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Game balls from Michigan football's spring game

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•04/01/23•

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Michigan Spring Football Game
ANN ARBOR, MI - APRIL 01: Benjamin Hall #28 of the Blue Team runs the ball up field against RJ Moten #6 of the Maize Team during the 3rd quarter of the spring football game at Michigan Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images)

Michigan football held its annual spring game on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor with a split-squad exhibition contest. The Maize Team, coached by running backs coach Mike Hart, stole the day with a 22-21 victory over Jay Harbaugh’s Blue squad and steak dinners for the victors.

There were a number of players injured and several other starters that played only sparingly in the contest. However, there were still plenty of standout performers in the competitive spring game. Michigan’s depth was on display with players throwing their names into the conversation as potential contributors this fall.

RELATED:

• Wolverine TV: Mike Hart, Michigan players discuss spring game

• Rapid reaction observations from Michigan spring football game

Here are the game ball awards from The Wolverine’s panel of Chris Balas, Clayton Sayfie and Anthony Broome.

Chris Balas: Freshman running back Benjamin Hall

Benjamin Hall was arguably the MVP of the spring game, finishing with 13 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown for the Blue team. For a guy who didn’t exactly tear it up in his senior year in high school, he has arrived as though he has something to prove. He showed great patience, power and even a little bit of speed in carving up the Maize defense. It looks like he’s going to be a good one when he gets his opportunity

Clayton Sayfie: Junior wide receiver Peyton O’Leary

Peyton O’Leary and his roommate, Davis Warren, hooked up for the game-winning two-point conversion. That capped off a great game for O’Leary, who was put on scholarship earlier this offseason. He’s been praised by Michigan coaches and players over the last year but only saw 18 offensive snaps in the 2022 season. It was right to be skeptical about O’Leary, a former lacrosse commit at UMass, but now it looks like he’s closer to living up to the hype. He caught a game-high 6 passes for 126 yards with a 34-yard long. He was quick in and out of his breaks. Frankly, it looks like he could impact this fall, if given the opportunity.

Anthony Broome: Junior EDGE defender Josaiah Stewart

All of the transfers that were healthy and available played well in Michigan’s spring game, but it was Coastal Carolina newbie Josaiah Stewart that stood out the most on the Blue team. While his measurables (6-2, 230) have him as a bit undersized at the position, his motor and freakish athleticism was on display during the spring game. The game stats list him as having a sack and two tackles for loss, but there were times where he made offensive linemen that have starting experience at Michigan look silly out there. This game ball easily could have gone to sophomores Kenneth Grant or or Derrick Moore, but No. 5 was a force on Saturday. How he would acquit himself was my only question about the EDGE group. The kids will be just fine.

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