Harbaugh Reveals Which Michigan Player Has Stood Out The Most This Spring
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Former tight end Jake Butt joined Jim Harbaugh on this week's "Attack Each day" podcast to discuss spring football, along with several other topics.
Butt gave his thoughts on the U-M tight ends, while Harbaugh had plenty of interesting updates regarding spring ball.
We have all the highlights below:
Jim Harbaugh:
“I went to a father/daughter dance over the weekend at St. Francis with Addie and Katie. Last year's event was just two hours of straight dancing, and all the dads wound up drenched in sweat. This year, though, they had a hula hoop contest, and Katie was great in it — two older girls wound up going longer than she did, but for a first grader, Katie lasted a long time. I was proud.”
Jim Harbaugh, on the upcoming trip to Paris and Normandy:
“I'm looking forward to a repeat of what we did last year in Rome — the memories we created, the things we learned, and the time spent with teammates was unbelievable. This year's trip will be just as good, and possibly even better. We’ve got experienced travelers on our team now.
"The trip to Normandy will be special. I just learned that Coach John Beilein’s mother’s brother lost his life at Normandy, and is buried there — we’re going to visit his gravesite. The men who stormed the beaches of Normandy actually inspired the movie 'Band of Brothers.' I talked to Coach Beilein about speaking to our team and sharing the facts as he knows them — that’d be good for our players to preview before going on the trip.
"We invited Coach and the whole basketball team to come along, but they have a big recruiting event that weekend. A potential football/basketball trip in the future would be something to consider."
Jim Harbaugh, on spring standouts:
"[Junior defensive end] Rashan [Gary] is arguably our best player, no doubt about it. [Fifth-year senior defensive end] Chase [Winovich] is also having a great spring, and [fifth-year senior defensive tackle] Bryan Mone too. [Sophomore defensive tackle] Aubrey Solomon has really stepped up.
"One person who has really emerged, though, who wasn’t a full time guy last year is [junior defensive tackle] Michael Dwumfour — he’s been very Mo Hurst-like, in that he's disruptive and tough to block. He’s poised to have a great year. Michael is putting it together every day too, in back to back to back to back practices. There are other guys standing out, but if I had to mention one guy who comes to mind, it’d be him."
Jim Harbaugh, on how he plans on handling Saturday's spring game:
“We’re not doing it like a game — one team versus another. It’ll be scrimmaging and situations. We need that right now with where we’re at. Development is happening and the team is improving, and we’re looking forward to the four practices we'll have after it. We’re just past the halfway point, but I’m happy with the way the team has progressed. There’s still a long road to hoe."
Jake Butt, on being elected captain at Michigan in 2016:
“That’s the coolest thing I got to experience at Michigan. What made it so special is that I was elected by my fellow players. I had always tried to earn guys’ respect, and to be elected alongside someone like [defensive lineman] Chris [Wormley] was all the more special.”
Jake Butt, on what he's seen from Michigan's tight ends:
“We’re seeing some emerging players in [redshirt junior Zach] Gentry and [junior Sean] McKeon. Gentry has always been a beast — the guy has freakish size and athleticism and is finally putting it all together.
"The same can be said about Sean — he had a good year last year and now has to take that next step. We also have to get guys like [redshirt junior Tyrone] Wheatley and [junior Nick] Eubanks healthy and playing at the level they’re capable of. I don’t see why that can’t be the best tight end group in the country.”
Jim Harbaugh, on the progression of the tight ends:
“Sean McKeon is having an outstanding spring — he reminds me a lot of Jake Butt. He’s a willing blocker and a really good route runner, and is fast and tough too. Sean just has that edge that Butt played with.
"Zach had an amazing offseason, and is up about 13 pounds of muscle. He’s one of our most positive players and his positivity affects others. He has a slight groin issue right now though, and has missed a couple days of practice.
"Wheatley broke the metacarpal in his foot, but had been having a heck of an offseason before that. Eubanks is emerging and is very talented, and [new tight ends coach] Sherrone Moore is doing a great job coaching him.
"[Freshman Mustapha] Muhammad will be good, and [freshman Luke] Schoonmaker as well.”
Jim Harbaugh on sophomore fullback Ben Mason:
“He was voted by his teammates as the toughest player on the team last year. He was cracking skulls, and doing Ben Mason things. He had actually complained about his knee a little bit, but the trainers couldn’t find anything wrong with it.
"Ben wound up getting an MRI that showed he had a meniscal tear, and will have meniscus surgery and be out for a month and a half. He would’ve kept going if we wouldn’t have gotten that MRI.”
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