Rising Michigan football star earns praise from Jesse Minter

This weekend, the Wolverines are facing a number of injury issues leading up to their matchup against the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday. Due to this, rising Michigan football star Keon Sabb could get his chance to shine. Earlier this week, defensive play-caller (and interim head coach) Jesse Minter had quite a bit to say about Sabb and his ability.

Rising Michigan football star has massive opportunity against East Carolina

Keon Sabb, a former four-star, top-100 recruit in the class of 2022, is one of the most anticipated rising stars on Michigan’s football roster this year. While veteran standouts like Rod Moore and Makari Paige — the top-graded safeties in the Big Ten — will lead the way this year, Sabb could still get his opportunity to shine.

At present, both Moore and Paige are nursing injuries. With just two days until the ECU game, this could mean that Keon Sabb is in line for some starting reps. Recently, Jesse Minter added to the hype surrounding Sabb and one of his teammates, Zeke Berry, who may also start due to injuries.

Jim Harbaugh praises Keon Sabb

First off, here is what Jim Harbaugh had to say about this rising star duo ahead of the 2023 Michigan football season opener this weekend.

“Keon Sabb has gone straight to the top,” Jim Harbaugh said on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show this week. “Amazing player who has really come into his own. He did last year on special teams, but we didn’t play him enough. We didn’t play him enough, in my opinion, at safety. He’s gotten a ton of reps; starter-quality player, no question.”

Jesse Minter adds to the hype

Following Harbaugh’s praise, Jesse Minter piled on.

“A couple of the young safeties, Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry are guys that are going to get some run,” Minter said. “I’m excited about their progress. Basically took a freshman year, played, and got a little taste of it in some of the earlier games. Continued to learn, and continued to get better in the spring. They both have made really big jumps, even since spring, which is exciting, (it’s) kind of what you expect from younger players … They’ve had great camps — obviously, coming from that side of the ball and coaching the safeties and having recruited both of those guys, those guys are what you thought they were when you recruited them. Just tough football players, super smart. Recruiting great kids from great programs, both those kids came from great programs.

“Sometimes, it’s just a matter of, ‘When I get my opportunity, what am I doing to seize that moment?’” Minter said. “Those guys have had great camps … Just excited to see what they are able to do now in front of 100,000 people.”

This weekend, with Moore and Paige battling through injury, Keon Sabb and other rising Michigan football star players could get their chance to shine in front of the nation’s largest in-person crowd.

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