Don't miss out on any of our exclusive football, basketball and recruiting coverage. Click here to get your 60-day free trial!

The Fort's own Jim_S joins senior editor John Borton on the podcast, talking about the present team and recruiting.

Topics include Michigan's quarterback situation, players who have improved their stock over the first couple of weeks, and how the 2018 class continues to shape up.

Here's the podcast…

Here are some podcast highlights, including Jim_S commentary on…

• Michigan players whose stock is rising early: "[Redshirt junior] Brandon Watson is rotating with [sophomore] David Long at the cornerback opposite of [sophomore cornerback] Levert Hill and is playing pretty well. I'm very, very happy with our secondary play in those first couple of weeks, and Watson has been an integral part of that performance.

"He's a kid who a lot of people didn't even think would see a lot of playing time this year, but he's been able to work his way into the rotation and stay in the rotation. If this continues, there's a good chance he will be invited back next year.

"Another kid who looked like he might not be coming back [for a fifth year] is [redshirt junior defensive tackle] Lawrence Marshall. Now he's bulked up quite a bit, and I know [defensive line coach] Greg Mattison has spoken highly of him entering the season. But we needed to see whether that was lip service, or there was some reality to that statement. It looks like he's the real deal.

"If you look at that one play against Florida, he really hustled over to the other side of the field, knocked over a guy and recovered a fumble. He's about 20, 25 pounds heavier than he was last year and he's becoming comfortable inside, playing at that three-tech. With [fifth-year senior defensive tackle] Maurice Hurst leaving next year, there is a window of opportunity for him to be invited back. He's been a very pleasant surprise.

"[Fifth-year senior tailback] Ty Isaac has established himself as the top running back on the team, with back-to-back 100-yard games. He's running with a lot more authority, putting his head down and banging more than he has in the past. I like to see that physical style of play.

"He has some elusiveness and some deceptive speed, but with that sort of size, sometimes you've got to put your head down and run through some people, in terms of closing plays. I've seen that on a consistent basis in his first two games, and it's shown in his performance."

• Players who have not done as much as expected early: "Obviously, we want to see [redshirt junior quarterback] Wilton Speight get into some sort of rhythm and cut down on the mistakes. That's self-evident. Just the fact that everyone is talking about that position at this point means that it's not where we want it to be.

"With Ty Isaac really establishing himself at the running back position, where does that leave [sophomore] Chris Evans? Heading into the season, the feeling was that he was about to have a breakout year. He had a really fine freshman year. He's had a couple of nice runs, but he really hasn't taken it to that next level, that I would have expected there. I would really like to see a little bit more from Evans.

"And then [junior tailback Karan] Higdon as well, but Higdon hasn't had that many touches. You've got guys with touches that really haven't done as much with those touches, and then you've got guys like Higdon, who have had minimal touches.

"That's the problem — you've got one ball, and three or four backs."

• Possible recruiting developments depending on how the season goes: "This is the first year where we're going to have an early signing period. The Michigan staff is in an interesting situation, as are staffs throughout the country. Among their verbal commitments, who are they going to push to sign early, and who might they not push?

"Think about it for a minute. You've got a program like Notre Dame out there, where you've got three or four kids who Michigan was actively involved with, finished second or third — the Ademilola twins [Justin and Jayson], Shayne Simon, Markese Stepp, the running back out of Indianapolis Cathedral … these are all blue-chip players.

"Think about it for a minute. If, come late November, Notre Dame is 7-5, 6-6, and Brian Kelly is fired, several of these kids are going to rethink their decision. If Michigan was right there beforehand, they'll be right there at the end.

"There may have to be some quick adjustments, in who they might pursue among these Notre Dame commitments, and who they don't pursue."

---

• Talk about this article inside The Fort

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, The Wolverine

• Follow us on Twitter: @TheWolverineMag, @BSB_Wolverine, @JB_ Wolverine, @AustinFox42, @AndrewVcourt and @Balas_Wolverine

• Like us on Facebook