5 breakout candidates for Michigan football after one week of fall camp

Michigan football fall camp began last week on Wednesday, meaning we are officially seven days into the Wolverines’ final period of preparation ahead of the coming season. With some roster turnover from last year’s team, the Wolverines are seeing a number of new faces emerge as breakout candidates thus far, including Tyler Morris (wide receiver), Ernest Hausmann (linebacker), Josaiah Stewart (edge rusher), and more.

Many breakout players emerging during Michigan football fall camp

Yesterday, a few top Michigan football stars met with the media for the first time since fall camp began the week before. There, these Wolverine stars — such as quarterback JJ McCarthy and others — identified a number of names that have been standing out ahead of the season opener against East Carolina on September 2nd.

Tyler Morris

JJ McCarthy and Tyler Morris were high school teammates, and with wide receiver depth at a premium for Michigan football right now, it appears that this duo could be an elite one in the months to come.

“Tyler Morris, he’s gonna make a big name for himself this year,” JJ McCarthy stated yesterday afternoon. “I’ve had that connection built since my sophomore year in high school. He’s gonna do great things…

“That’s like a special connection to me, going back to Naz (Nazareth Academy), I used to call him Simba, I would be Mufasa, stuff like that,” McCarthy continued. “Going back to 8th grade, freshman year, when we played 7-on-7 together, that’s my guy, that’s my day one. It’s one of those things where I feel like I could close my eyes and throw the ball and I know where he’s going to be out of his break. Having that with everyone is my goal right now but with T-Mo it’s just like that (*snaps*), money.”

Ernest Hausmann

Ernest Hausmann is a new transfer portal addition for the Wolverines’ elite defense. After starting for Nebraska as a freshman, it’s taken no more than a week of Michigan football fall camp to see that Jim Harbaugh landed one of the top transfers in the nation ahead of the 2023 season.

“Quick learner, came in ready to learn, ready to work,” said veteran Michigan football linebacker Mike Barrett when asked about Ernest Hausmann. “We push each other every day.”

“… Ernest (Hausmann), like I said, he’s coming along fast. He’s really impressed me just by how fast he’s been able to pick it up, moving around, just being comfortable with the defense already just being here six months, so that’s really impressive.”

Josaiah Stewart

One name that has flown under the radar in regard to the 2023 Michigan football transfer portal class is edge rusher, Josaiah Stewart. Stewart, formerly an edge rusher for Coastal Carolina, is making a huge leap from the Group of 5 level to arguably the top conference in the sport — thus far, his transition has been seamless.

“A couple of those boys out front like Josaiah Stewart, he’s gonna be great this year,” said JJ McCarthy when asked about standout performers on the defensive line so far.

“(Josaiah Stewart), he’s not the biggest guy, but trust me, get in your pads and he’ll take you for a ride,” Jaylen Harrell added when asked about Josaiah Stewart fitting into the scheme. “The energy he plays with and the quick twitch acceleration, you can look at him small but he can get under you and take you for a ride. Size really doesn’t matter here.”

Kenneth Grant

Last year, Michigan football saw a lot of reps come from Kenneth Grant, but he lacked a defining breakout moment as a true freshman. This year, it sounds like Grant was impressive throughout spring ball, and it appears that this success is bleeding into Michigan football fall camp and beyond.

“This fall camp, he’s really taken a big step,” said Jaylen Harrell when asked about Kenneth Grant on Monday. “He was good last year, but I feel like he took that next step. I see him out there, he’s somewhere in that backfield where there’s pass, run, he’s getting back there and he’s causing havoc. He’s making a lot of disruptions. Kenneth’s gonna be a dog for sure this year.”

Jaydon Hood

Jaydon Hood is currently a junior linebacker for Michigan football, and to this point in his college career, his name has not been called much. That said, throughout Michigan football fall camp, 6th-year senior Mike Barrett claims that Hood has been standing out thus far.

“Jaydon Hood, I feel like he’s made a big step from last year,” Mike Barrett said yesterday. “He’s coming along really fast learning and being able to help step into that next spot.”

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