Posts by: Thunder

2021 Recruiting Capsule: Belleville DT Damon Payne

NOTE: This series sort of tailed off when I got into the teens of the 2020 recruiting cycle, because not many of those kids are relevant to Michigan’s recruiting. But with the 2021 cycle in full swing, I’ll start at the top of the in-state rankings.

Name: Damon Payne
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 297 lbs.
High school: Belleville (MI) Belleville
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: 2021
Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, Vanderbilt
Commitment: Undecided

Notes: 247 Composite 4-star, #5 DT, #31 overall, #1 in-state as of 1/18/20…Claims 5.47 forty…4.59 shuttle…28.9″ vertical

Hit the jump for more.

2020 East West Shrine Game

The 2020 East West Shrine Game will take place at Tropicana Field today at 3:00 p.m. EST. It will be broadcast on NFL Network.

Here are some players to watch for Michigan and Big Ten fans:

EAST

• DE #94 Michael Danna (Michigan)
• DE #97 Joe Gaziano (Northwestern)
• OG #74 Steven Gonzalez (Penn State)
• OG #50 Michael Onwenu (Michigan)
• CB #29 John Reid (Penn State)
• OT #75 Jon Runyan, Jr. (Michigan)

WEST

• OT #76 Branden Bowen (Ohio State)
• RB #26 Reggie Corbin (Illinois)
• DT #96 Carlos Davis (Nebraska)
• DT #94 Khalil Davis (Nebraska)
• S #36 David Dowell (Michigan State)
• LB #29 Jordan Glasgow (Michigan)
• LB #47 Dele’ Harding (Illinois)
• OG #60 Tyler Higby (Michigan State)
• WR #19 Binjimen Victor (Ohio State)
• CB #28 Keith Washington (West Virginia)
• WR #15 Nick Westbrook (Indiana)
• DT #98 Raequan Williams (Michigan State)
• CB #27 Chris Williamson (Minnesota)

2020 Polynesian Bowl Preview

The 2020 Polynesian Bowl is taking place on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at 7:05 HST . . . which means it will be starting after midnight on the 19th if you’re on the East Coast.

Here’s a list of players Michigan pursued who are on the roster:

• RB Sam Adams II (Washington)
• OL Reece Atteberry (Michigan)
• OL Tosh Baker (Notre Dame)
• TE Kevin Bauman (Notre Dame)
• RB Jalen Berger (Wisconsin)
• WR LV Bunkley-Shelton (Arizona State)
• OL Michael Carmody (Notre Dame)
• DE Van Fillinger (Utah)
• LB Justin Flowe (Oregon)
• OL Andrew Gentry (Virginia)
• OL Geirean Hatchett (Washington)
• WR A.J. Henning (Michigan)
• CB Luke Hill (Oregon)
• WR Rakim Jarrett (Maryland)
• DT Aidan Keanaaina (Notre Dame)
• QB Sol-Jay Maiava (BYU)
• CB Dontae Manning (Oregon)
• CB Dwight McGlothern (LSU)
• DE Braiden McGregor (Michigan)*
• QB Parker McQuarrie (UCLA)
• S Jordan Morant (Michigan)
• LB Kalel Mullings (Michigan)
• OL Myles Murao (Washington)
• TE Mark Redman (Washington)
• RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)
• OL Roger Rosengarten (Washington)
• TE Joe Royer (Ohio State)
• LB Noah Sewell (Oregon)
• LS Gregory Tarr (Michigan)
• RB Lawrance Toafili (Florida State)
• RB Chris Tyree (Notre Dame)
• QB D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson)
• WR Roman Wilson (Michigan)

*Not participating due to injury

The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Here’s a list of Polynesian Bowl participants since it began (LINK).

Tenarius “Tank” Wright, Wolverine

The headline is doubly redundant, because Tenarius is Tank, and he was already a Wolverine.

Let’s back up a little bit.

All-Time Freshman Rushing Yardage Leaders

1. 1,455 yards (Mike Hart, 2004)
2. 748 yards (Ricky Powers, 1990)
3. 726 yards (Zach Charbonnet, 2019)
4. 614 yards (Chris Evans, 2016)
5. 573 yards (Jamie Morris, 1984)
6. 552 yards (Rick Leach, 1975)*
7. 549 yards (Anthony Thomas, 1997)
8. 548 yards (Tyrone Wheatley, 1991)
9. 417 yards (Chris Perry, 2000)
10. 351 yards (Denard Robinson, 2009)*

*Quarterbacks