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Steve Clinkscale, Wolverine

Michigan hired Kentucky defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale to replace the recently departed Mo Linguist, who was named the University of Buffalo’s new head coach.

Clinkscale has been the defensive backs coach at UK for the past five years and just added the title “Defensive Passing Game Coordinator” this off-season. Clinkscale has also coached at Cincinnati, Illinois, Toledo, Western Carolina, and Ashland. He should fit pretty seamlessly into Michigan’s hierarchy, as Linguist was “co-defensive coordinator” but paid less than Mike Macdonald. I imagine “Clink” will be in the same boat, labeled as a “co-coordinator” but also getting paid less than Macdonald.

I have been aware of Clinkscale for a few years, because as a coach at Kentucky, he has been a strong recruiting presence in southeast Michigan. The Wildcats landed a few commitments from the Detroit area, including 2022 Belleville (MI) Belleville cornerback Jeremiah Caldwell, whom Michigan offered in recent months. Clinkscale has also recruited Spring Hill (TN) Summit linebacker Keaten Wade, who was high on the Wolverines before committing to Kentucky.

It would be a mistake to assume that every Clinkscale recruit will automatically flip to the Wolverines, but it gives Michigan a puncher’s chance. Caldwell is the long, lanky type of corner that Michigan got used to with Channing Stribling, Jeremy Clark, and the like, while Wade would be a good edge defender.

Considering the lateness of the change, this is about as well as Michigan could have expected to do. Clinkscale was reportedly #1 on Michigan’s list, and of rumored options, I would take him over anyone else.

2021 Season Countdown: #119 Sam Staruch

Name: Sam Staruch
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 182 lbs.
High school: Lake Orion (MI) Lake Orion
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #84
Last year: I ranked Staruch #106 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Staruch had a very solid high school career and looks like a possible future contributor at wide receiver. Last year I had him at #106, but I think Michigan has brought in a few solid walk-on receivers, somewhat lessening the importance of any one individual guy. There may be an opportunity for playing time now that a couple occasional walk-on contributors – Jake McCurry and Nate Schoenle – have moved on, but offensive coordinator Josh Gattis seems a little less likely to take advantage of walk-ons than previous OCs at Michigan.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2022 Recruiting Update: May 11, 2021

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2022

Jayden Bellamy – WR – Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic: Bellamy is a 6’1″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #39 cornerback, and #427 overall. Bellamy is a teammate of 2022 cornerback Jaeden Gould, who is very high on Michigan.

Isaiah Bond – S – Buford (GA) Buford: Bond is a 6’0″, 175-pounder with offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, and Texas, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #49 athlete, and #570 overall. At one time both of his crystal ball picks were for Miami, but he just committed to Florida on Sunday.

Jeremiah Caldwell – S – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Caldwell is a 6’3″, 170 lb. prospect who is committed to Kentucky. He’s a 3-star, the #33 athlete, and #385 overall. Michigan offered him after safety Taylor Groves decommitted from the Wolverines in recent weeks, but Michigan does not have a strong track record of pulling in Michigan recruits over the past decade or so.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #120 Andrew Russell

Name: Andrew Russell
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Victor (NY) Victor
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #43
Last year: I did not rank Russell. He did not play in any games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Russell has been on campus for a couple years and has not participated in any games so far. I did not rank him previously, partly because he’s a safety on a team that recruited a ton of safeties over a couple recruiting classes. While the focus on recruiting safeties has perhaps petered out a little bit, there are still a lot of those guys on the roster.

Russell’s only real chance of getting on the field is playing on special teams. At 6’2″ and 190 lbs., Russell is a former standout lacrosse player (he was on Michigan’s lacrosse team for two years) and a decent athlete. He does not have superb speed, but his length and aggression are respectable. I do not expect him to see the field this fall.

Prediction: Backup safety and special teamer

2021 Season Countdown: #121 Noah Stewart

Name: Noah Stewart
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 255 lbs.
High school: Muskegon (MI) Northern Muskegon
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #61
Last year: I did not rank Stewart. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

I did not rank Stewart in 2020. The season countdown wasn’t as expansive, and as a freshman preferred walk-on lineman, I didn’t deem him capable of stepping on the field. And that was accurate. Stewart didn’t have a chance as a 6’7″, 245 lb. offensive tackle.

This year Stewart is a whopping 255 lbs. If I were Michigan, I might look at giving him a tight end number and playing him as a blocking tight end. Last year Michigan toyed with walk-on Carter Selzer and converted lineman Joel Honigford at tight end, and Stewart probably fits that role as a blocker better than Selzer. I don’t necessarily expect Stewart to play this year, but he has a lot of upside for a walk-on lineman.

Prediction: Backup offensive lineman