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Franz Wagner is proving to be elite for the Orlando Magic

Franz Wagner may be young, but he is proving to be more than capable of competing at the highest level of basketball.

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Jan 15, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) drives to the net ahead of Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji (22) in the third quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

It wasn’t long ago that Franz Wagner was known as nothing more than the brother of former Michigan basketball star Moe Wagner. The older Wagner played three seasons in Ann Arbor, from 2015-2018, leading the Wolverines to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and an NCAA National Championship appearance.

The younger brother, Franz Wagner, is now making a name for himself and has proven to be an elite college basketball and NBA player. He spent two years at Michigan and is now in the midst of his second season with the Orlando Magic.

College years

Despite spending just two seasons in Ann Arbor, there’s little doubt that Wagner had an incredibly impactful career donning the maize and blue. Over the course of his career, he averaged 12 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. When thinking about someone who can do pretty much anything on the court, Wagner should be the first person to come to mind.

His sophomore season was by far his most successful with Michigan basketball. Along with being selected to the second-team All-Big Ten team, he was a significant part of the Wolverines’ trip to the Elite Eight before falling to UCLA.

His season was so successful he decided to give the NBA a shot as teams fell in love with his combination of scoring, defense, and length. Eventually, he’d be picked No. 8 overall by the Orlando Magic, allowing Franz Wagner to play professional basketball with his older brother Moe.

NBA years

Being selected by the Orlando Magic following the 2021 season, it was apparent he would be a part of a multi-season rebuild. The bright side of this is that he would find plenty of opportunities to see the floor, show what he’s capable of, and gain plenty of experience.

Now, less than two seasons into his career, it’s becoming clear that Wagner has the potential to become a star in this league. Just 44 games into his second season, he’s currently averaging 20.2 points per game, good enough for second on the team and 40th in the entire NBA.

Aside from scoring, Wagner has continued his tendency to do everything for his team, averaging 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. Not only is he showing the ability to be a primary scorer for his team, but he is fearless in getting his hands dirty on the defensive side of the ball.

As I mentioned previously, the Magic are in the midst of a multi-year rebuild, and their record shows it. They currently sit in 13th place in Eastern Conference with a record of 16-28. Still, this shows improvement from one season ago, as they won 22 games through the 2021-22 campaign.

If Orlando can continue to pick up immediate impact pieces such as Wagner, they very well can get back to the winning ways they had with stars like Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal. Catch Franz Wagner continue his sophomore season campaign as the Orlando Magic return to action tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST in Orlando.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebookand Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com or DM him on Twitter, @CJsWrld_.

 

FOOTBALL

Former Michigan football star earns massive new contract

This former Michigan football star just got PAID!

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Michigan football, Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints, NFL
Sep 8, 2018; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Karan Higdon (22) rushes behind offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz (51) against the Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Wolverines’ 2023 season is in full swing, which is exciting for fans, yet even ex-players have been doing well as of late. Ahead of the first week of the NFL season, former Michigan football star turned New Orleans Saints standout — Cesar Ruiz — inked a massive new contract extension, keeping him in the Black and Gold through the 2027 season.

Former Michigan football star is standing out in the NFL

Cesar Ruiz was a standout along the Michigan football offensive line, appearing in 36 games from 2017-2019, 31 of which as a starter. Ruiz was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (2018 and 2019) and a three-year letterman (2017-2019) before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick following the Wolverines’ 9-4 season in 2019. While Ruiz was not a member of any Big Ten title-winning Michigan football teams, his two years as a full-time starter were still solid — in 2018 and 2019, the Wolverines had two ranked finishes with a 19-7 overall record.

Cesar Ruiz agrees to huge deal with the Saints

Since being picked by the New Orleans Saints, the former Michigan football star has been impressive — enough so that he was recently given a new massive contract extension. Since being picked, Ruiz has made 40 starts for the Saints, appearing in an additional six games as a non-starter.

Cesar Ruiz — now 24 years old — and the Saints agreed on a four-year NFL contract extension worth $44 million; he is now the 6th-highest paid center in the National Football League.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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FOOTBALL

Michigan football star among top 15 in latest NFL Draft rankings

This Michigan football star is being pinned as a top NFL Draft target for next spring!

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Michigan football star, NFL Draft, Kris Jenkins, Mel Kiper
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kris Jenkins (94) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, top NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper (ESPN) released his updated rankings for next spring’s draft. Last year, Mazi Smith, a massive nose tackle and ex-Wolveirne team captain, was picked in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Kiper projects another Michigan football star to go in Round 1: defensive tackle and team captain Kris Jenkins.

Michigan football star placed among top 15 in new NFL Draft rankings

Since the start of fall camp this year, Michigan football star defensive tackle Kris Jenkins has been labeled as a “freak” and more — he is known as ‘The Mutant’ around Ann Arbor, and rightfully so. Jenkins, recently named a team captain, has gained even more hype, as Mel Kiper projects him to be a top 15 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jim Harbaugh has recently stated that he believes the Wolverines will break a long-standing NFL Draft record by surpassing Georgia’s record of players picked, with 20 Wolverines going pro. Harbaugh could be right; in fact, even ESPN supports his claim, though only a few Michigan standouts are currently considered first-round talents.

That said, if Kris Jenkins performs as expected by experts and the Michigan football coaching staff, there is no reason he cannot be a major NFL Draft target next spring.

In Kiper’s newest mock draft, he has Michigan football defensive tackle Kris Jenkins ranked as the No. 15 prospect on the board. Other Wolverines, such as Donovan Edwards, Blake Corum, and JJ McCarthy, have all been mentioned as potential first-rounders as well; however, none of them made the cut in Kiper’s most recent projections.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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FOOTBALL

NFL draft analyst compares Michigan football RB to former 1st round draft pick

Is Michigan football running back Donovan Edwards a future first rounder?

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Michigan football RB, Donovan Edwards, Jahmyr Gibbs, NFL draft
Dec 3, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) before the Big Ten Championship against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Expectations are at an all-time high for Michigan football. A large part of this is that they have the best running back room in all of college football, with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. As the hype builds for the season, talks of the NFL draft are also picking up steam. For Michigan football RB Donovan Edwards, he is even receiving comparisons to one of the best backs in this past draft, Jahmyr Gibbs.

Michigan football RB Donovan Edwards is entering first-round discussions ahead of the 2024 NFL draft

Donovan Edwards is a man amongst boys. Breaking onto the scene in 2023, the rest of the country is officially on notice.

Coming out of high school as a five-star and the No. 2 running back in the country, expectations have been elevated from day one. Luckily for Michigan fans, he has not disappointed.

In two years with the program, without being the full-time starter either year, Edwards has run the ball for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, even more impressive might be his receiving numbers.

As a third and second-string running back in the last two seasons, Edwards has helped make his impact felt through the passing game. He’s recorded 465 yards and three touchdowns receiving over his career.

He’s one of the best overall running backs in the country. It’s only natural that he begins receiving comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the best pass-catching backs from this past NFL draft.

NFL analyst Trevor Sikkema especially thinks so, saying, “When I look at Donovan Edwards, I think he can be the Jahmyr Gibbs of this upcoming class.”

In his time at Alabama, Jahmyr Gibbs was widely viewed as one of the best receiving backs in the country, NFL or college. While it’s undoubtedly an honor to receive such praise, it begs the question, could Edwards be even better?

Running back Donovan Edwards has some high expectations heading into the 2023 season

Donovan Edwards is about as close to a guarantee to go into the 2024 NFL draft as it gets. What’s shocking about that is he has minimal starting experience in college.

In fact, he won’t even be the starter in 2023 as Blake Corum elected to return for his senior year.

In 2021, Edwards was the third-string running back behind Michigan football legends Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. Despite being buried on the depth chart, he found a way to make a significant impact thanks to his pass-catching ability.

For the 2022 season, a jump was expected. Haskins was off to the NFL, meaning Edwards would get the bump to second-string. Luckily for Edwards, he made a fantastic decision with his college choice, as coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the ball.

In turn, Edwards put up major numbers, eclipsing 1,000 yards from scrimmage, despite backing up Corum most of the season.

While Edwards will likely still serve as a backup for the Wolverines in 2023, this shouldn’t matter too much. Many recruiting sites view him as a more impressive NFL draft prospect than Corum.

Big things are on the way for Edwards. He possesses the speed, size and strength to excel at this level and the next. Don’t be surprised to see him take another step forward in 2023 as he prepares to be one of the highest-drafted running backs in 2024.


Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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