Michigan vs. Minnesota Game Balls: Standouts from a 27-24 win
The Michigan Wolverines moved to 4-1 on the season with a 27-24 win over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, retaining the Little Brown Jug trophy and sending the Gophers home with a loss. It took no shortage of standout performances to get the job done.
The Wolverine’s staff of Chris Balas, Clayton Sayfie and Anthony Broome weigh in with their game ball picks after the win, along with a few honorable mentions.
Chris Balas: Sophomore CB Jyaire Hill
Michigan decided to hold out junior cornerback Will Johnson on Saturday afternoon, leaving sophomore Jyaire Hill in the CB1 role with grad transfer Aamir Hall on the other side of the field. It was another strong showing for a young corner that struggled early on in the season before a breakout performance last week against USC. The interception Hill had in the second quarterback along the sideline was a textbook play that coaching staffs typically categorize as “teach tape,” and it looks like the young man is starting to come into his own. That should provide plenty of confidence about U-M’s defensive backfield with an ascending Hill on the roster and Johnson being healthy for the stretch run.
Clayton Sayfie: Graduate RB Kalel Mullings
Michigan’s best offensive player might be its best player period currently, rushing 24 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as the unquestioned lead back in the rotation. For comparison’s sake, Donovan Edwards had 9 carries for 34 yards, so it was not as much of a 1A and 1B backfield as it has been the first part of this year. Mullings has taken control of the job and looks like the tone-setting piece on a run-heavy team. The Wolverines will keep feeding him a steady dose of carries while the rest of the offense figures things out.
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Anthony Broome: Junior DB Zeke Berry
The football tends to find guys who are well-positioned, well-prepared and play through the whistle. Zeke Berry did just that on his strip-fumble and recovery in the first half of Saturday’s game. Michigan so desperately needed to step into Mike Sainristil’s role at nickel and run with it, and while those shoes cannot truly be filled, Berry has done a great job this year and it was great to see a big-time effort play get rewarded with a turnover that set up the Wolverines to take a 14-0 lead a few plays later.
BONUS GAME BALL: Junior DT Mason Graham
Shame on our three-man panel for overlooking another dominant performance from the third-year defensive tackle against the Gophers. He had four tackles and two sacks on the day and is someone that Minnesota hopes to never see again on the field one year after a game-wrecking performance with a club on his hand in 2023.
Michigan honorable mentions
• Junior WR Tyler Morris – 11-yard touchdown reception after blocked punt
• Junior TE Colston Loveland – Led team with 4 receptions for 41 yard
• Senior EDGE TJ Guy – Had a sack on a play his helmet was ripped off
• Junior LB Ernest Hausmann – Led team with 9 tackles
• Senior LB Christian Boivin – Blocked punt in 2nd quarter
