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Michigan football news roundup: 4-star commitment date set, Jim Harbaugh suspension replacement and more

2023-07-29 01:28
Michigan football recruiting: 4-star OT Bennett Warren sets commitment dateMichigan already has the No. 4-ranked class in the 247Sports composite and they're poised to add one of their highest-rated commitments yet.Four-star offensive tackle Bennett Warren set his commitment date for July...
Michigan football news roundup: 4-star commitment date set, Jim Harbaugh suspension replacement and more

Michigan football recruiting: 4-star OT Bennett Warren sets commitment date

Michigan already has the No. 4-ranked class in the 247Sports composite and they're poised to add one of their highest-rated commitments yet.

Four-star offensive tackle Bennett Warren set his commitment date for July 31 with Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M vying for his pledge.

The Wolverines are the favorites to land Warren with multiple predictions going their way in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.

Hailing from Sugar Land, TX, the 6-foot-7, 330-pound load of a tackle helped Fort Bend Christian Academy to a Divission II championship in 2022.

Warren ranks No. 82 among prospects in the 247Sports ratings. If he were to join Michigan, he would be the second-highest rated player in the class, behind only four-star quarterback Jadyn Davis. He would give the Wolverines two of the Top 10 tackles for 2024.

Michigan football news: Who will coach during Jim Harbaugh's suspension?

It's expected that Jim Harbaugh will be suspended for the first four games of the 2023 season for misleading NCAA investigators. Considering those games are against East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers, Michigan should be fine.

Still, there's the matter of who will replace Harbaugh on the sidelines for that stretch.

Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore would be the obvious choice. However, he is also reportedly facing a one-game suspension. He might be able to cover Games 2-4, but he won't be available for the opener against East Carolina so installing Moore as interim head coach would be tricky.

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter could cover either the first game or all four if Harbaugh wanted to keep some continuity across the suspension.

Other options include running backs coach Mike Hart and special teams coach Jay Harbaugh, the head coach's brother who has seniority as the longest-tenured coach on staff with Michigan.

What has Harbaugh said about the suspension? Basically nothing.

"So, as you already know, I'm not allowed to talk about any aspect of that ongoing situation," Harbaugh said, per Wolverines Wire. "I'm with you. I'd love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of and but now it's not that time and that's about all there is to say about that."

Michigan football news roundup: Big Ten football NBC schedule revealed

The schedule for Big Ten games on NBC was revealed this week with two outings for Michigan on the board.

When the Wolverines take on the Spartans in their annual in-state rivalry tilt on Oct. 21, it'll be on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

A couple of weeks later on Nov. 4, they'll host Purdue at the Big House with an NBC broadcast at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Brett McMurphy laid out the other games featured on the B1G on NBC schedule.

Fans instantly pointed out the potential misery of a Purdue-Michigan game at night in November. The night game against Michigan State in Lansing could be just as miserable if the temperatures are low.

That's how it goes with TV partners. Michigan is a draw and NBC wants to cash in, even if it's less than ideal for the fans going to the game.

But hey, at least the Wolverines aren't Nebraska and Wisconsin playing a night game on Nov. 18. Penn State and Michigan State mercifully get to play their Nov. 24 game inside the protective dome of Ford Field.