TTB's weekly ex-Wolverines update
https://touch-the-banner.com/2021-ex-wolverine-updates-week-3/
This is a feature on TTB that I enjoy. Of the former Wolverines and commits, I'm still a Brandon Peters fan and hopes he can have a modicum of success at Illinois (because let's face it - a modicum of success at Illinois is like loads of success almost anywhere else) because he seems like a good kid.
Of the players I see on that list, the only ones I wouldn't have minded on our team are Emil Ekiyor (I mean c'mon starting C at Death Star.. I mean Alabama) and perhaps Xavier Worthy as a potential deep threat since Ronnie Bell is out for the year. Otherwise, I don't see any names I would really be pining for.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:04 AM ^
"QB Ren Hefley (Presbyterian): Hefley completed 20/39 passes for 164 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in a 72-0 loss to Campbell."
Didn't he just break the DII record for most TD passes in a game? And then they lose 72-0 while he throws 6 INTs???
September 20th, 2021 at 11:19 AM ^
He's college Jameis Winston, but on a lot of cocaine. Sign me up!
September 20th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
He clearly doesn't half-a$$ anything.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
I was just looking this up:
COMP ATT YDS COMP% YPA QBRAT TD INT SACK HIS TEAM SCORE OPPONENT SCORE
20 39 164 51% 4.2 55.8 0 6 7 0 72
24 37 325 65% 8.8 163.5 4 2 1 68 3
38 50 538 76% 10.8 232.4 10 0 0 84 43
September 20th, 2021 at 11:29 AM ^
So Presbyterian is a *non-scholarship* Division 1 FCS program in the Pioneer League. The first game they played an NAIA team (the same division schools like UM-Dearborn and Lawrence Tech are in) and in the second game they played a school from the NCCAA (small christian college) that offers associates degrees as well.
Campbell is an actual FCS team offering scholarships lol
September 20th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
I'm not touching this one, Faux.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:52 AM ^
Oh, go ahead, touch it. Just once, just to see how it feels...
September 20th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
Balance.
I mean, we finally see balance in an offense, and you complain about it?
September 20th, 2021 at 11:54 AM ^
Posted twice. Because balance.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:17 AM ^
How's the Zach Charbonnet Heisman Campaign going these days? We used to get daily updates, but they seem to have fallen off for some reason. Weird.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
Related, if you didn't see it and have a bit of time, check out the last few minutes of that Fresno-UCLA game. Fresno State's QB led an amazing last drive, even though he hurt his hip (or something) on the previous drive. His throws were almost all arm & shoulder b/c he couldn't drive his legs & hips, yet he was completing passes 15-25 yards down the field, with accuracy.
BTW, Fresno State has now beaten UCLA four times in a row. I know UM football has fallen off the status we'd all like, but then I see stats like that and realize while I'm hoping we go up, it definitely could be worse.
September 20th, 2021 at 6:50 PM ^
Zach left because he had a preview to what Blake was about to do and he was already behind Haskins.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:22 AM ^
Will Hart punting for nearly 500 yards in a win. Good on him
September 20th, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
11 punts! Nearly 500 yards! See, look at all these guys that leave Michigan and do WAY better than the guys that stay. Our punters didn't do squat this week. How could we let Hart leave?!?!?
Seriously though, maybe he should check into some NIL action with Icy Hot or someone who makes a copper hip brace or something...
September 20th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
P Will Hart (San Jose State): Hart punted 11 times for 489 yards (44.5 yards/punt) in a 17-13 win over Hawaii.
Brad Robbins (Michigan): Took a short nap and ate a popsicle on the sidelines.
September 20th, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^
Will Hart is a freaking weapon!
September 20th, 2021 at 11:32 AM ^
I'm impressed that Turner is getting that much run at WF; he also doesn't seem to have a fumble yet this year.
Also, while Joe Milton may have been injured, I think Hooker was poised to replace him regardless.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:44 PM ^
Local papers say it's more of an "injury" than an injury. Coaches are letting Milton save a little face in case they need him later, but really he got yanked.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
Xavier Worthy is hands down the player on that list I wish would have suited up in the Maize and Blue. With the way the running game is going and Worthy's speed, playaction would be awfully exciting. Hopefully that Cornelius Johnson play on Saturday is a sign of things to come.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
I hope you're right about CoJo. However he seems to have a bad habit of slowing down significantly when he turns around to look for the deep ball. The first one that was "overthrown" wasn't overthrown. If he hadn't slowed down when he turned he'd have been in position to make the catch.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
He did it once (that I know of). Once is not a "bad habit".
The one he caught he sold the stop on that route like a car salesman; was a real nice route. At the very least corners in the future are going to see that one on film and give him a little cushion.
We have some talented young guys, given 'em some time to work on their craft. OSU is the end of November.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
Very happy for Brady Hoke.
September 20th, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Indeed. He's back in his element.
September 20th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
Brady seems like a great person, and I'd be happy if SDSU became a powerhouse under his watch.
With that being said, I was having flashbacks (of the negative variety) watching the replay of the Aztecs' win over Utah. SDSU put together a great opening drive in the second half... and then had what felt like 50 yds. of offense the rest of regulation. Just couldn't pick up first downs, run clock, and put the game away, and so Utah came back from 14 down in the last seven minutes. Unnecessary drama continued in multiple OTs. A great win that, on numerous occasions, felt a hair's breadth from being a soul-crushing loss.
September 20th, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
Tru Wilson is still playing? He was on the 2016 team
September 20th, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
As an aside, your mention of Emil Ekiyor sent me to Google and his dad's (I assume; right age and he's in Indianapolis with the same name) LinkedIn is funny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emil-ekiyor-a1384244/. He's the head of a community development nonprofit now and has done that kind of work for some time, but he lists his NFL experience as follows:
Dates Employed Mar 2001 – Feb 2004
Dates Employed May 1999 – Jan 2001
Employment Duration 1 yr 9 mos
Played Hard
Dates Employed Apr 1997 – Feb 1999
Employment Duration 1 yr 11 mos
Played Hard
September 20th, 2021 at 12:00 PM ^
How old is Tru Wilson? And I didn’t realize Luigi Villain transferred :-(
September 20th, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^
I forgot some of those guys had transferred - like I guess I didn't realize Luigi was gone
Reading this makes me feel better about our roster. Most of these guys transferring out clearly aren't Big Ten caliber players and the only guy who made some noise this week was Kareem Walker although he was playing Alcorn State. Everyone else seems to be playing more or less like a guy who couldn't start here
September 20th, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
I was surprised that Kareem Walker and Kekoa Crawford was still in college.
Will Hart punting 11 times in a game, made me smile as well.
Also, Rutgers played Delaware last weekend 45-13. The post says Rutgers had a bye.
September 20th, 2021 at 9:13 PM ^
Kareem Walker. Talk about an enigma. At one point, that guy was a five-star and the no. 1 RB in his recruiting class, committed to OSU. Then, it seemed like OSU wasn't super anxious about holding onto him, even though he still finished out the recruiting cycle (I believe) in the top 50.
I follow Magnus' Ex-Wolverines feature pretty regularly, and Walker's game on Saturday was only the only good outings I've seen him put together in his (quite extended) time in college. All that talent, and he regularly rushes for, e.g., 35 yd. on 16 carries--and against poor competition. Bizarre.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
These lists reaffirm my general thoughts about those who have been whining about transfers and decommitments.
Most transfer or decommit for a reason related to playing time, cultural fit, or (and we'll never really know this) acadmic reasons.
The reality is that very few transfers or decommitted players have gone on to have the type of career that would make the coaching staff, players or fans want to have them back on the team.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
Might be nice to have Herron. Nobody playing across from Hutchinson has really impressed me yet.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
Big Mike looks good/versatile. Ojabo looks like a newborn colt running around all wild at times. Honestly thought McGregor has looked pretty good enough that I’m intrigued if he was to get more reps opposite Hutch.
September 20th, 2021 at 4:56 PM ^
McGregor is next year's Hutch-and we will hardly miss a beat.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:33 PM ^
I really doubt that
September 20th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
Check out Phil Paea getting stout on the interior.
Kareem Walker is still in college? He must be almost 30. Good to see he’s doing ok though.
September 20th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
Worthy hurts because this team could use another weapon on the outside. What happened with Vilain? I know he was always injured, but forgot he transferred. Our O-Line has been solid, but can’t help but wonder how good they’d be with Emil starting.
September 20th, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
Arizona is a whew-lad bad. Northern Arizona lost to two FCS teams and the scores weren't close. https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2464
September 20th, 2021 at 8:51 PM ^
Thanks for the link, oriental andrew.
September 20th, 2021 at 9:07 PM ^
Speaking of former wolverines
September 21st, 2021 at 11:17 PM ^
Until this moment I had no idea Paea wasn’t on our roster