Game balls from Michigan's 56-10 win over Hawai'i

Michigan football blew out Hawai’i 56-10 on Saturday night in a game that felt like a coronation more than anything. Lightning and rain may have delayed the start of the J.J. McCarthy era, but there is no doubt that it is now in full swing.

Clayton Sayfie, Anthony Broome and Chris Balas select a player each week for Michigan after the game concludes. Here are the players that get the biggest nod from our staff following a Week 2 victory over the visiting Rainbow Warriors.

Chris Balas: Sophomore QB J.J. McCarthy (11-for-12 passing, 229 yards, 3 TDs)

Yes, it was just Hawai’i. No, you should never put too much stock in one performance. But from a pure talent standpoint and the way that the kid handled himself in his first start, he appears on his way to being the best quarterback Michigan has seen since Chad Henne. That he is a dual threat makes him potentially even better. His balls were on the money. He went to the right spots with the ball and he didn’t turn it over. That’s the big one. There are bigger tests to come, but it is clear that he has taken his game to another level and has earned his opportunity.

Clayton Sayfie: Junior RB Blake Corum (9 carries, 88 yards, TD)

If there was a player moving at a different speed Saturday night — and there were a few, all on the Michigan side — it was junior running back Blake Corum. The Wolverines had 9 running plays of 15-plus yards, and Corum was responsible for 3 of them, including a long of 24 yards. He flew high on his 1-yard touchdown run, jumping over top of the pile. All told, Corum finished with 88 yards and 1 score on just 9 carries, with his 9.8 yards per carry average standing as the third-best of his career. 

Anthony Broome: Fifth-year WR Ronnie Bell (6 catches, 76 yards, TD)

When you don’t play a football game for a calendar year, there is always going to be some natural rust to shake off. Ronnie Bell did not have his best performance last week against Colorado State and started the Hawai’i game a bit slowly. But with a new quarterback under center, he was able to flourish for the first time in more than a year. Bell had a drop early in the game – his second in as many weeks – but bounced back with a 6-catch, 76-yard performance and his first score of the season off the hot fingertips of McCarthy.

With junior wideout Roman Wilson emerging as the team’s burner and someone who can take the top off the defense, Bell could be well-suited to do the dirty work underneath running slants and drag routes. The rust looks shaken off, and he appears ready to hit his stride moving forward coming off a torn ACL last season.

Michigan football honorable mentions

Junior WR Roman Wilson: The team’s resident Hawai’i native was a focal point of the game plan this week, grabbing a 42-yard receiving touchdown from McCarthy. He added another on the ground from 21 yards out. Time will tell where he lands in the wide receiver pecking order. But Wilson has been the most consistent through two weeks.

RBs Donovan Edwards, C.J. Stokes and Isaiah Gash: The Warriors were never going to be a team that provided much resistance, but this was a better night from the running backs. Edwards had a 33-yard catch to go with 3 rushes for 26 yards and a touchdown. Stokes had another strong showing with 8 rushes for 68 yards and a score. Gash ripped off a 38-yard touchdown run. The run game finished with 5 touchdowns and 268 yards on 33 carries Saturday night. Michigan felt it left big plays on the field last week. It was not the case in the second outing of the year.

Junior EDGE Jaylen Harrell: The Michigan defense did what it was supposed to do against the hapless Hawai’i team it faced. That said, Harrell was again the Wolverines’ most complete performer and most consistent pass rusher. He added a pass defended and quarterback hit on the evening, and his PFF grade should wind up being high once again.