Michigan players in college All-Star games

Submitted by ldevon1 on January 18th, 2019 at 10:08 AM

(Tomorrow) East - West Shrine game 3:00 on the NFL Network. West team

(76) Juwann Bushell-Beatty

(32) Tree Kinnel

NFLPA Game 5:00 on FS1 America team

(No number listed) Lawrence Marshall

(No number listed) Brandon Watson

January 26, 2019 Senior Bowl 1:30 NFL Network, West Team

(22) Karan Higdon

Chase will not play due to ankle injury. 

 

maize-blue

January 18th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^

I don't know what it was, but something weird happened to the team at the end of the year. My own personal opinion there was internal strife between the players, or coaches and players, or even the coaches themselves. Some will point to it just being the way things are in modern college football but between players like Higdon sitting out and Gmatt bailing for OSU, it just didn't pass the smell test. However, I do feel that the issue is probably resolved and won't be a lingering problem for the 2019 team.

SMart WolveFan

January 18th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^

I think in the end it probably had a lot to do with a parent wanting to have a holiday season with his family without having to share it with football for once; it might be his only chance for awhile if he has the pro career he hopes.

Of course, it's also easy to understand that the magic of his season ended in Columbus as it did for most of us; he was however, not only the guy who got cornered into a "guarantee", but also the representation of the whole reason this program is in shambles . ...#bodyblow!

I can see why motivation was low.

JonnyHintz

January 18th, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^

How does it baffle you? 

The Senior Bowl is an entire week of practices with NFL Scouts in attendance and a practice setting that is specifically tailored to showcase the things scouts covet. 

The Bowl game is an entire month of practices behind closed doors full of game prep to play in a game that doesn’t mean much, if anything at all. Not to mention the fact that skipping the bowl game allowed Higdon an extra month to focus solely on improving individual skills, strength, and conditioning that he can now showcase in front of the scouts instead of using that month to practice HB Dives into the backs of guards... 

M-B Devil Dog

January 19th, 2019 at 5:59 PM ^

Because He sat out playing for the team in a bowl to "protect" himself for what? a slap and tickle senior bowl? He could still have done the weeks worth of workouts for the scouts. By playing for the team you are running in real time real competition with plays that help you look good. I see a rule coming down by the NFL or NCAA or someone saying if you sit out your bowl game you cannot participate in these all star games and they should. I'll ask you this, is Bosa playing? No, cause he knows the combine is where it matters, not these senior bowls and east/west games where everyone goes 80-85% to make sure they don't get injured. 

Qmatic

January 18th, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^

His dad has a lot of influence on him. Ultimately Karan is his own man and has to answer for his own choices, but his dad was very frustrated with the OSU game and felt his son was slighted and disrespected not winning MVP. He had a lot to say about his thoughts on the coaches, and none were positive and the statements were not just about how they called games, but how they treat and look after players.

The Oracle 2

January 18th, 2019 at 10:44 AM ^

Higdon skipping the “meaningless” bowl game but choosing to play in an all star game is just weak. I’m looking forward to the rationalizations from those who always try to justify these guys bailing on their teammates.

Magnus

January 18th, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^

Yeah, I said this before, but I'll repeat it here. It's his body and he has the right to do with it what he chooses, but I also have the right to choose whose jersey to buy, who to support in the NFL, etc. I won't be going out of my way to support Higdon, Bushell-Beatty, Frank Clark, Taylor Lewan, and others, but I do love me some Brandon Graham, Chase Winovich, etc.

Magnus

January 18th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^

I don't disagree, but how do you hold kids accountable? What's to stop them from claiming to have a back injury or severe headaches in order to get out of playing in a bowl game?

Personally, we talk about paying players, but I would be more in support of bowl game compensation than paying players in general. Every team out there plays in 11 or 12 games a season, but when you talk about conference championships, playoff games, bowl games, etc., even mediocre teams are spending a few extra weeks practicing and playing in games throughout every player's career.

If you go to a bowl game all four years (like Michigan from 2015-2018), you're talking about 60 extra practices and 4 extra games played in that time span, with no compensation, while the fat old white dudes who are "chairmen" of the bowl games get a million bucks. Meanwhile, the players at Rutgers have to practice 60 fewer times and play in 4 fewer games to earn their scholarships, because they suck at football.

If you take the bowl revenue and distribute it evenly among the players involved, then I think you might have some more participation. And if you don't want to pay amateurs, fine.

If Freshman Player A's team makes a bowl game in 2019 and he plays, throw his $11,000 of revenue in the kitty until he graduates. If they miss a bowl game in 2020 and 2021, but then make a bowl game in 2022 and he plays, put his $13,000 in the kitty. When he graduates or declares for the NFL draft, write him a check for $24,000.

rockediny

January 18th, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^

Lmao this is probably a grown man saying this too. It's annoying and disappoint, yes, but relax (especially since we don't know his rationale). Dude started in what, maybe ~20 games? He helped us win 70%+ of those games, he chooses to not play in one game and suddenly he's dead to you? He doesn't owe you anything and doesn't need your friendship, grow up.

Jtre1212

January 18th, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^

A lot of people sound so entitled on this board smh. Higdon is doing what’s best for him. He’s not making decisions to make you (a fan) feel good. You guys need to get over it lol.

Magnus

January 18th, 2019 at 2:35 PM ^

I agree that entitlement is an issue for a lot of people, but that's not what this is about, IMO.

You're right that Higdon is doing what's best for him, but that's not what we have historically valued. People have historically valued those who do things that aren't selfish or self-serving. People who sacrifice for others (firefighters, police officers, doctors, EMTs, teachers, social workers, etc.) get extra respect, while business owners, engineers, etc. don't necessarily get that same respect (unless they go out of their way to do charitable things).

As a football player, you're expected to do what's best for THE TEAM. That's why all these sayings have sprung up like "There's no 'I' in 'team" or "The team, the team, the team" or "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." There's an aspect of everyone working together for a common goal, and obviously Higdon's goal wasn't the same as a bunch of the guys' on Michigan's roster.

If we all do what's best for ourselves, then we don't get along very well as a society. Now I'm not saying Higdon's decision is going to hurt society or bring us down as a country or anything, but I think the underlying theme is that we all want to see people putting others ahead of themselves.

Go for two

January 18th, 2019 at 7:38 PM ^

Really wonder how many scouts watch this vs. our bowl game and what the real difference could be? Really can’t fathom how 100 yards in the Peach Bowl is worse than 50 in the Senior Bowl with far less attempts.

M-B Devil Dog

January 19th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^

within the next 2 years we will see something brought forward by the NCAA that will say if you don't play in your teams bowl game you will be deemed ineligible for these "all star" games.  The sponsors of these bowls who contribute MILLIONS to all the programs, and ours, are going to say fuck this, I don't feel like being a sponsor if players aren't going to play in this but they will go play in this extra stuff. I have NO problem players sitting out if they feel that is best but we are on a seriously slippery slope when kids start saying I'll play in this game and that game but not that game buuuuut maybe this game.  Personally I think it's a bad look for a player to skip the bowl game sighting "safety reasons" but goes and plays in an after season all star game. If you think I'm crazy, I'm not, I've heard multiple significant talking heads talking about this very issue. Bowl game sponsors are not happy to have "back up bowls"

robo

January 20th, 2019 at 10:22 AM ^

Did not read all the comments , but , he was voted one of the captains of the team ., and he has tarnished his Michigan career , make NO mistake about that