Welcome back to another edition of This Week in The Den. A LOT was covered this week so I won't delay any further in getting started, as we'll have everything you might've missed this week right here.
- As of this writing, I have not been told of any changes to what the uniform combination will be this week. We were told earlier this week that the team had been practicing in blue jerseys and white pants and that the team has never not played in what they've practiced in during that particular week. Michigan typically makes the announcement on Friday so I suppose we will know soon enough.
- Continue to hear that Rod Moore, Makari Paige and Will Johnson are close to full-go. We have heard this line for weeks and I can only share what I've been told. Jesse Minter told reporters this week that they're 'very close' to being back at full-strength so we will have to see what the injury report says before the game.
- Speaking of the injury report, you will see a new name pop up on it this week as Mason Graham is expected to miss the next two weeks with injury. A bummer for him as he was playing well.
- While we have been told that LaDarius Henderson has been getting reps at left tackle with Karsen Barnhart playing on the right side, as of this writing, the belief is that the Wolverines will run out the same starting five on the offensive line as they have all season.
- As for the recruiting side, I will post my updates on 2025 five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood verbatim as I don't believe they should be summarized.
Should Michigan fans be nervous about Colorado and Coach Prime?
As it sits right now, Michigan shouldn't feel nervous that Colorado is going to come in and steal Underwood from under their nose. Not without a fight at, least. While the visit was a good one, it wasn't enough to propel the Buffaloes into the first or second spot. According to someone in Underwood's circle, Colorado is likely sitting outside the top three, likely at number four. However, the visit did open his eyes a little bit and made him think it could be a place where he could see himself playing.
He's had the offer from Colorado since May and the attitude heading into the visit was, hey, it's Prime, you have to at least check it out and see what he's talking about. That attitude changed slightly coming out of the visit.
I still THINK that Michigan and LSU continue to man the top spots in his recruitment, and I THINK that the Wolverines are sitting in the top spot but the program simply can't rest here with the belief that he's an in-state school and he's guaranteed to not leave the state. With other schools going to try and push to get a visit, and the aftermath of the Colorado visit, it's my OPINION that the program needs to step up its efforts a little more. Not saying they weren't before but Underwood is a kid you just can't let leave the state. There's no way that can happen.
As for what's next, Underwood is eyeing a visit to Ann Arbor for the Ohio State game for his game-day visit. He will be at Penn State this weekend.
According to my source, the January 6th announcement date still looks to be on-track to be made, with my source saying it's "90%" likely.
More when I have it.
Is 'securing the bag' important for Bryce Underwood?
One of the major topics surrounding the recruitment of five-star QB Bryce Underwood is that he is looking for 'the bag' and his commitment will go the highest bidder.
On top of my discussion with someone in Underwood's circle about the Colorado visit, I also asked about the NIL narrative and whether it's going to be a factor.
The response I got was so good that trying to summarize it won't do it justice.
Here's what was said:
"I’m going give you the inside visual of what it’s going to take for a school to grab Bryce and money isn’t one of them. The kid just wants to set himself up to be one of the greatest if not the greatest athlete and human being that was ever created. So if a school is throwing money out there to try to attract him I can pretty much tell you they have no shot at getting him, he might not tell them that but trust me, he’s not thinking twice about you or your school. Money won't do it. Now family and what you can offer him to add with furtherance of his future goals is pretty much the key. He wants to set his family up to win right along with him, so it doesn’t make sense if he’s rich and his family still struggling. He’s an old soul in a gifted 16-year-old body.
"That kid will be almost a billionaire by the time he’s 30 so I’m pretty sure trying to be a thousandaire doesn’t have an arm or leg to stand in this fight. So money isn’t a factor and I’m saying this because I know the train that is set up behind him to achieve every goal is set forward."
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That's all I have for now.
As always, I will post further updates if anything pops up between now and game time.
- As of this writing, I have not been told of any changes to what the uniform combination will be this week. We were told earlier this week that the team had been practicing in blue jerseys and white pants and that the team has never not played in what they've practiced in during that particular week. Michigan typically makes the announcement on Friday so I suppose we will know soon enough.
- Continue to hear that Rod Moore, Makari Paige and Will Johnson are close to full-go. We have heard this line for weeks and I can only share what I've been told. Jesse Minter told reporters this week that they're 'very close' to being back at full-strength so we will have to see what the injury report says before the game.
- Speaking of the injury report, you will see a new name pop up on it this week as Mason Graham is expected to miss the next two weeks with injury. A bummer for him as he was playing well.
- While we have been told that LaDarius Henderson has been getting reps at left tackle with Karsen Barnhart playing on the right side, as of this writing, the belief is that the Wolverines will run out the same starting five on the offensive line as they have all season.
- As for the recruiting side, I will post my updates on 2025 five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood verbatim as I don't believe they should be summarized.
Should Michigan fans be nervous about Colorado and Coach Prime?
As it sits right now, Michigan shouldn't feel nervous that Colorado is going to come in and steal Underwood from under their nose. Not without a fight at, least. While the visit was a good one, it wasn't enough to propel the Buffaloes into the first or second spot. According to someone in Underwood's circle, Colorado is likely sitting outside the top three, likely at number four. However, the visit did open his eyes a little bit and made him think it could be a place where he could see himself playing.
He's had the offer from Colorado since May and the attitude heading into the visit was, hey, it's Prime, you have to at least check it out and see what he's talking about. That attitude changed slightly coming out of the visit.
I still THINK that Michigan and LSU continue to man the top spots in his recruitment, and I THINK that the Wolverines are sitting in the top spot but the program simply can't rest here with the belief that he's an in-state school and he's guaranteed to not leave the state. With other schools going to try and push to get a visit, and the aftermath of the Colorado visit, it's my OPINION that the program needs to step up its efforts a little more. Not saying they weren't before but Underwood is a kid you just can't let leave the state. There's no way that can happen.
As for what's next, Underwood is eyeing a visit to Ann Arbor for the Ohio State game for his game-day visit. He will be at Penn State this weekend.
According to my source, the January 6th announcement date still looks to be on-track to be made, with my source saying it's "90%" likely.
More when I have it.
Is 'securing the bag' important for Bryce Underwood?
One of the major topics surrounding the recruitment of five-star QB Bryce Underwood is that he is looking for 'the bag' and his commitment will go the highest bidder.
On top of my discussion with someone in Underwood's circle about the Colorado visit, I also asked about the NIL narrative and whether it's going to be a factor.
The response I got was so good that trying to summarize it won't do it justice.
Here's what was said:
"I’m going give you the inside visual of what it’s going to take for a school to grab Bryce and money isn’t one of them. The kid just wants to set himself up to be one of the greatest if not the greatest athlete and human being that was ever created. So if a school is throwing money out there to try to attract him I can pretty much tell you they have no shot at getting him, he might not tell them that but trust me, he’s not thinking twice about you or your school. Money won't do it. Now family and what you can offer him to add with furtherance of his future goals is pretty much the key. He wants to set his family up to win right along with him, so it doesn’t make sense if he’s rich and his family still struggling. He’s an old soul in a gifted 16-year-old body.
"That kid will be almost a billionaire by the time he’s 30 so I’m pretty sure trying to be a thousandaire doesn’t have an arm or leg to stand in this fight. So money isn’t a factor and I’m saying this because I know the train that is set up behind him to achieve every goal is set forward."
---
That's all I have for now.
As always, I will post further updates if anything pops up between now and game time.
