Opinion: Michigan Football Players Of The Game After Winning National Championship
What a night for Michigan football, the coaches, and fans. The Wolverines are national champions after defeating Washington on Monday night, 34-13.
The Wolverines went back to their true identity by running down the opponent's throat and playing great defense. Michigan rushed for more yards (303) than Washington had as a team on Monday (301). The maize and blue constantly caused havoc to Michael Penix by disguising coverages and getting constant pressure on the gunslinger.
Everyone is going to remember the 2023-24 Michigan Wolverines and what they did this season. And while everyone had an impact on making this happen in Houston, here are the six players that I thought really stood out and made the national championship a reality.
Offense:
RB Blake Corum:
Of course, Blake Corum. Corum won the offensive MVP on Monday night after scoring two touchdowns and gaining 134 yards on the ground. Corum wasn't all alone against Washington -- other running backs had great games as well -- but it wouldn't be a Michigan win without Corum putting on a show. Corum is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best, Michigan running back of all time. He came back for one final season and as he said during the trophy presentation "The job is finished."
RB Donovan Edwards:
The junior running back saved his best game for the biggest stage. Dono's first two runs on Monday night went for touchdowns and he ran harder than I've seen him run all season. Edwards had great vision, had good patience, and really fought for every yard against the Huskies. Edwards finished with two scores and ran for 104 yards on just six carries.
TE Colston Loveland:
The Michigan passing game was really non-effective on Monday night. Roman Wilson had a few nice plays, but the sophomore tight end might've made the biggest play in the passing game. In the fourth quarter, Michigan ran an RPO and J.J. McCarthy zipped a high pass in the direction of Loveland who caught and ran for 41 yards. That play set Corum up for a touchdown a few plays later.
Defense:
CB Will Johnson:
Will Johnson has probably had better looking games at Michigan, but man, the sophomore is lights out. He was a little grabby playing against Rome Odunze on Monday, but he played well enough to earn defensive MVP. Johnson made the first interception on Penix on the first play of the third quarter and that was a big statement play by the Wolverines' defense. Washington had a chance to tie the game, but Johnson wasn't having any of that. Only a sophomore, Johnson has proven he can play against the best of the best.
CB Mike Sainristil:
Kind of like Blake Corum, when could Michigan win a game and Mike Sainristil not have a big part in it? Sainristil was making open-field tackles that ended a few Washington drives and he made the game-ending interception against Penix in the fourth quarter. Sainristil was another one of those players who came back for one last season, and Michigan will forever be grateful he did. Sainristil has earned himself a nice payday in the NFL come draft time.
CB Josh Wallace:
Why not put the third corner in this group? Michael Penix, a kid who can throw for over 300 yards with ease, was held to 255 yards and even that didn't come easy. Wallace was just as much of a reason for that. The UMass transfer came to Michigan to add some depth and have a chance to start in Ann Arbor, and not only did he earn a starting job, but he became a really good corner for the Wolverines and will leave as a national champion.
