1 week ago
2
As of Sunday morning, the day that new Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham was introduced in his role to the public, he shared that he had one conversation with a current Wolverine thus far -- quarterback Bryce Underwood. In just a few days since, he has spoken to every player on the team in a one-on-one basis.
His biggest takeaway? He has a really good team.
Advertisement
While there certainly could be some separation of the wheat from the chaff, upon first blush, Whittingham is incredibly enthused about the players he's inheriting, noting that not all will be in Ann Arbor next year (though that appears to be more of their choice rather than his). But even so, he was enthused about the character of his team as much as its potential.
"It was an incredible experience," Whittingham said on ESPN College GameDay on Thursday morning. "I mean, these guys, high-character group. They care about academics. They want to be at Michigan, and that was the real mission to -- and what I was trying to find out when I met with everybody is where they were mentally and what their plans were, and I was amazed. I mean, there was not a bad guy in the bunch, literally. And every guy that I visited with was excited to be at Michigan.
"Now, that doesn't mean they're all going to stay. You've got transfer portals, and there's going to be some activity, I'm sure, there. But I came away very impressed, and it's a great group of guys. When you talk about what a Michigan man is, they exemplify that."
It will be an adjustment for the players to Whittingham, but just as much, it will be an adjustment for Whittingham. But perhaps in a different light.
Advertisement
At Utah, he wasn't accustomed to getting quite as high-end of a recruit as he perhaps will gain in Ann Arbor. And yet, he often did more with less, still putting together a team no one wanted to see, even with lower recruiting and transfer portal rankings.
So now he comes to Ann Arbor, where there are more resources and a higher ability to attract talent. But there are also higher expectations that the Wolverines will beat Ohio State, be in contention for Big Ten and national championships, and more.
"Well, it's definitely a different dynamic. And you're right, the level of the recruiting and the personnel, I mean, it's all accelerated," Whittingham said. "But this is a place that has a national championship opportunity every single year. And so that's really the motivation for me to express to these players is, 'Hey, it's Michigan, and we should be in the hunt year in and year out.' And it's going to take a little time. There's no difference -- I mean, the work is the work. You've got to get it done, whether you're at Utah, Michigan, or wherever. And so as long as we've got guys that are committed and want to be there and want to go to work, then you've got a chance."
Whittingham expects to have his new staff in place by the weekend, and certainly, time is of the essence. Especially for players on the fence in terms of staying or going. The transfer portal is open for business for two weeks starting Friday, and player retention is atop the list -- as Whittingham noted at his introductory press conference on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kyle Whittingham says Michigan roster is high-character, bought in
English (US) ·