Several Michigan freshmen 'popping' in practice, will play this year
Michigan started fall camp a week ago in preparation for the Sept. 3 opener with Colorado State, with all classes participating. Yesterday, head coach Jim Harbaugh joined Jon Jansen on the In the Trenches podcast to discuss the first several practices, singling out a few standouts — including a freshman in running back C.J Stokes who is “going to be good,” he said.
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He wasn’t the only one. Several other Michigan freshmen have stood out in the early going, Harbaugh told Jansen. In addition to the obvious ones — the three receivers — linemen, linebackers, and others are excelling.
It starts up front.
“Good young guys,” Harbaugh said of the Michigan freshmen offensive linemen. “Andrew Gentry’s really the one that pops the most right now. He’s one offensive lineman that could get a lot of play as a true freshman. And Connor Jones, who was here in the spring as a mid-year freshman, he’s really popped the last couple days. You can see the improvement from him as well. Alessandro Lorenzetti is doing a really good job. You want to talk about the athleticism — he kind of reminds me of Jon Runyan when Jon was first here those first couple years. Super athletic.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time to put on the strength and the bulk, but just like Jon — maybe even a little better than Jon was when Jon was a freshman. It remains to be seen. Another big guy, walk-on Daniel Taraboi is big, big, big guy, but then he ran really well. He passed the conditioning test, and he’s out there swimming a little bit for an offensive lineman who wasn’t in spring ball. But he’s got a chance to be good down the road, as well.
“The offensive line is in nice shape.”
Colston Loveland “is going to be really good” at tight end, he said, “and Marlin Klein.”
Michigan freshmen on defense impressing, as well
True freshmen defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant have added significantly to the depth up front, Harbaugh noted. Grant, as mentioned last week, ran a sub-5.0 40-yard-dash at 350 pounds.
“We seem better on the inside of the defensive line, as well,” Harbaugh said.
Linebackers Jimmy Rolder and Deuce Spurlock have “both already popped through four practices. You can see they’re going to be fine players, as well,” Harbaugh said. And the secondary is filled with great young talent.
“The young DBs, they’re really as good as advertised and then some, I would say,” the Michigan coach said. “Will Johnson is definitely as good as advertised. He’s an amazing player. He’s a great cover corner, a big corner, and he’s doing a phenomenal job. Myles Pollard … he’s also doing really well.
“[Safety] Zeke Berry wasn’t talked about a lot in the recruiting process, but that’s a real football player, as well. I kind of look at him, think he’s maybe the next Rod Moore-type of player. [Safety] Keon Sabb is really excelling. Both he and Will, just the amount of strength they put on in one offseason, and endurance … it has really showed. All of those players I mentioned right there are going to play.
“Kody Jones, he’s been one of the type performers also as a mid year player of the freshmen — then there’s Damani Dent. We’ve had some really good players, Joshua Nichols and Bryce Wilcox, walk on as true freshmen, and they look every bit the part. That’s nine young DBs in the secondary, both safeties and corners. It’s an outstanding, outstanding group. I can’t wait to watch them get better and better every day.”
