Nine Michigan early enrollees expected to participate in Rose Bowl practices
No. 1 Michigan football has a big week ahead, with a showdown against No. 4 Alabama looming in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl, and some new Wolverines will get the chance to participate. Nine freshman early enrollees are expected to take part in pre-bowl practices in Pasadena.
Some, such as linebacker Jeremiah Beasley, quarterback Jadyn Davis and defensive back Jacob Oden, were able to move in and join the team for pre-bowl practices in Ann Arbor, before traveling out west for the game.
“At this point, it’s time to go,” Oden told TheWolverine.com after Michigan coaches visited for his in-home visit. “All of that [recruiting] stuff is over with. Now, it’s time to move forward. After we got done talking about what the next few weeks are going to look like, [they said], ‘It’s time to strap in, grow up and get rolling.’”
Being able to join the team early gives them a leg up on most college football freshmen. Doing the same last year ahead of the Fiesta Bowl allowed wide receiver Semaj Morgan to make an impact right away. He said his head was spinning at times early on in his experience at U-M but wound up finding his footing and contributing with 4 key touchdowns this season.
“It didn’t take them long to get up to speed,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said about early enrollees participating in bowl practices last year. “First couple of days, hearts pounding away, but by the second, third practice, they really acquitted themselves well.”
Here’s the full list of Michigan early enrollees expected to compete in bowl practices:
• LB Jeremiah Beasley
• DB Jacob Oden
• TE Brady Prieskorn
• QB Jadyn Davis
• EDGE Dominic Nichols
• OL Blake Frazier
• OL Jake Guarnera
• WR Channing Goodwin
• LB Cole Sullivan
All of the commits in the Wolverines’ 2024 class signed letters of intent Dec. 20. The group ranks No. 17 in the country and third in the Big Ten, behind No. 5 Ohio State and No. 15 Penn State. Oregon (No. 4) will join the Big Ten ahead of the 2024 season, too. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Michigan signed 15 four-stars and 12 three-stars. That number of four-stars ranks seventh among all teams nationally.
Michigan will take on Alabama at 2 p.m. PT at the Rose Bowl. The winner will face either No. 2 Washington or No. 3 Texas in the national championship game Jan. 8 in Houston, Texas.
