Michigan

Michigan football’s team filled with players ready for their chance: ‘It’s time to go’

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2 hours ago

August 10, 2024

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Michigan football’s team filled with players ready for their chance: ‘It’s time to go’

It seems hard to imagine there could have been three people better suited to deliver Michigan football’s message.

The pain in tight end Marlin Klein’s voice as he described a “tough” two years for him personally in college that saw him play less than 50 offensive snaps as he had to accept the notion he was not ready to crack the playing rotation.

The grace of Gio El-Hadi, the senior offensive guard who detailed his sleeplses offseason and just how many nights he spent praying to try and make sure that he remained on the best path for himself.

The hunger in TJ Guy’s voice after also waiting years, literally, for his turn to be a ‘guy’ on the Michigan defense.

In a lot of ways, these three guys represent the 2024 Wolverines. A collection of players who are defending national champions in their own right, but are still looking to make their own mark on the field.

On Friday, however, the group had a clear message: Just because they weren’t on the gridiron frequently last year doesn’t mean they’re not ready to uphold the standard that has recently been set.

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“It’s time to go, there ain’t nothing to talk about,” Guy said Friday morning before practice. “Sharpening the tools every day in practice, time to go. Get better every day for your teammates, you know? Everything that I’ve been here … it’s good to see everything is paying off. I’m just ready to seize the opportunity.”

For Guy, that opportunity has taken four years to materialize. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound edge from Mansfield, Mass., has played in 24 games through three years (17 on defense) with last season as his most productive, when he racked up 10 tackles, 1½ for loss and one sack.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Hail Yes!” your go-to Michigan Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

The numbers aren’t terribly impressive, but there’s a good reason for it. He was battling older players like Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Mike Morris, Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor every step of the way, each of whom is currently on an NFL roster.

“The past few years, I would describe it as growing pains,” Guy explained. “I came here as a boy, I’m gonna leave here as a man, learning principles of life that translate to football. Just growing, handling situations better, getting better every day.”

For as many delays as Guy has had, El-Hadi can seemingly match him point-by-point. He too has had some chances here and there for the Maize and Blue − he started a few games his sophomore season in 2022 when Trevor Keegan battled through minor injuries − but after three years he’s appeared in 20 games along the line, but only three of them were starts.

He had to sit behind two of the most talented guards in U-M history, Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter, each of his first three years in Ann Arbor, while simultaneously watching three other linemen (Olusegun Oluwatimi, Ryan Hayes and Andrew Steuber) get drafted into the NFL.

El-Hadi admitted there were “opportunities” elsewhere, but said that he’d fought through so much adversity to get to this point, it didn’t feel right to jump ship.

“Didn’t want to leave nowhere else. Didn’t want to go nowhere else. Had opportunities, but decided to stay over here, be patient, and it’s my turn now,” he said. “I want to be a leader for the O-line. I’m giving it my all every day … I want to be one of those dawgs.”

El-Hadi certainly looks the part of a Michigan offensive lineman, standing at 6 feet 5 and a lean 310 pounds, with legs that look like tree trunks and the beard of a man twice his age. The unit has been a finalist for the Joe Moore award as the nation’s top offensive line group three years in a row and won it twice (2021, 2022), but lost every single starter from last year’s squad.

But for guys like El-Hadi, the doubt is only adding fuel to the fire that’s been burning for years.

“First off, we don’t listen to outside noise; we’ve been underestimated before,” he began. “We showed them last year, so every day, we’re bringing our all. … We have one of the best defenses in the country, but we’re going to show the world we have one of the best offenses in the country, too.

“Every day, working together, all 11. Not just an offensive line, all 11 have to work together for the play to work.”

One of those 11 this year figures to be Klein, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end from Cologne, Germany, who recently cracked The Athletic’s ‘freak list’ at No. 90, which cites the 100 most athletic players across the sport.

It’s been a winding road for Klein, who grew up playing soccer then one day told his dad he wanted to try American Football. Sure enough, his father had a friend at a local academy and after one day, that’s all he needed to know he was hooked.

A few years later, Klein moved to Georgia for three years of high school ball as he developed into a top-30 tight end nationally, per 247Sports consensus rankings. He figured when he arrived in Ann Arbor, he’d do what he’d always done: dominate and get playing time.

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But that wasn’t really the case for a tight end who had “never put my hand in the ground.” Instead, much like Guy and El-Hadi, he was stuck behind older, more experienced future pros.

Since he stepped on campus, U-M has had Luke Schoonmaker (second round) and AJ Barner (fifth round) taken in the NFL draft while current junior Colston Loveland is on the pre-season Mackey list as the best tight end in the country.

“Coming to a school like Michigan, that’s really why I came here, you know play with the best, play against the best,” he said. “Michigan is really the top tight end school in the country, so coming out of high school, putting my hand in the dirt, being more physical … that was the biggest challenge for me.”

Klein has put on nearly 50 pounds since he arrived in Ann Arbor prior to the 2022 season and hasn’t lost a game in the regular season. The Wolverines are currently 28-1 since his arrival with the lone loss in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal to TCU.

It will certainly be a tall task to keep that streak alive, as Michigan has to break in two new coordinators in Kirk Campbell (offense) and Wink Martindale (defense), plus Sherrone Moore as a first-time head coach all while playing a schedule that includes Texas, Washington, Oregon, USC and Ohio State.

It won’t be easy, but nothing has been for this group of Wolverines − which is exactly why they feel ready.

“I learned that the games are easier than practice,” Guy said of his initial years in Ann Arbor. “It’s been real good to get those opportunities and now that I’m going to be on the field all the time, I’m going to be ready.”

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Michigan

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh to serve as honorary captain at Michigan's season opener despite NCAA penalties

Published

9 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh to serve as honorary captain at Michigan's season opener despite NCAA penalties

The NCAA handed down a four-year show-cause order for former Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh after determining the coach had impermissible contact with recruits and players during the COVID-19 restricted period.

The organization determined Harbaugh “engaged in unethical conduct, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated head coach responsibility obligations.” The governing body also ruled that Harbaugh was not truthful with investigators about meeting with recruits during the moratorium.

Despite the sanctions that were placed on Harbaugh, Michigan revealed plans to welcome back its national championship winning coach as an honorary captain for the football team’s home opener later this month. The Wolverines host Fresno State on Aug. 31.

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Newly appointed head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers speaks to the media during a press conference at YouTube Theater on February 01, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel expressed excitement about hosting Harbaugh in Ann Arbor to help kick off the 2024 season.

“I look forward to seeing him,” Manuel said during an appearance on the 1 Star Recruits podcast this week. “He’ll be an honorary captain for our first game. I look forward to having him back in Ann Arbor for that game.”

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Although Harbaugh will be effectively barred from coaching at the college football level for the next few years, he is currently focused on preparing the Los Angeles Chargers for the upcoming regular season.

Harbaugh coached the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff national championship in January. Just over two weeks later, he was named the next head coach of the Chargers.

Michigan was previously placed on probation for three years and fined. The football program also faces recruiting limits, all of which were included in a negotiated resolution in the case.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh instructs on the field during the first day of training camp at The Bolt. (Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)

Harbaugh also missed Michigan’s 2023 season opener due to a three-game suspension the university self-imposed as part of the recruiting investigation.

The recruiting case is separate from the NCAA’s investigation into impermissible in-person scouting and sign-stealing allegations that cast a shadow over Michigan’s undefeated 2023 campaign. The Big Ten Conference ultimately suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season amid the fallout from the alleged advanced scouting scheme.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines walks the field before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 9, 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Connor Stalions is at the center of a probe into an off-campus scouting operation. Stalions, who has not cooperated with the NCAA in its investigation, will break his silence Aug. 27 on Netflix when the documentary “Untold: Sign Stealer” makes its debut on the streaming service.

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Sherrone Moore was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Harbaugh bolted for the NFL. He handled the head coaching duties on multiple occasions while Harbaugh served his suspensions last season.

But, Moore is also facing his own allegations as he is suspected of violating NCAA rules related to the investigation into the sign-stealing scandal, sources told The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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State’s first 2024 case of mosquito-borne disease EEE found in southwest Michigan horse

Published

16 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

State’s first 2024 case of mosquito-borne disease EEE found in southwest Michigan horse

Michigan’s first case this year of Eastern equine encephalitis was detected in a horse in Van Buren County, the state announced.

The mosquito-borne virus was found in a Standardbred filly that was unvaccinated against EEE, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a news release this week. EEE is transmitted through mosquito bites to animals and people and cases are typically seen in Michigan in late summer to early fall, according to MDARD.

“It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause a severe illness,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, is quoted saying in the news release. “We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors, avoiding areas where mosquitoes are present if possible, and wearing clothing to cover arms and legs to prevent bites.”

Bagdasarian called EEE “one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases” in the country. According to the CDC, about 30% of people with EEE die.

This is the only EEE case so far this year in Michigan, but West Nile virus has been detected in 48 mosquito pools, 12 wild birds and one person, according to the news release.

“While this is the first case of EEE detected this season, other mosquito-borne diseases have been discovered throughout Michigan, including one human case of West Nile virus,” State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland is quoted saying in the news release. “These detections clearly indicate disease is circulating in the state’s mosquito population, making it crucial to protect animals and people against these insects.”

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To protect animals, the state offered suggestions, including talking to a veterinarian about vaccinating horses against EEE and other mosquito-borne diseases; eliminating standing water; placing livestock in barns under fans and keeping pets inside during peak mosquito activity, and using an inspect repellent on animals that is approved for the species.

The state recommends people protect themselves by applying insect repellents, wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outside and emptying water from potential mosquito breeding sites, like buckets and kiddie pools.

For more information about EEE, go to www.michigan.gov/EEE.

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Michigan

Michigan State Transfer RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams From Fall Camp

Published

24 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Michigan State Transfer RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams From Fall Camp

EAST LANSING, Mich. — One of the biggest transfers Michigan State acquired after its “Spring Showcase” in April was running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams.

Lynch-Adams joined the Spartans after two years at the University of Massachusetts. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at Rutgers. He comes off an impressive 2023 season in which he was named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team.

The transfer running back addressed the media following Michigan State’s practice on Thursday.

Below is a partial transcript of Lynch-Adams’ presser:

Q: What made you join MSU?

Lynch-Adams: “Really just the staff. I got a chance to talk to the players. Aaron Alexander was here, was at Massachussetts with me, and that was kind of like my inside connection to kind of get some feel for the things that were going on. But from everything he was kind of telling me, it was a really good fit. And I was in the Big Ten before, and now, I reallty want to be back in the Big again. So, God blessed me to be here again.”

Q: How are you most like Nate Carter and what’s the biggest difference between you two?

Lynch-Adams: I like Nate a lot. I like his game. Real fast, elusive guy. The biggest difference? I don’t know too many differences. I think we’re pretty similar, but I do think we are different in a way. We’re not the same back. But I really like his game, really fast, really elusive, and I like watching him work every day.”

You can view Coach Jonathan Smith’s presser from Monday below:

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