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Nightly Roundup: January 19, 2020

If you’re a Michigan/MGoBlog fan, you might have found yourself witnessing quite a dust-up on Twitter between Brian Cook, Ace Anbender, Ant Wright, and others. I’m going to say a few things about it, because this is the internet and it was built to express people’s opinions about anything and everything, right?

1. Ace has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which is a real thing, and he started a Go Fund Me that (IIRC) raised $100,000+. Then he posted pictures of “non-essential” items on social media, and people got upset because…he wasn’t posting pictures of his medical bills, I guess.
2. Donations are donations. If you don’t believe in the cause and the people receiving then money, then don’t donate.
3. A donation does not mean that the recipient can only buy essential items for the rest of his life. At some point a person who receives a donation is going to buy a bottle of wine, a video game, tickets to a concert, etc.
4. Also, refer to #2.
5. Ace, Ant Wright, and Brian can all be buttholes in their own way. We all can. Today there were a lot of people being buttholes.
6. Full disclosure: I rarely agree with Ant and muted Ace on Twitter a long time ago. So I don’t really have a side, except…
7. …if you’re ever unsure, read #2 again.

Hit the jump for stuff that doesn’t have to do with buttholes.

Brian Jean-Mary, Wolverine

In news that contradicts what many thought, Michigan is hiring Brian Jean-Mary to replace Anthony Campanile as linebackers coach (not MGoBlog guess Tank Wright, which I used to write my post yesterday).

Jean-Mary is a Florida native from Apopka (hello, Jeremy Gallon!) who played at Appalachian State. He has spent much of his career working with noted defensive guru Charlie Strong at Louisville, Texas, and South Florida. He was assistant head coach at Louisville, recruiting coordinator at Texas, and defensive coordinator at South Florida, so this is a guy with significant leadership experience.

He is also known as a solid recruiter. At Texas he recruited blue-chip prospects like 5-star player Malik Jefferson and top-100 prospects like Erick Fowler and Anthony Wheeler.

A lot of people were concerned about whether Michigan would find an ace recruiter to replace New Jersey native Chris Partridge. Michigan will have a tougher time having its pick of the litter from the states of Florida and Texas like it did in New Jersey, but there’s also more talent in Florida and Texas. It will be interesting to see how much Michigan’s recruiting strategy changes with Jean-Mary pulling some strings and using his connections.

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).