Michigan

Four-star LB not rushing decision, and that may be a good thing for Michigan

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2024

Four-star LB not rushing decision, and that may be a good thing for Michigan

We’ve hit the middle of the summer, a key time in the recruiting calendar for the Michigan Wolverines. In this edition of the Recruiting Roundup, we’ll discuss a four-star linebacker Michigan has been heavily pursuing, and two 2026 prospects planning to be on campus soon.

Four-star LB taking his time, and it may be a good thing for U-M

Four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng has been a top priority for the Wolverines’ 2025 pursuits in recent months. He went on his official visit last month and he also visited back in May.

Owusu-Boateng has also been on other official visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC, and Florida is hoping to get him on campus soon. In a recent interview with On3’s Chad Simmons ($), he touched on what his priorities are in finding the right school.

“My top three things are education, life after football and relationships,” Owusu-Boateng said. “It is a tight race with my top schools and I could go to any of the five schools on my list. The fall will be important to me.”

Owusu-Boateng, ranked 72nd overall in his class on the 247Sports composite, mentioned Michigan’s recent success is a reason why he could see himself thriving in Ann Arbor.

“My connections are real with each school,” he said. “At Michigan, I love how the players compete and lead. They have that chip on their coaches are great. They are on top and will look to continue to win championships.”

Owusu-Boateng also mentioned he is a man of his word and that when he commits, his recruitment is shut down. But he’s not rushing the big decision.

“My plan was to always take my time and not rush anything, so I will continue to talk to these schools and figure out where is best for me,” the linebacker said. “This is not a short-term decision, it is a long-term decision, so I will take all the time I need.”

This could be a good thing for the Wolverines. He’s a Notre Dame legacy prospect, so most experts thought if he committed somewhere soon, it would be to the Irish. The longer this plays out, the better for the Wolverines.

Top-200 RB wants to visit Michigan this fall, possibly with

Michigan has been a premiere destination for running backs in recent years, and with new running backs coach Tony Alford in place, a few 2025 backs — four-stars Jasper Parker and Donovan Johnson — have committed already.

Michigan is still looking to land their first 2026 running back, and that could very well be four-star Javian Mallory, a Boca Raton, Florida native ranked 176th in his class and 13th among running backs. Mallory initially was going to visit for the BBQ at the Big House, but now appears to be planning a gameday visit.

“My family and I spoke to coach Alford (recently) and just decided to come up for some games this year because it was going to be a lot to get up there (in July),” Mallory told The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich ($). “(I’m looking to make) either the Texas, USC or Oregon game. Coach Alford and I talk pretty often. Last time we talked about coming up for a game was Sunday.”

As was the case with Parker and Johnson, Alford’s relationship with Mallory plays a key role in this recruitment, but another important relationship is with 2026 four-star quarterback commit Brady Hart. The two have formed a bond, especially ever since Hart committed to Michigan last month.

“Attending a Michigan game together is a possibility definitely,” Mallory said.

In-state tight end planning to visit for BBQ at the Big House

A ton of players will be in Ann Arbor for the BBQ at the Big House later this month, which has been Michigan’s biggest recruiting event of the summer for quite some time now. One player who is expected to be there is 2026 three-star tight end Lincoln Keyes, as reported by 247Sports’ Steve Lorenz ($).

Keyes, ranked just outside the top-400 in his class on the composite, has picked up offers recently from Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Michigan State and Ohio State, among others. Oddly enough, the Saline native has not yet picked up an offer from Michigan. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him walk away from the BBQ with an offer, so perhaps Grant Newsome and company can catch up to where some of the other programs are at later this month.

Quick Hitters

Jordan Young, a 2025 top-100 four-star safety who recently took his official visit to Michigan, included the Wolverines in his top-four, along with Clemson, Florida State and NC State. There are three Crystal Ball predictions in favor of Clemson.
Five-star interior offensive lineman Lamar Brown, who is ranked fifth in the 2026 class, included Michigan in his top-12.

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Related Topics:a and be brew decision Featured for four front page good LB Maize May michigan Michigan Football Recruiting Michigan football recruiting news n not Rushing star that thing

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Michigan

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Published

10 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Michigan will enter East Lansing as a sizable favorite over rival Michigan State this weekend. The Wolverines have defeated MSU in the past three contests and Michigan is expected to do the same this weekend. Now, with rivalry games, anything can happen, but there is a clear talent discrepancy.

Michigan knows it has to win out if the Wolverines hope to make the College Football Playoff and MSU has really struggled, losing its last four games.

While Michigan is expected to win the game, who covers the spread? The Wolverines are now a 14.5 point favorite, and Fox analyst Joel Klatt helped break down the game and gave his opinion on the line.

Klatt believes Michigan is going to win this game, but again, it’s a rivalry game, and the Spartans should throw everything at the Wolverines. Jonathan Smith could go deep in the playbook to pull out some trickery. While Klatt sees Michigan winning the game, he thinks Michigan State will cover.

“The only thing for me on the Michigan State side is that this is a kitchen sink type of game. You throw the kitchen sink at Michigan, you’re at home. It’s a rivalry game,” said Klatt.

“And let’s face it, Michigan has not run away from anybody this year. So the 14.5 looks like a big number. The score that I land on is Michigan 30 -17, which means a 13-point win, which means I’m going to take the home points for Michigan State.”

Klatt talked about how Michigan unlocked the ‘Rubik’s Cube’ last weekend against Washington. It was a vintage Michigan win. The Wolverines blocked well, ran the ball hard, and QB Bryce Underwood played as efficiently as he had all season. Andrew Marsh has emerged as a top target for Underwood and the Wolverines’ defense was fantastic.

Michigan State doesn’t do anything well on the defensive end. Run defense is poor and Jordan Marshall could be in store for a big game. While Klatt is correct that MSU could pull out all the stops, Michigan is still the better team.

14.5 points is a lot on the road against a rival, but if the Wolverines play their game, against a struggling MSU defense, Michigan should be able to get it done.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER

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Michigan

Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

TROY, Mich. (FOX 2) – The backbone of Michigan’s economy has and continues to be manufacturing, which is why two times a year the state sends 10 small businesses overseas only to return with new customers.

Big picture view:

It’s all thanks to Troy’s Automation Alley and it has worked to the tune of $2.3 billion in new business.

This story starts in the middle with, well, the middle man.

“We want to see our children stay here like everybody,” said Tom Kelly, the CEO of Automation Alley. “And we have to create vibrant communities. One of the backbones of Michigan is manufacturing.”

Kelly leads the team at Automation Alley in Troy. Think of them as the bridge that brings Michigan manufacturers directly to the customers.

“There are 12,000 manufacturers in Michigan, we have 4,000 as members,” he said.

He says they have a formula that is proven – and works.

“We take them to these foreign countries, we set up appointments with companies that want to buy their products, and we help them close the deals,” he said. “Since we started, we have generated over $2.3 billion dollars for small manufacturers.”

The two trips coming up with take ten of these small businesses to Querétaro, Mexico in February and Paris, France in June of next year.

“By the way, here’s the kicker, it’s actually subsidized by the State of Michigan,” Kelly said. “So we can cover up to half of your travel expenses on these trade missions because guess what? It’s a huge win for the State of Michigan if you become a net exporter of your product to other countries.”

For those who may be thinking this is only a free trip – think again. Automation Alley has been putting on these trade missions for years.

“We have the relationships, we know who they should be meeting with, and people are people all over the world,” Kelly said.

Those relationships usually lead to lasting relationships, he added.

Automation Alley is an non-profit funded through donor businesses who know the value of Michigan manufacturing.

While the trade missions are important, it’s not all the only thing that happens here.

“Trade missions are only twice a year,” Kelly said. “We have programming all year long that helps you understand Artificial Intelligence, help you make a choice on what robot should I buy. What kind of systems do I need to consider, what are my peers doing in manufacturing that I can emulate and be successful like them.

“All of these things are available free of charge to all 12,000 manufactures in the State of Michigan.”

If you’d like to find out how to sign up your business to take advantage of the trade missions or other programs, just visit automationalley.com

The Source: Information for this report is from an interview with Tom Kelly, the CEO of Automation Alley.

Small BusinessTroyMichigan

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Michigan

Warren mayor says running Michigan’s 3rd-largest city full of ‘challenges and surprises’

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Warren mayor says running Michigan’s 3rd-largest city full of ‘challenges and surprises’

Warren ― Warren Mayor Lori Stone touted the city’s new defense alliance with Sterling Heights, infrastructure improvements and progress in constructing affordable housing, among other achievements, in her annual State of the City address Tuesday evening.

Stone mentioned the Arsenal Alliance, a regional economic development partnership that is focused on supporting and expanding the multi-billion-dollar defense industry in the two Macomb County cities. The Sterling Heights and Warren city councils approved the partnership in April.

“We are stronger together in growing military and defense assets, providing opportunities for manufacturing to adapt to a changing mobility landscape,” she said.

Stone, who was elected mayor in November 2023, gave her second State of the City address on Tuesday to a crowd of over 100 people at the Warren Community Center Auditorium. She shared the city’s achievements from the past year in economic development, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and other areas.

“Leading the third largest city in Michigan has brought me many joyful and jubilant experiences,” she said, “and it has also brought challenges and surprises.”

In the area of housing, Stone said Baker & Associates Realty Group LLC has broken ground on a project to construct modular housing west of Van Dyke Avenue and north of Toepfer Road. The city is also working with developers on more than 700 workforce housing units, the mayor said.

Stone also said that the city has 31 boards and commissions, such as the Animal Welfare Commission and Senior Health Care Commission. She noted that the city has filled 15 of these bodies completely and still has openings on 16 of them. She asked members of the public to serve on these boards and commissions.

Councilman Jonathan Lafferty was perplexed by the mayor’s decision to highlight vacancies on city boards two years into her first term, arguing that it is “not a success.”

“You don’t highlight the failure to appoint your boards and commissions and your appointees in your administration. You’re two years in,” he said. “This should have been done in the first 90 days. This is not a success.”

Lafferty also said the speech was Stone’s second opportunity to “provide a bold and decisive vision for the city.” He said a State of the City should laud the city’s successes and “chart the vision ahead.”

“Where are we going as a city? How are we going to compete … in the next generation? How are we going to attract businesses for an economically diverse future?” he said. “The speech completely lacked all of those essential elements.”

In an interview after her speech, Stone said one of her goals for the year ahead is the start of the city’s parks and recreation master plan. The plan will look at how the city manages its parks and recreation centers, what programming is available and what is needed, she said.

Defense sector

Warren has the Detroit Arsenal, which is home to U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). Stone said after the speech that there are communities that are “prepared to compete to attract the Detroit Arsenal away from Warren.”

Warren and Sterling Heights are each contributing $250,000 annually to the Arsenal Alliance initiative.

“By paying attention, by advocating, by fighting for and expanding on the ability to draw down federal funds, it grows our economy, and it lets people know, ‘Back off,” Stone said. “‘Detroit Arsenal, it belongs here in Metro Detroit.’”

Infrastructure

Stone touted the city’s new Stephens Road Detention Basin during her address. The city held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and plaque dedication in February for the $37.5 million basin, which city officials say will reduce basement flooding and result in fewer sewage discharges into the Red Run Drain.

After playing a video showing the basin being built, Stone said, “Warren, we did that. We did that,” leading to applause from the audience.

She also praised the fact that the city secured a $100 million low-interest loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for a project to replace the city’s aging sludge incinerator.

asnabes@detroitnews.com

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