Michigan
‘I can hang.’ Michigan OL Evan Link enters 2025 with shot of confidence
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — He was thrown into the fire as a first-time starter, and while the season didn’t go exactly as planned, it ended on a high note for Evan Link.
The redshirt sophomore went from not playing a single snap along Michigan’s offensive line in 2023, a national championship team that was loaded up front, to starting the season opener last year at right tackle.
And while it came as a welcomed surprise, Link found himself learning on the job for a good chunk of the year.
“A tremendous honor,” Link, who spoke to reporters for the first time on Wednesday, said. “Obviously it was a bit of a challenge.”
The 6-foot-6, 328-pound tackle found himself playing against some of the best teams in the country, starting 11 of the Wolverines’ 13 games last season on an offense that ranked amongst the worst in the country. Link was a contributing factor in that, admitting to having some “ups and downs” during the season, overreacting to what opponents were sending his way. According to Pro Football Focus, Link surrendered a total of 30 pressures on the season, including five hits on the quarterback and two sacks.
The biggest issue? Not translating what he was practicing to Saturdays, a common issue for younger players, he says.
“When you get into a game it’s a little bit different situation, things are a little bit more heightened,” Link said. “There’s a crowd. You have an audience. You’re in your head thinking maybe you have to do something different.
“That definitely got me a few times early in the year.”
That youth shined through in the loss to Texas, when he allowed nine pressures on the QB in 37 pass-blocking snaps, and he struggled later in the year against a rush-heavy Indiana team (five pressures, one hit).
Link was eventually able to settle in, playing much better down the stretch as Michigan picked off wins over Northwestern, Ohio State and Alabama. He even got to move back to his more natural spot, left tackle, for the ReliaQuest Bowl, giving up just one pressure all game.
“In high school I played left the entire time,” Link said. “So getting to right, there was definitely a bit of a learning curve there. It was hard to get used to it that fast because I had played left for so long, everything felt so comfortable.”
Grant Newsome, the Michigan offensive line coach, says Link has carried that momentum into the spring. Link is back at left tackle and tried out at both guard spots as the Wolverines search for their five best offensive linemen.
And while Link may have struggled last year, Michigan isn’t willing to give up on the former four-star recruit yet.
“He played his two best games down the stretch,” Newsome said. “It’s always what you hope for with any guy, that you play your best when your best is needed. And that was definitely the case with him.”
Link says he’s spending the spring focused on improving his fundamentals, like timing, footwork and hand placement. He’s thankful to be back at his more natural spot, on the left side, where he believes he’s best.
Just like last year, though, it’s going to come down to what he does in the games. And with one full season under his belt, Link believes he has the confidence to get it done.
“The Ohio State game was really special for me, just because I grew up going to Columbus every year,” Link said. “My father went to Ohio State and I grew up watching those games every year. Getting a chance to play in that game — and be told I was playing in that game and starting that game — it was one of the best experiences of my life up to this point.
“If they think I can be here, I can be here. I can hang. I say I did, and I did the best I could, and we ended up winning the game. That was a huge confidence boost.”
Michigan
3 dead after vehicle collides with semitruck on Interstate 94 in Wayne County, Michigan State Police say
Three people are dead after a vehicle hit the back of a semitruck on Interstate 94 in Southeast Michigan late Friday, state officials said.
The Michigan State Police responded to the crash on eastbound I-94 near Michigan Avenue in Wayne County around 11:44 p.m. Investigators said the semitruck was stopped in traffic due to flooding when it was struck by the vehicle.
Three passengers in the vehicle that crashed into the semi died at the scene, according to the state law enforcement agency, and the driver was taken into custody.
The ages of the individuals involved in the collision have not yet been disclosed by officials.
As of Saturday afternoon, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Michigan
What to know about cyclosporiasis as Michigan health officials investigate 300+ cases in outbreak
Over 300 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported within a week in Southeast Michigan, and Michigan health officials are investigating.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are actively investigating the potential source of the “large and growing outbreak” of cases confirmed in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson and Livingston counties.
Health officials also reported 24 cases across 11 other Michigan counties, including in the city of Detroit. Typically, Michigan only gets around 50 cases per year.
On July 1, MDHHS reported there were at least 170 cases. On Thursday, the number of cases jumped to at least 300.
Read more –> Michigan health officials warn of ‘large and growing outbreak’ of cyclosporiasis
The age range of individuals who were diagnosed with the illness ranges from 8 years old to 84 years old, with a median age of 41, according to MDHHS.
Health officials are working to determine the common exposure of the outbreak in Michigan.
Here’s what to know about cyclosporiasis:
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite and infects the small intestine.
Healthcare providers can diagnose the illness by testing a stool sample.
Signs and symptoms
If infected with cyclosporiasis, people may experience watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.
The illness can last from a few days to over a month if the illness is not treated. Symptoms could relapse.
The timeframe from becoming infected to becoming sick usually takes about one week but can range from two days to two weeks or more.
In the US, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce. People can get infected with Cyclospora more than once.
Anyone who experiences symptoms of cyclosporiasis should see their healthcare provider.
How it spreads
The illness can spread when people eat food or drink water that was contaminated with feces.
The CDC said it can take at least one or two weeks outside the body for Cyclospora to become infectious after passing in a bowel movement, making direct person-to-person transmission unlikely.
How to prevent cyclosporiasis
According to the CDC, people can prevent infection by avoiding food or water that may contain feces and by following food safety recommendations for safe preparation and storage.
The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
Read more on prevention here.
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A shooting altercation between two groups of young people at a shopping mall in Dearborn, Michigan, left two people dead and a third injured over what is typically the most violent weekend of the year in the US, police said.
The shooting occurred as the US began celebrating the Fourth of July, historically a holiday weekend that sees higher rates of gun violence across the country. In 2024, the Gun Violence Archive reported more than 500 shootings over Independence Day weekend.
The shooting at Fairlane Town Center on Friday sent mall patrons scrambling, including a person who was hit by a vehicle outside the mall while attempting to flee, said Issa Shahin, the Dearborn police chief.
People believed to be linked to the fight were being questioned at the police station, but no one was immediately taken into custody, he said.
Shahin said the altercation was not a random act: the two groups knew each other and after they came into contact at the mall a fight started that escalated into gunfire. Members of both groups had handguns, he said.
One of the victims died inside Fairlane Town Center and the other died at a nearby hospital. Details on the third person who was shot were not released.
The mall was evacuated after the shooting and police planned to keep it closed while they investigated.
A video posted to social media appeared to show people running from the shopping center after gunshots could be heard.
Fairlane Town Center has more than 125 stores and restaurants, according to its website.
Dearborn is a suburb of Detroit with a population of more than 100,000 people about nine miles west of Detroit.
Tyhrann Howard, Michigan state police specialist lieutenant, said the agency was assisting with the investigation and referred questions to the Dearborn police.
A person who answered the phone at the telephone number for mall security declined comment.
Associated Press contributed reporting
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