLETE Jim Harbaugh Accomplished Everything Expected And More In His Nine Years At Michigan 40-45.Harbaugh.indd 40 40-45.Harbaugh.indd 40 2/9/24 9:00 AM 2/9/24 9:00 AM 12 2 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E GAME 12 OHIO STATE • NOV. 25, 2023 BY JOHN BORTON J im Harbaugh himself said it, and not so very long ago: Michigan would beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten championship, "or die trying." The Wolverines are very much alive, thank you. Three beatdowns of the Buck- eyes, three Big Ten titles and a third con- secutive invitation to the College Football Playoff — this year as the No. 1 squad — render Harbaugh's vow truer and more pain-free than ever. Michigan football put in the time, the sweat and the sacrifice to rise out of a morass of great-season-until- OSU campaigns, and certainly well away from its 2020 nadir. Since that COVID-19 campaign thud- ded to a truncated finish, the Wolverines have roared to a 38-3 record, going 3-0 against the previously unbeatable Buck- eyes by a combined score of 117-74. Ryan Day's reported mocking vow to "hang 100" on Michigan has spun into a run- ning joke. Since those words were ut- tered, he's 0-3 against the Wolverines and must outshine his three-year average output against Harbaugh's crew (24.7) next season to hang 100 (over four games). This year, Michigan's 30-24 victory fea- tured all the recently familiar elements of U-M victory. A tight game at the half, the Wolverines pressing their advantage in the trenches and Harbaugh's squad — even without Harbaugh on the sideline — mak- ing the big plays down the stretch. In other words, the old saying about the worm … the man in the block M ball cap knows it well. "The worm has turned," Harbaugh crowed after U-M nailed down a third straight Big Ten championship with a 26-0 shutout of Iowa. "These Michigan football players, when you look back at the history of Michigan football, wrote the book on getting the worm to turn. The worm is pretty slippery. That thing can start wiggling back and forth and turning back on you. "The hook got put in it. The hook got put in the worm. They've written the book on how to do it." Hooking the Buckeyes proved the key element. Harbaugh, Chris Wormley, Jabrill Pep- THREE THREE AND AND COUNTING COUNTING Michigan Takes A Classic, 30-24, And Confirms Upper Hand Against The Buckeyes 122-125.Feature - Ohio State.indd 122 122-125.Feature - Ohio State.indd 122 2/8/24 10:55 AM 2/8/24 10:55 AM FEATURES LEGACY COMPLETE ......... 40 Jim Harbaugh Takes Michigan To The Top RESOLUTION & REPETITION ................. 50 Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Manifested The National Title THE NATURAL .................. 54 Captain Mike Sainristil's Pick Seals Title Win BULLY BALL ..................... 58 U-M's Defensive Line Was The Difference PATIENCE AND FAITH ....... 62 How Donovan Edwards' Mental Health Journey Paid Off On The Biggest Stage 'PHENOMENAL' ................ 64 Sophomore Cornerback Will Johnson Makes Big-Time Plays In National Title Run OFFENSE ......................... 66 Consistency, Efficiency Key To Success DEFENSE ......................... 70 Dominating On The Way To The Title SPECIAL TEAMS ............... 74 Specialists All Business In Transitional Year GAME SUMMARIES East Carolina ..................................76 UNLV ..............................................80 Bowling Green ................................84 Rutgers ...........................................88 at Nebraska ....................................92 at Minnesota ...................................96 Indiana ..........................................100 at Michigan State ..........................104 Purdue ..........................................108 at Penn State .................................112 at Maryland ..................................118 Ohio State .....................................122 vs. Iowa (Big Ten Championship) .130 COLUMNS Wolverine Watch • John Borton .........9 Sayfie Blitz • Clayton Sayfie ..........136 Into The Blue • EJ Holland .............137 Maize & Broome • Anthony Broome 138 Inside The Numbers • Drew Hallett 144 Inside Michigan • Chris Balas .......146 ALSO INSIDE The Celebration ..............................6 Numbers & Quotes ........................ 10 Michigan Roster .......................... 139 Final 2023 Statistics ..................... 140 Honors & Awards ........................ 142 Leaders And Best ........................ 143 PHOTO BY GABREILLA CERITANO PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF 4 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E One & Only Michigan Demolishes Washington, 34-13, To Claim National Championship PAGE 22 A GreAt ride Blake Corum Spearheads Michigan's Run To Glory PAGE 46 COminG Up rOses U-M Slays The Giant, Defeats Alabama, 27-20, In Overtime Thriller In Rose Bowl PAGE 32 3-4.Contents.indd 4 3-4.Contents.indd 4 2/9/24 10:35 AM 2/9/24 10:35 AM 3 0 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E BY CLAYTON SAYFIE T he Wolverines blew out Washington in the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston, victors by a 34-13 score. Here are the key highlights from the con- test. CHAMPS AGAIN, FINALLY Michigan won its 12th-ever national championship, first since 1997 and first outright title since 1948. The Wolverines won 15 games, the most in any season in program history, and are one of only six college football teams in history to finish 15-0 or better. The Wolverines overcame adversity, in- cluding not having their head coach for six games, by continuing to win despite some outside forces working against them. They're champs again. "Ann Arbor is [likely] on fire, Michigan fans are going wild, the team's celebration will be 'lit,'" per junior safety Rod Moore … as it all should be. Order has been restored. The Wolverines are back on top. STANDING ON FINISHED BUSINESS Michigan senior running back Blake Co- rum proclaimed that the unfinished busi- ness he and others came back for has now been completed. The Wolverines spoke this one into exis- tence, with "Houston or bust" signs inside Schembechler Hall and predictions like Corum's at a basketball game last February. "We're going to win the national cham- pionship and go down in history," Corum said then. He backed it up. They all did. Corum certainly wasn't alone in returning, and this group made it worth each other's while to do it. FAST START AND THE DON IS BACK Michigan had to start fast, considering Washington's offense is dangerous and can score in the blink of an eye. Within 13 min- utes, U-M had two touchdown runs from junior running back Donovan Edwards on the board and led 17-3 less than two min- utes into the second quarter. Entering the title game, Edwards' lon- Michigan's swarming defense — including (l-r) Josaiah Stewart, Mike Sainristil, Junior Colson, Michael Barrett and Derrick Moore — bottled up quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and held the high- flying Washington offense to 24.6 points below its season scoring average. PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CERITANO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WASHINGTON • JAN. 8, 2024 Game Notes Versus The Huskies JUNIOR RB DONOVAN EDWARDS This season was not easy for the junior from West Bloomfield, Mich., who had to mentally re-adjust to sharing backfield duties with Corum for one more year. The consummate teammate stayed prepared and focused for his opportunity and ran with it in the biggest game of his life. Edwards finished the title bout with 6 carries for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns — from 41 and 46 yards out in the first quarter. Edwards' opportunities were limited, but he made the most of his chances when the lights were the brightest. History will show the gaudy numbers, but some may forget he was the third running back into the game behind Corum and Kalel Mullings. "The Don" kept his legacy of step- ping up in big games intact. — Chris Balas SENIOR RB BLAKE CORUM Corum returned to Michigan for the 2023 season citing "unfinished busi- ness" in hopes of pursuing a national championship. When the clocks hit zero and the confetti rained down on the field at NRG Stadium in Houston, Corum was able to declare "business finished" after a blowout win that was led by the run game. Corum finished the contest with 21 carries for 134 yards, including a 59- yard run in the first quarter, and 2 touchdowns. His two scores in the game were his 27th and 28th of the season, setting a program record. The na- tional title performance entrenches him in stone as one of the best players in U-M football's storied history. — Anthony Broome HC JIM HARBAUGH AND DC JESSE MINTER Hoisting a CFP National Championship trophy was what Harbaugh and others envisioned when he signed on in December 2014. After nine wildly successful years mixed with a few setbacks here and there, Harbaugh got the last laugh in the win over Washington and grabbed the biggest prize in college football. It was a rewarding season that allows him now to sit at "the big kids' table" with his father, Jack, and brother, John, who won a national championship at Western Kentucky and a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Minter's game plan against an explosive Washington offense, led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., was the key to everything. The Huskies had one touchdown drive in 14 possessions in the game, and Penix was con- tinually rattled and thrown off by pressures and mixed coverages all night. Minter took the U-M defense to the next level this year, and he deserves the praise as much as anyone. — Clayton Sayfie GAME BALLS 28-31.Game 15 - Washington.indd 30 28-31.Game 15 - Washington.indd 30 2/8/24 9:47 AM 2/8/24 9:47 AM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AWARDS Blake Corum, RB CFP National Championship Offensive Player of the Game Will Johnson, CB CFP National Championship Defensive Player of the Game J.J. McCarthy, QB CFP/Rose Bowl Offensive MVP Mason Graham, DT CFP/Rose Bowl Defensive MVP MICHIGAN TEAM 144 • College Football Playoff National Champions • Associated Press National Champions • AFCA Coaches' Trophy • MacArthur Bowl Trophy — National Football Foundation • Rose Bowl Champions • Big Ten Conference Champions CAPTAINS • Michael Barrett, LB, Valdosta, Ga. • Blake Corum, RB, Marshall, Va. • Kris Jenkins, DT, Olney, Md. • Trevor Keegan, OG, Crystal Lake, Ill. • Mike Sainristil, DB, Everett, Mass. • Zak Zinter, OG, North Andover, Mass. 2023 HONORS & AWARDS 142 ❱ T H E WOLV E R I N E 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 Grange-Griffin Championship Game MVP: Mike Sainristil 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 Stewart (coaches) CB Josh Wallace (coaches and media) S Makari Paige (coaches) KR/PR Semaj Morgan (coaches and media) Player Outlet Team Zak Zinter*, OG Associated Press First AFCA First FWAA First Sporting News First Walter Camp First Sports Illustrated First The Athletic First ESPN First CBS Sports Second Blake Corum, RB AFCA First FWAA Second Walter Camp Second FOX Sports Second USA Today Second Associated Press Third CBS Sports Third Player Outlet Team Mike Sainristil, DB Sporting News First ESPN First Fox Sports First Sports Illustrated Second Kris Jenkins, DT AFCA Second FWAA Second Associated Press Third CBS Sports Third Mason Graham, DT Sporting News Second Will Johnson, CB Sports Illustrated First The Athletic Second USA Today Second ALL-AMERICANS NATIONAL AWARDS * Unanimous first-team All-American, recognized by each of the five outlets the NCAA uses to determine consensus and unanimous status (Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Foundation) Blake Corum, RB AFCA Good Works Team (Captain) CSC Comeback Player of the Year Junior Colson, LB Lott IMPACT Trophy IMAGE COURTESY MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 142-143.Honors and Awards.indd 142 142-143.Honors and Awards.indd 142 2/8/24 11:41 AM 2/8/24 11:41 AM Relive every glorious moment of Michigan's championship season with this exclusive commemorative edition! 2023 National Champions Commemorative Edition Written by the staff of The Wolverine, this commemorative edition celebrates Michigan's remarkable 2023 season and its 2024 College Football Playoff national championship run. Order NOW to time your gift's arrival in the holiday season. Hurry, quantities are limited! U-M players received our book at their ring presentation this spring. PERFECT GIFT FOR MICHIGAN FANS!

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