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Michigan football: Josaiah Stewart rising, ‘Beat Georgia’ drill, more

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•07/27/23•

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Michigan edge Josaiah Stewart is off to a great start at U-M. (Photo credit Josaiah Stewart / Instagram)

Michigan added nine transfers from the portal this offseason, and several are expected to play significant roles. Many are in line to start, including center Drake Nugent, tackle LaDarius Henderson, and — as of now — kicker James Turner. 

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Others are right in the mix, including one who has a special set of skills. Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said this spring Coastal Carolina defensive end Josaiah Stewart brought something as a pass rusher that was a little bit different, and he showed it in the spring game. 

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh added Thursday at Big Ten Media Day Stewart has made even more strides over the summer. He’s one of four pass rushers with senior Braiden McGregor, sophomore Derrick Moore, and senior Jaylen Harrell who will vie for starting duties this fall. 

“It’s going to be much like [Michigan quarterbacks] Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy last year where yeah, we may find out in training camp who the two best are, who the starters are … we may not,” Harbaugh said. “That might be something that goes into the season. We might start two one game, two the other game. It could be that kind of scenario. You don’t know until you know. 

“But [Stewart] is definitely someone that [excels], and he does it in a great way, a different way. He’s got this lower pad level. He gets under everybody so fast — so fast, so quick. He can really rush the quarterback. He’s in a much better position than he was even in the spring in terms of knowing the system and knowing his role in the defense.”

Stewart told us this spring he had a chip on his shoulder to prove he could be more than just a pass rusher at Michigan. He wants to be on the field on running downs, too, even though he’s not as big as some of the arother edges he’s competing with. 

We’ll know soon enough if he’s up to the challenge.

Michigan ‘Beat Georgia’ drill won’t replace ‘Beat Ohio’

Two years ago, Harbaugh implemented the “Beat Ohio” drill to be run in every practice in preparation for the finale with Ohio State. “We’re going to beat them or die trying,” he said at media days then … recalling it Thursday at Big Ten Media Day he said, “that means something.” Michigan, of course, went on to hammer the Buckeyes twice in consecutive years. 

This spring, the Wolverines added the “Beat Georgia” drill in anticipation of a third straight playoff appearance. It was in addition to the Beat Ohio drill, Harbaugh assured, not in place of it. But the point is, Michigan wants more this year than just a Big Ten title. 

“Kind of like our good friend [wrestler] Ric Flair — if you want to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man,” the Michigan coach said. “We wanted to emphasize it.”

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