Michigan is hosting USC DT transfer Jay Toia this weekend, and as we've reported, we really like the Wolverines' chances here. As our @totchman said, we are expecting some good news before he goes back home. He's got a great relationship with fellow Polynesian and defensive line coach Shaun Nua, and there's immediate opportunity.
We'll stop short of calling it a "game changer" for this year, but it's clear he's a big piece of the puzzle, now and going forward. He's incredibly strong, a great kid and would be a huge pickup at a position of need.
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As most observed, Josh Ross had a rough year last year. The redshirt junior has returned in the best shape of his life, however, and really turned it up at the end of spring ball. He's moving extremely well — what most didn't know, his brother James (former Michigan linebacker, G.A. and now linebackers coach at Hope College) said, was he was coming off a high ankle sprain that never really felt right. He lost a lot of confidence (physical aspects) because of it, but he's healthy and ready to atone.
There's not much experienced depth behind Ross and Michael Barrett, for whom there are plenty of question marks on the inside, but there is talent. Nikhai Hill-Green would have played more last year if they'd had more practice and game time, and Junior Colson is a future All-Big Ten linebacker — it's just going to take some time.
We said a few weeks back there could be a few more transfers — Cornell Wheeler was one, having seen the writing on the wall, and he's made it official. There was also a defensive back who had an issue that appears to have been resolved, which is good news. There's always a chance that another one or two not on the two-deep could leave, but it's not expected at this point. The only one they've lost so far who would have factored into the two deep is center Zach Carpenter, now at Indiana.
So all the talk about "bailing," etc. ... that's overstating it.
Guys swear, too, they've seen Jim Harbaugh regain his edge, and it seems apparent in watching him at the satellite camps. The young staff is fantastic, on paper – we'll see how they do this fall, etc., but these guys are so committed to turning this thing around — and in speaking to Ron Bellamy for a long time, I can't stress enough what a great hire this was.
We traded texts with Bellamy last year when word got out he'd turned Harbaugh down (which he had, more than once, citing unfinished business at West Bloomfield), and it was clear that family considerations, his work at West, etc. was going to keep him away ... at least for the short term. But there's a reason programs around the country were pursuing him. First class guy, great young coach ... again, just a great move.
Last year was a tough one for many of the families in the building, including Harbaugh's. It was a lot to deal with for a lot of people, but they appear to be back on the right track.
"I'm extremely confident in the future," James Ross said. "Coach Harbaugh, what he’s doing now, talking to my brother ... they're just loving where they’re heading. Just trying to change the culture a little bit. We needed a shift, and they're doing everything to do that from a culture standpoint.
"Coach Harbaugh is never just complacent and content on whatever the situation is. He's always trying to figure out the best possible situation even if other guys aren’t thinking of it ... and he always — always — puts his players first."
He also loves what he's heard about D.C. Mike Macdonald. He's met him a few times, and from everything we've heard, he has made an impact.
"He’s awesome," one source in the building said. "The biggest thing I like about Mike ... he's got a great personality. He's a sharp guy, a very smart guy, a great leader of men. He has our room, always ... our full attention. everyone has bought into what he's put on the table.
"The kids love Coach Macdonald. There's lots to be said about the youth of a coaching staff, and one thing, I think is relatability."
No, we are not "drinking the Kool-Aid." This is a reset, and there's a lot of work to do. But we do like the offseason moves, and the secondary, in particular, has made great strides. They feel like they have a solid two-deep at every position now — Lindy's annual ranks this group eighth nationally, based in large part on the safety duo of Brad Hawkins and Dax Hill — and guys like DJ Turner, RJ Moten and others have really made moves.
Others have, too — you can read about it in detail in your Football Previews: https://michigan.forums.rivals.com/...ecial-for-members-of-thewolverine-com.328390/
It should make for an interesting fall camp.
We'll stop short of calling it a "game changer" for this year, but it's clear he's a big piece of the puzzle, now and going forward. He's incredibly strong, a great kid and would be a huge pickup at a position of need.
****
As most observed, Josh Ross had a rough year last year. The redshirt junior has returned in the best shape of his life, however, and really turned it up at the end of spring ball. He's moving extremely well — what most didn't know, his brother James (former Michigan linebacker, G.A. and now linebackers coach at Hope College) said, was he was coming off a high ankle sprain that never really felt right. He lost a lot of confidence (physical aspects) because of it, but he's healthy and ready to atone.
There's not much experienced depth behind Ross and Michael Barrett, for whom there are plenty of question marks on the inside, but there is talent. Nikhai Hill-Green would have played more last year if they'd had more practice and game time, and Junior Colson is a future All-Big Ten linebacker — it's just going to take some time.
We said a few weeks back there could be a few more transfers — Cornell Wheeler was one, having seen the writing on the wall, and he's made it official. There was also a defensive back who had an issue that appears to have been resolved, which is good news. There's always a chance that another one or two not on the two-deep could leave, but it's not expected at this point. The only one they've lost so far who would have factored into the two deep is center Zach Carpenter, now at Indiana.
So all the talk about "bailing," etc. ... that's overstating it.
Guys swear, too, they've seen Jim Harbaugh regain his edge, and it seems apparent in watching him at the satellite camps. The young staff is fantastic, on paper – we'll see how they do this fall, etc., but these guys are so committed to turning this thing around — and in speaking to Ron Bellamy for a long time, I can't stress enough what a great hire this was.
We traded texts with Bellamy last year when word got out he'd turned Harbaugh down (which he had, more than once, citing unfinished business at West Bloomfield), and it was clear that family considerations, his work at West, etc. was going to keep him away ... at least for the short term. But there's a reason programs around the country were pursuing him. First class guy, great young coach ... again, just a great move.
Last year was a tough one for many of the families in the building, including Harbaugh's. It was a lot to deal with for a lot of people, but they appear to be back on the right track.
"I'm extremely confident in the future," James Ross said. "Coach Harbaugh, what he’s doing now, talking to my brother ... they're just loving where they’re heading. Just trying to change the culture a little bit. We needed a shift, and they're doing everything to do that from a culture standpoint.
"Coach Harbaugh is never just complacent and content on whatever the situation is. He's always trying to figure out the best possible situation even if other guys aren’t thinking of it ... and he always — always — puts his players first."
He also loves what he's heard about D.C. Mike Macdonald. He's met him a few times, and from everything we've heard, he has made an impact.
"He’s awesome," one source in the building said. "The biggest thing I like about Mike ... he's got a great personality. He's a sharp guy, a very smart guy, a great leader of men. He has our room, always ... our full attention. everyone has bought into what he's put on the table.
"The kids love Coach Macdonald. There's lots to be said about the youth of a coaching staff, and one thing, I think is relatability."
No, we are not "drinking the Kool-Aid." This is a reset, and there's a lot of work to do. But we do like the offseason moves, and the secondary, in particular, has made great strides. They feel like they have a solid two-deep at every position now — Lindy's annual ranks this group eighth nationally, based in large part on the safety duo of Brad Hawkins and Dax Hill — and guys like DJ Turner, RJ Moten and others have really made moves.
Others have, too — you can read about it in detail in your Football Previews: https://michigan.forums.rivals.com/...ecial-for-members-of-thewolverine-com.328390/
It should make for an interesting fall camp.
