ANN ARBOR, Michigan: Jeremiah Beasley, a Michigan football commit, does not exactly have the appearance of an entering freshman, much less a player from a few weeks ago in high school.
A few days remain before the four-star linebacker prospect from Belleville (Mich.) High School signs with the Michigan Wolverines. This week, he showed up for practice. He will start his new program when Michigan plays Alabama in the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoffs.
I completed my first practice yesterday. I’m bringing them to the bowl game and everything. That will be convenient for me when we depart on the 26th, Beasley remarked. “It’s early enrollment after that. When they resume courses after break, I will be there. I’m going to strive for that because we have spring ball and all that stuff.
“.. My final high school game was completed only three weeks ago, not even a full month ago. Thus, it’s fortunate.
The gifted linebacker stopped by the Blue Leprechaun on Sunday afternoon to help Will Johnson and Semaj Morgan with their holiday toy drive. For over two hours, the two U-M players signed autographs and posed for photos in exchange for gifts that they will give out in Detroit.
Beasley’s appearance maintained their long-standing friendship: Morgan, who is only one year older than Beasley, is his childhood friend and his older brother grew up playing 7-on-7 against Johnson.
“We’re all real close, so I came out to support them,” Beasley explained.
Beasley has watched from afar — if 20 minutes down I-94 counts as “afar” — while Morgan has emerged as a playmaker during his true freshman season at U-M. The speedy receiver has 17 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and his 87-yard punt return against Iowa was one of the plays of the game in the Big Ten Championship.
“That’s like motivation me, to see that somebody that young can come in and have that big of an impact,” Beasley said. “That tells me you can come in and play early and do what he’s doing or even better.”
The U-M staff projects Beasley as a WILL linebacker, he said. And though there is some uncertainty in the room following Chris Partridge’s departure, he isn’t concerned.
“I feel comfortable,” he said of the coaching staff. “Right now, Jesse Minter, his dad is the linebacker coach. He’s a really good guy, really intelligent guy. They’re planning on hiring somebody after the bowl game so it doesn’t affect what they’re doing this year. I know they’ll make a good choice, so I’m real comfortable.”
Jeremiah Beasley’s scouting report, via 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu
ANN ARBOR, Michigan: The Michigan Insider was informed by Michigan football player Will Johnson that he will make a comeback from injury to play Alabama in the College Football Playoffs.
“I will definitely be present,” Johnson said in an afternoon interview with TMI. “I feel wonderful. I’m feeling great.
With any luck, Johnson will play against the Crimson Tide “100%” come January 1.
Johnson “tweaked a little something” in the second half of the regular-season finale against Ohio State, as he said earlier this month, aggravating something that he had previously injured in practice. Though Johnson was “out there at practice” ahead of the Big Ten Championship Game, he ultimately did not play against Iowa as the Wolverines won their third straight title.
But, as he told TMI on Sunday afternoon at a toy drive hosted alongside Semaj Morgan, the ailment won’t hold him out of the CFP.
The sophomore’s return will be key for the Wolverines against Jalen Milroe and the talented Alabama receiving corps. It also, presumably, will allow Mike Sainristil to return to slot corner — where he has excelled in 2022 and 2023.
Below is what Johnson said earlier this month about his sophomore season and the Alabama matchup:
On being named to the All-Big Ten First Team:
It feels great. I mean, that’s a dream come true. That just shows all the respect the people around the conference have for me. So it just it feels great, definitely, to have that respect from everybody.
On the matchup against Marvin Harrison Jr. and Ohio State:
That game is always like blood is pumping. That’s all you can really think about coming into the game. Me and Marv, that matchup was super hyped up before the game. So my goal was just to shut him down as much as I can. He’s a great player, so he’s gonna get his a little bit too, but it was great. I mean, it was a movie — kind of similar to that ’21 game. We got the win, so it felt great.
