What a recruiting stretch this week has been for Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford.
Michigan
Oregon opponent early scouting report: Michigan
An early look at Oregon’s opponents for the 2024 regular season.
Michigan
Game date & time: Michigan Stadium, Nov. 2 (time to be announced)
2023 record: (15-0)
Coach: Sherrone Moore, first year (1-0)
Returning starters: 2 offense, 5 defense
Most important returning players: RB Donovan Edwards, TE Colston Loveland, DL Mason Graham, DL Kenneth Grant
Most critical departures: QB J.J. McCarthy, RB Blake Corum, WR Roman Wilson, TE AJ Barner, OG Zak Zinter, OLB Jaylen Harrell, DT Kris Jenkins, LB Junior Colson, LB Michael Barrett, CB Mike Sainristil
Oregon storylines:
- Dillon Gabriel’s Heisman candidacy
Presuming Gabriel is performing as well as expected, November road games are where the award can be determined. Playing at the defending national champions, who will have already faced Texas and USC, in the largest stadium in the country with a sellout crowd is about as big a stage as it can get for a regular season game.
- Returning to the Big House
Oregon was last at Michigan Stadium in 2007, a 39-7 Ducks win. The Wolverines won the first three meetings of the series, all in Ann Arbor from 1948-73, all by shutouts.
Michigan had the best run defense in the country last season against winning teams, holding opponents to 84.22 rushing yards per game, and return a lot of talent on the defensive line. Oregon’s run game did not perform as well against better teams last season, though the backfield has changed and Gabriel could end up running more than Bo Nix did in 2023.
The Wolverines were potent on the ground last season but losing Blake Corum leaves a huge hole that Donovan Edwards will need to replace. The Ducks were much improved against the run last season except against Washington. By this point in the second each side will have answers for these aspects of their teams.
UM defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is back in the college ranks after 20 years in the NFL. He’s known for his aggressive play-calling and coached former Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux for the past two years with the New York Giants. Martindale has some weapons at his disposal in the front seven and will have worked out rotations by this point.
- Dante Moore’s trip home
By this point in the season it will be clear how much Moore is going to play and in what role. Regardless, the trip back home for the Detroit native will be significant.
Michigan storylines:
- Donovan Edwards’ place on the national state
Edwards has the potential to be the top back in the Big Ten and an All-American given how Michigan could divvy up the carries. How he performs against what should be one of the top three defenses Michigan faces this season will show where he ranks among running backs nationally.
- Alex Orji’s development
The 6-foot-3, 236 pound Orji is the favorite to take over as the starter. He’s only thrown one pass in college so it’s hard to project what Michigan’s offense will be capable of with so much change. But given his size and running ability Orji could be the best running quarterback the Ducks face all season.
It’s a game with CFP implications for both teams but of the two, Michigan is the more likely to come in with multiple losses. Even if both are undefeated, the loser is still in the Big Ten Championship race but can’t afford another loss. If either or both have a loss, a second could eliminate any margin for error with Oregon still needing to play at Wisconsin and against Washington and Michigan going to Ohio State.
An Oregon win would mean:
Likely staying in the thick of the Big Ten race and CFP conversation. Some of the enormity of such a win will be based on Michigan’s record entering the day. Beating an 8-0 team on the road is different than dropping a 6-2 team that is expected to lose one more regular season game.
An Oregon loss would mean:
As noted, some will depend on what records are. If UO is undefeated or even has one loss, it would not necessarily be crushing to its CFP chances to lose at UM. But given the state of each team entering the season, the Ducks have more matchup advantages and deeper talent so it would likely be an upset.
A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer from Michigan has been sentenced for one count of distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said on Friday.
A federal judge sentenced Scott Rocky of Center Line, Michigan, on Thursday to six years in prison. Online court records show he pleaded guilty to the charge last November.
According to the criminal complaint, an FBI agent during an investigation in April 2025 used a computer to sign into a peer-to-peer file sharing network called BitTorrent. They identified another computer using a specific Internet Protocol address connected to multiple files that had keywords or hash values related to potential child pornography.
The agent was able to determine that someone using that computer shared about 530 files with “names consistent with names used for files containing child pornography,” the complaint said. Investigators allegedly learned the IP address of the computer was assigned to Rocky.
According to the court document, the agent found that many of the files appeared “to depict real minor children between the ages of four and ten years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct.”
Federal investigators then searched Rocky’s home, the complaint said. They found a desktop computer that had a file name in the German language that described sexual activity involving children.
“This sentence should serve as a warning: no badge, title, or position of public trust will shield anyone who exploits our children from facing justice under federal law,” Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in a written statement. “Public trust amongst law enforcement officials is essential.”
After snagging a commitment from four-star bell-cow Tyson Robinson this past weekend, Alford nabbed another high-profile tailback in the 2027 class, as Grand Rapids (Mich.) Kenowa Hills star Lundon Hampton announced his pledge to the Wolverines.
Hampton is the fourth in-state commit for Michigan this cycle and the 14th overall member. Michigan beat MSU, Penn State and Iowa for Hampton, who visited Ann Arbor twice this spring, including for the spring game at The Big House. He was offered while on his March trip, and Alford saw Hampton workout during the contact period.
At 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, Hampton is the No. 24 overall athlete in the country and No. 19 recruit in the state of Michigan, according to Rivals.
Maize n Brew breaks down film from Hampton junior campaign, providing an in-depth look at the potential he brings to the table.
Since the beginning of last month, Maize n Brew has seen Hampton twice. First was in Nashville for Battle 7v7 and later for the spring game. Hampton didn’t compete down south, but both instances provided an opportunity to examine his physical build.
Hampton is every inch and weight that Rivals reports right now. He’s filled out and how he compares to his peers physically is noteworthy, especially those at the positions he plays at the prep level. When examining his Hudl film, athleticism aside, Hampton stands out significantly. The sky is the limit for his body development once he enters Michigan’s strength and conditioning program.
Alford recruited Hampton as a running back because of his ability to evade tacklers in the open field and his explosiveness. On film, arm tackle attempts and dives to Hampton’s lower half never delay his forward progressions when the ball is in his hands. He can break runs to the outside, take proper angles, and has the speed to kick it into another gear to outrun defensive backs.
The way Hampton makes cuts through holes between the hashmarks is also noticeable. It’s similar to the prowess of Robinson, so it’s not difficult to pinpoint why Alford wanted the pair. Although Hampton doesn’t have as many route running and pass catching highlights as Robinson, the former can become a target and make an impact in that aspect.
Hampton also brings a versatility trait that could get molded well under the guidance of Michigan’s staff, meaning he may not remain at running back in college. Other top programs were eyeing him to play linebacker, cornerback and safety, and his junior tape shows multiple clips of him contributing at all three positions. He also came down to the line of scrimmage as an edge rusher.
His instincts on defense allow him get off the block and record tackles for a loss. While defending the pass, he sticks to the hip of opposing wideouts to breakup balls in the air or record interceptions. Hampton plays on special teams as well for his high school, serving as punt returner.
He does not have verified times reported in the 40-yard or 100-meter dash, so determining that benchmark and where development could transpire to improve that area will be something to monitor. Also, if he commits to running back only, how will he separate himself from the other rostered players? He’ll bring a heated work ethic because of the opportunity to play for the in-state school, which should elevate progress down the road.
A new study on water pollution in Illinois may make you think twice before jumping into the lake this summer.
According to the Environment Illinois Research & Education Center, the recent study found microplastics across all 31 tested sites, including Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. These tiny pieces of litter may pose a potential health risk to humans and marine life, but what does that really mean for Chicagoans?
What actually are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters. Studies on the possible links to illnesses, such as cancer, are being conducted by the government and academic researchers.
What did this study find in Lake Michigan and the Chicago River?
The study found microplastics, microfibers, microfilms and microfragments across the tested sites. These tiny, sometimes invisible to the naked eye, pieces of litter come from single-use plastics, fast-fashion production and stormwater runoff from nearby factories that use plastic pellets (also found in the waters).
RECOMMENDED: The historic Chicago River Swim is coming back in September
Should I worry?
Not immediately. The presence of plastics and other forms of litter are so widespread that there’s no simple fix. Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would require plastics manufacturers to better control runoff stormwater around their factories. The state also introduced a law in 2023 that bans Styrofoam food containers at state buildings.
Can I still go in the water?
Yes. Minimizing your contact with the water can, of course, limit the risk of any negative effects, but this study is not a reason to avoid the water completely. That being said, it’s probably wise to avoid submerging yourself in the Chicago River (after all, we all remember the Dave Matthews Band incident of 2004, right?). However, the Chicago River Swim returned last year after nearly a century, which confirms that the water is, technically, safe enough to swim in.
Now what?
There are a few ways residents can help keep the waters clean. The Environment Illinois Research & Education Center recommends avoiding single-use plastics and fast-fashion trends, and reusing items when possible. The organization has also recommended that the state develop green infrastructure, pass additional producer responsibility laws and halt policies that promote increased manufacture and use of single-use plastics.
Despite these findings, it’s still safe to enjoy a dip in the lake. What’s better than jumping off the concrete beach on a scorching summer day? Just be sure to pick up your trash before you leave.
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