Ten things we’ve learned two weeks into Michigan fall camp

Michigan is off and running in fall camp, preparing to defend its Big Ten title for the second year in a row. Several players are making moves, while some positions are still up for grabs. One thing is certain, however — there’s no lack of talent on this team. Everyone around practice has been impressed by what they’ve seen, with one position group in particular really standing out. More on that and several other things we think we’ve learned about the 2023 Wolverines a few weeks into camp.

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10.  Josh Wallace might be the favorite to start at the “other” Michigan corner position. The UMass transfer has been “joined at the hip” with fifth-year senior nickel Mike Sainristil, probably the best thing he could have done in learning the ins and outs of the defense, and he’s played a lot of football here. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter mentioned him twice in the last week as a guy to watch — one at a press conference, once on the Big Ten Network’s road show — and from everything we’ve heard, he’s making plays. Others will push him, but we’d expect him to start the opener down the line from sophomore Will Johnson on the other side. 

9. Blake Corum is back and better than ever. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said his Heisman candidate was bigger, stronger, maybe even faster after returning from knee surgery last week, a scary thought for Big Ten opponents. The Michigan senior back was clearly the Wolverines’ top running back in Saturday’s scrimmage, by all accounts showing no effects from the injury that cost him most of the Ohio State game and the postseason last year. We expect him to have a monster season … and yes, to get the majority of the carries when it matters most. 

8. Davis Warren is emerging at QB2 … at least for now. Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle has more game experience and might be the “safer” pick, but Warren has looked sharp in scrimmages and practices and has really elevated his game. He has to prove he can do it during a game, but even in limited action at times last year, he didn’t look overwhelmed. He seems to have a bit of swagger similar to Michigan junior starter J.J. McCarthy, as well. There’s still half of camp remaining, but we might bet on Warren to be the backup at this point.

7. Alex Orji will have a role on this team again. The Michigan sophomore quarterback is a special athlete, and while he’s still raw as a passer, he’s got skills they can put to use beyond just being a wildcat quarterback. He’s hard to stop as a runner when everyone knows it’s coming — imagine what he’d do if defenses were caught off guard? We expect him to be used in some creative ways this year … and beyond just the kick return game, as Harbaugh mentioned last week.

6. The defensive line is ahead of the offensive line at this point. Part of that might be the result of experimenting with the group to see who the best fits are, especially at tackle. It takes time to develop chemistry and find who works well together, and where. But we said it in the spring — this might be one of the best and deepest interior lines Michigan has ever had. They were getting pressure throughout the first Saturday scrimmage, and Harbaugh said on the Big Ten road show they won the day in short yardage scrimmage situations, etc. There’s a lot to like about this group, both against the run and as pass rushers.

5. Colston Loveland is an absolute beast. We said it last year when he first arrived — some were already touting the tight end as a potential first round (maybe even upper half) NFL Draft pick after seeing him for a few months. The sophomore is making contested catches frequently, has gotten bigger and stronger, and he’s ready to take his game to another level. Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt, now an analyst for the Big Ten, has seen him a few times now — he said he could see a year in which Loveland catches 50 balls and goes over 600 yards receiving. 

4. Karsen Barnhart is emerging as an almost certain starter. The veteran upped his game this summer, pushed by the addition of transfers LaDarius Henderson and Myles Hinton, to the point that Harbaugh said last Monday he was the best tackle Michigan had so far this fall. It remains to be seen whether that will be on the right side or the left — we’d prefer it be right, honestly, as that seems better suited for him — but he’ll play where asked. Wherever it is, you know you’re going to get elite effort. He’s healthy and playing extremely well. 

3. Roman Wilson is emerging as the potential go-to guy at receiver. We’ve been waiting for this. Some around the conference said he was one of the more “legit” receivers Michigan recruited when he came here from Hawaii. He’s just had trouble staying healthy. But he made a one-handed catch in practice yesterday that drew “oohs” and “aahs” and caught the attention of the Big Ten Network crew, and he had a big day in the scrimmage Saturday. Cornelius Johnson has missed a bit of time this fall, and that’s allowed Wilson to really shine. 

2. Jim Harbaugh is not letting the NCAA case affect him or his team. He looks as calm and relaxed as ever despite the NCAA coming after him for allegations of “improper contact” in recruiting. He said it at media day — he’d love to talk about it, and he has “nothing to be ashamed of” — but no matter what, folks close to it say, it hasn’t affected anything in the building or been a distraction. On the contrary, they say — it’s increased the resolve to have a great season for their coach. 

1. This is the deepest team Jim Harbaugh has had at Michigan. And we really don’t think it’s close. The second stringers on the lines could start for most Big Ten teams. There are two elite backs, an elite corner in Johnson, elite tight ends … it just goes on and one. Harbaugh said he could have as many as 20 players drafted next year. While that seems a bit high, it’s not that far off. It’s reminiscent of the 1997 team that had 25 players who started at least a game that year play in the NFL … and we all know what that team accomplished. 

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