At his weekly press conference, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore spoke on the program’s approach to NIL and recruiting/the transfer portal, provided an update on Will Johnson’s injury status, and more:
Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore met with the local media on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference. Today, he spoke about the team’s second bye week of the year, the Northwestern Wildcats , and more.
Here are the key things Moore spoke about today.
- Moore called the bye week “buy in” week, to make sure that everybody was all in for the last two games of the year. He noted they had some of their “best, spirited” practices over the bye week. He was happy with how the team had a positive mindset over the past week, and he shouted out Max Bredeson for leading the charge in that department.
- Making a bowl game is important for the future, Moore said. He noted young guys like Dominic Nichols, Mason Curtis, Jo’Ziah Edmond and Cole Sullivan on defense, and Andrew Sprague, Channing Goodwin, Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana on offense as players who can greatly benefit from the additional practices and game.
- The worst kept secret in the world is Michigan’s recently renewed recruitment of Bryce Underwood, which is perceived as a primarily transactional pursuit. When asked about NIL, Moore said he still wants to keep the “transformational, not transactional” approach in the sense of recruits having the attitude to want to play for Michigan, but also acknowledged that NIL is a bigger part of the recruiting process these days. “(NIL has) been a huge piece of (recruiting) … and we’re getting the support that we need to do that.”
When asked about how he feels about spreading out NIL money vs. giving it all to one or two players, Moore said “we want everybody to eat when it comes to that, and they’ll all earn their keep. They’ll all get what they deserve. We’ve got a great system in place.”
- This weekend is the final time that the seniors will suit up at Michigan Stadium. Moore pointed out Bredeson, Makari Paige, Donovan Edwards, Josaiah Stewart, Myles Hinton, Josh Priebe and Davis Warren as seniors that have impacted the program in a positive way. “So thankful for them and want to go out on a high note.”
- Cornerback Will Johnson continues to recover from his reported turf toe injury. “We’ll see” if Johnson will play or not this weekend.
- Running back Ben Hall gave the team “some good carries” against Indiana and will have more touches moving forward, in addition to Edwards and Kalel Mullings.
- Speaking of Mullings, Moore said that “we keep all our conversations internal” regarding why he only had one carry in the first half against Indiana. “He’s a team guy and we’re going to continue to stay together as a team.”
- Moore still speaks with former head coach Jim Harbaugh weekly. He has also talked with John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin, as well as Bob Stoops, this season for advice. “Those are guys that I talk to a lot and continue to talk to and lean on, because everybody needs that.”
- Moore described Northwestern as a “tough, hard-nosed group.” The defense is “physical … runs to the ball.” Pointed out their good start against Ohio State last weekend. “A good football team that we definitely gotta prepare to go win.”
- Coming off so many wins the last three seasons, Moore said he recently had conversations with a few of the players that have won so many games and how this season hasn’t went the way they wanted it to. “We’re gonna take these (losses) as lessons and make sure we don’t have these feelings ever again.”
- The biggest thing Moore is proud of this season is that the team continues to fight in every game. “But we gotta go win it. We gotta go finish these games and win.”
- The offensive line is “not where we want it to be,” Moore said. He wants them to be able to run the ball better, and Moore has to do some “soul searching within myself” to figure out how to best improve the unit. “Not where we have been obviously, but definitely can see us striving to get better, and we will.”