Updated as of Monday, May 22 to reflect Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler’s statement regarding his resignation from the University of Michigan football program.

Three days after joining the Michigan football team as an Assistant Director of Football Recruiting, Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler resigned Saturday evening amid controversy surrounding his social media presence.

The son of former Michigan coach Glenn “Bo” Schembechler, Shemy previously interned at the University of Michigan from 1993-1995, working in the recruiting department. Bouncing around scouting positions in the NFL, Shemy’s short-lived return to Ann Arbor supposedly marked a homecoming for the youngest Schembechler.

However, social media users rapidly unearthed a variety of Twitter interactions that sparked concern. On a now-deactivated Twitter account, Shemy seemed to endorse a variety of posts that promoted racist and bigoted content via likes and retweets. Upon announcement of his resignation, Michigan Athletics released the following statement:

“Effective this afternoon, Shemy Schembechler has resigned his position with Michigan Football. We are aware of some comments and likes on social media that have caused concern and pain for individuals in our community. Michigan Athletics is fully committed to a place where our coaches, staff and student-athletes feel welcome and where we fully support the University’s and Athletic Department’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Warde Manuel, Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics

Jim Harbaugh, J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach”

Evidently, Shemy was aware of the stir his social media was causing even before his resignation and while already on Michigan’s staff. Some Twitter users pointed out that he was removing interactions off of his page, such as likes, appearing to erase potentially controversial and incendiary content.

The damage had already been done, though, as Shemy left the program not even 72 hours later.

On Monday of the following week, as fallout continued to swirl around the Michigan football program, Shemy released a statement regarding his resignation. Within his response, he issued an “unabashed and unequivocal apology to (his) hundreds of friends and fellow coaches in the Black community” for his actions on social media.

Nevertheless, these words may ring hollow for many as the Michigan athletic department scrambles to contain yet another public relations fiasco.

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The Michigan football team has the National Football League seeing double.

After three days of the NFL Draft, four separate franchises had drafted at least two Wolverines to their incoming roster.

After the Dallas Cowboys selected senior defensive lineman Mazi Smith and fifth year tight end Luke Schoonmaker in rounds one and two of the draft, the Seattle Seahawks decided to join in on the party. The Seahawks selected senior edge Mike Morris with the 151st pick in the fifth round and then graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi just three picks later, at 154th.

From there, the Cincinnati Bengals selected graduate punter Brad Robbins with the 217th pick in the sixth round, making him the seventh Michigan athlete to graduate to the professional level. The selection came on the heels of the Bengals’ third-round selection of senior defensive back DJ Turner.

The Miami Dolphins incited the seventh round for the Wolverines, selecting graduate offensive lineman Ryan Hayes at the 238th position. Hayes started 29 games at left tackle for Michigan. Serving as a rock on the back-to-back (2021-2022, 2022-2023) Joe Moore winning offensive lines, Miami hopes Hayes’ selection comes with copious upside.

While the Dolphins may have interrupted the Wolverines’ double trouble, the San Francisco 49ers provided a quick return to form. Selecting graduate senior wide receiver Ronnie Bell at 253rd in the seventh round, Bell joins a talented wide receiving corps in San Francisco featuring stars like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers had previously selected graduate student kicker Jake Moody in the third round.

After tearing his ACL in his senior season, Bell’s return to Michigan cemented his meteoric rise to stardom for the Wolverine faithful during the 2022 season. The receiver returned to prolific form across a campaign that saw him haul in four touchdowns and 889 receiving yards. The 2022 Michigan offensive player of the year and 2021 team captain brings a wealth of personal and football experience to San Francisco.

To round out the group of Wolverines making the jump to the professional level, the Arizona Cardinals signed graduate student tight end Joel Honigford and the New York Giants inked graduate defensive back Gemon Green as undrafted free agents.

As it stands, the 2023 NFL Draft and early offseason have been a productive one for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s program. With nine selections this year — the most in the Big Ten — the Wolverines have sent the third-most rookies to the NFL via the draft in Harbaugh’s eight years at the helm.

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The 2021 Lou Groza award winner is ready to take his talents to the National Football League.

The 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, kicker Jake Moody was selected by the San Francisco 49ers during the third round Friday night.

After five years at Michigan, college football’s best kicker in 2021 looks to continue his career success at the NFL level. Converting on 82.9% of his field goal attempts this past season, Moody was a rock for the Wolverines en route to their second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.

The poster child of consistency, Moody attempted 60 field goals in his final two years at Michigan, converting on 52 and scoring 272 points on fourth downs alone. The 2021 consensus All-American set single-season program records for made field goals (29), PATs (60), points scored (147) and 40-plus-yard field goals in a season (10) in 2022.

Only the second kicker drafted in the top 100 in 17 years, Moody’s high selection reflects his value not only to the Wolverines, but also to his future franchise. The 49ers hope Moody will create an immediate impact for a team losing long-time NFL placekicker Robbie Gould.

Moody is used to immediate impacts. In his first game kicking for Michigan against Indiana in 2018, he set the record for single-game kick scoring for the Wolverines and field goals in a game, scoring 19 points on 6 field goal makes.

And on the same day that Michigan says hello to incoming kicker and Saline, Michigan native James Turner, it says goodbye to its most successful kicker in program history. 

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Freshman defenseman Tyler Duke may be leaving his native state of Ohio, but it’s a homecoming nonetheless.

On Saturday, Duke transferred to the No. 3 Michigan hockey team, leaving Ohio State in favor of Michigan coach Brandon Naurato’s burgeoning hockey program — and one other small facet:

His brother, sophomore forward Dylan Duke.

In addition to a little brotherly love, Tyler brings a much-needed assurance to Michigan’s blue line. A feisty defenseman, Tyler plays a two-way style that resonates on both ends of the ice. Logging 52 shots and 12 total points through 40 games of his freshman season for the Buckeyes, Tyler always made his presence known.

A presence the Wolverines hope will spark a defensive core losing key contributors during this offseason. 

The 200-foot game isn’t his only claim to fame, though. Tyler brings valued playoff experience, having been eliminated by Quinnipiac during Ohio State’s run in the Bridgeport Regional. Moreover, Tyler was a plus-four player during the Buckeyes’ playoff run, despite a 4-1 loss to the Bobcats. 

Tyler brings a level of fire that Naurato and Michigan will certainly enjoy. A physical player, the younger Duke’s 5-foot-9 frame has never once limited his ability to engage in the extracurricular activities of the sport. Described as a vocal advocate for his teammates, past and now presently for the Wolverines, Tyler will undoubtedly have an outsized role at Michigan.

However, at times teams can also feel the negative weight of that aggression. The Wolverines are certainly familiar with the 17 penalty minutes Tyler logged against them across five contests this prior season. One of which, a five minute major for kneeing, may have left a sour taste.

Nevertheless, all will have to be forgotten for Michigan as Tyler reunites with big brother Dylan for at least one more upcoming season. A homecoming, which already has both excited for what is to come.

Formerly fateful rivals on the ice, the addition of Tyler Duke to the Wolverines not only bolsters a blue line in need, but adds a little brotherly love in the process.

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It may be the offseason, but it’s been a busy day for the No. 3 Michigan hockey team. After adding senior goaltender Jacob Barczewski from Canisius less than 12 hours ago, the Wolverines added senior forward Chase Pletzke from the University of Miami (OH).

A defensive specialist, Pletzke played all four years for the RedHawks, appearing in 20 games during the 2022-2023 season. Pletzke looks to play a stable role for Michigan in the future. The forward played over 100 games across his career as a defensive stalwart.

“I can’t thank Miami Hockey for all they have done for the past four years,” Pletzke said in a Twitter announcement. “With that being said, I’m excited for my next chapter with [Michigan hockey].”

Pletzke’s offensive contributions may not be where he excels, not logging a single point this past season, but his role often works best on the other end. The Wolverines hope Pletzke’s defensive presence as a projected bottom-six forward will lend itself to a penalty-kill unit that had its blemishes last season.

With a variety of departing senior leadership, Michigan adds another veteran presence that fits Wolverines coach Brandon Naurato’s systems.

And after a busy offseason day for Michigan, it hopes to go to bed stronger than it woke up.

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The No. 3 Michigan hockey team’s goaltending room just got deeper.

On Thursday, the Wolverines added senior goaltender Jacob Barczewski from Canisius out of the transfer portal. A four year starter for the Golden Griffins, this season he led Canisius to an NCAA tournament bid where it was eliminated by then No. 1 Minnesota in the first round.

The two-time Golden Griffin hockey team MVP (2021, 2022) provides a breath of fresh air into a Michigan program searching for a steady-handed replacement for departing junior goaltender Erik Portillo. Moreover, with current freshman goaltender Tyler Shea in the transfer portal himself, more depth never hurts.

With one year of eligibility left, Barczewski looks to serve as a bridge goaltender towards the Wolverines’ future.

And in that one year, Barczewski looks to make an immediate impact. Boasting a .918 save percentage, coupled with a 2.65 goals against average for the 2022-2023 season, Barczewski was the bedrock of a competitive Canisius team that caught fire down the stretch of last season.

Though the starting job is never assured, Michigan returns junior goaltender Noah West and are awaiting incoming freshman Marcus Brännman. But Barczewski’s leadership history has proven successful at the collegiate level, making him an attractive candidate for the Wolverines’ day one starter.

For now though, Michigan can breathe a sigh of relief in adding an experienced goaltender to a still-developing room.

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TAMPA, Fla. — There was no telling when the No. 2 Michigan hockey team would be back.

After a puck jumped over the stick of then-freshman defenseman Luke Hughes, the ensuing year was anything but predictable for the Wolverines. In just 364 days, a head coach, innumerable NHL talent and an established regime departed, leaving a return to the Frozen Four seemingly improbable.

Michigan was left to wonder when another moment would come.

Yet 364 days later, Michigan got that moment — but it wasn’t enough. Against a Quinnipiac team hungry to avenge a lopsided loss that kept the Bobcats out of the Frozen Four last season, the Wolverines (26-12-3 overall) regressed to issues of old, falling to Quinnipiac (33-4-3), 5-2, after 60 minutes of insufficient defensive effort coupled with bad bounces.

“Quinnipiac’s a great team and we have respect for them,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “They did a great job tonight. … Two goals from behind the net and one from the top of the circles near the boards, it is what it is. That’s why it’s so hard to win a National Championship.

“It’s one game.”

The Wolverines’ ‘one game’ certainly didn’t start the way they had hoped. Plagued by defensive lapses, their play often left junior goaltender Erik Portillo hung out to dry. Unfortunate errors, lackadaisical play and a general lack of effort seemed reminiscent of Michigan’s early season struggles — not the team coming off of a Big Ten Championship and searching for its seventh consecutive win.

The Bobcats logged nine total shots on goal in the first period, but a torrent of chances left little solace as the Wolverines went into the first intermission down 2-1. Though Michigan faced unfortunate puck luck at times, odd-man rushes and missed defensive assignments often facilitated quality chances for Quinnipiac.

“It’s a big credit to them,” junior defenseman Ethan Edwards said of Quinnipiac’s structural game play. “They’re a very disciplined team over there and they were locking it down pretty well. Kudos to them.”

Such discipline proved hard to summit. While the second period had flashes of a return to form for the Wolverines as an equalizing goal by freshman forward Adam Fantilli 10 minutes into the period brought new life, Michigan struggled to consistently execute and rarely took full command.

Across a rollercoaster period that often narrowly went the Wolverines’ way, it took heroic efforts from Portillo and near misses on the part of Quinnipiac’s rush chances to keep the score level going into the third period and stop the Bobcats from “(breaking) it open”, as Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold put it.

But early in the final frame, the Bobcats found more puck luck — and with that, the lead. After a Wolverine defensive lapse let up a 2-on-1 opportunity, Quinnipiac forward Sam Lipkin chipped a backhand from behind the net off of the skate of Portillo. Initially unbeknownst to the goaltender amidst the chaos, the puck had found the back of the net for a 3-2 lead.

“Just a bad bounce,” Naurato lamented.

After the Bobcats took the lead, Michigan couldn’t mount a response. While Portillo’s heroics kept the Wolverines in striking distance, the offense couldn’t break through. Stymied by Quinnipiac’s trap, the Bobcats seemed one step ahead at all times, blocking passing lanes and turning routine schemes into offensive nightmares.

And as Michigan woke up to the consequences of its offensive stagnation, puck watching and missed assignments made hope for an equalizer a distant possibility as the Wolverines fell onto their backfoot. Offensive lapses became defensive punishments as Michigan’s season started slipping away.

“It’s something we knew they were going to do,” Quinnipiac defenseman Zach Metsa said. “They’re run and gun, they love to try and make plays one on one and create offense. When we can turn that around and bring it right back down their throats — we always talk about playing north, playing with pace and that’s the result of that.”

While chance after chance proved insufficient for the Bobcats, Metsa finally delivered the dagger. Floating an unconventional shot, an absent-minded Wolverine defense watched as it landed into the net for a 4-2 Bobcat advantage. Without much time to even react to the dire situation, the empty net goal just minutes later left no doubt. 

364 days after an overtime goal vanquished its last Frozen Four chances, Michigan got its moment once more. A year of trials, tribulations and uncertainties made it somewhat surprising that the Wolverines were even able to claw their way back to the event that had spurned them just a year before. But 364 days later, Michigan exited with the same result. 

Leaving the Wolverines to wonder once again when they will get another chance.

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Returning 84% of its offensive production — good for fourth best in the NCAA — the Michigan football team looks poised to run back the dynamic run-first offense that brought it to its second consecutive College Football Playoff. 

Yet, for all the hype surrounding the ground-and-pound style that propelled the Wolverines to new program heights, Jim Harbaugh still coaches Michigan.

And that means there’s ample room for tight ends to make their mark. 

“We know it’s going to be hard to replace some of the key weapons we had last year,” senior tight end Matthew Hibner said. “But, (with sophomore tight end) Colston (Loveland) coming back, and bringing in (senior tight end) AJ (Barner) and all of us just developing in the room. I think we’ve all just realized that in order to keep the level from where we were at last year, or better, we have to step up.”

On Saturday, during the Wolverines’ annual Spring Game, the tight end impact that has defined much of Harbaugh’s tenure as a coach was on full display.

Despite the loss of outgoing fifth-year senior Luke Schoonmaker, the tight end position saw ample action in the run and pass game. A program known for producing dual-threat blocking and receiving tight ends at the NFL level, even as Schoonmaker leaves a void for a young Michigan team, there were plenty of Wolverines ready to step up behind him.

While the most known quantity lining up for Michigan was Loveland — and he briefly flashed with one reception on one target for 14 yards — what resonated most from the Wolverines’ only stint in the Big House until September was the sheer number of opportunities afforded to the tight end position at every opportunity. 

Moreover, what became rapidly apparent was the fact that Schoonmaker’s void may have been filled faster than expected.

“I feel like all of us are just weapons in our own way,” Hibner said. “We’re not all the same people, but we all bring different things to the field and I think we’re going to show them this season.”

Hibner himself had a day. Catching two balls for 61 yards, with his second catch gaining 51 yards after the initial reception, he played an integral role in a scoring drive for Team Maize deep in the second half, bringing his offensive group inside the redzone. 

Meanwhile, when Team Blue’s offense took the field for Michigan, it wasn’t just Loveland who flashed his talent. Rather, it was the newcomer. Transfer AJ Barner performed as advertised, hauling in three receptions on five targets. In only a short time, Barner’s impact has already resonated throughout the program. 

“Definitely a great addition to the team,” senior defensive back Makari Paige said of Barner. “Everything that y’all read about him is true. He works hard to fit right into our team.”

A former captain at Indiana, Barner transfers into a tight end room that welcomes his presence. Amassing nearly 200 yards on 28 receptions and chipping in three touchdowns last season for the Hoosiers, Barner’s numbers may not jump off the page, but evidently, the blueprint was there.

The Wolverines will undoubtedly lean on their offensive strengths this upcoming season. A back-to-back Joe Moore trophy-winning offensive line, coupled with a dynamic running back duo and a budding star quarterback, there will be many mouths to feed. 

Nevertheless, with the addition of Barner and the growth of Loveland and Hibner, the rich get richer and a hungry tight end unit will certainly hope to feast on upcoming defenses.

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After an extensive recruiting process, five-star quarterback Jadyn Davis has committed to the Michigan football team. Ranked 28th nationally in the class of 2024 according to 247 Sports, the site lists the signal-caller as the second-best quarterback in his class. A highly touted prospect, Davis held 33 offers from schools such as Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Michigan came out on top on Friday after Davis released a top-five list of schools March 24.

Coming off a stellar junior season in which he led Providence Day School (N.C.) to a state championship, Davis was electric with the ball in his hands. Throwing for 3,425 yards and a 43-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year dazzled with his skillset.

With Davis’ signing, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has found his quarterback of the future. The 6-foot phenom looks to be the next highly touted quarterback prospect in line after the ascension of junior quarterback JJ McCarthy to stardom. Davis’ commitment saves Michigan from scrambling to find other high-end quarterback prospects in the recruiting cycle.

After what many called an underwhelming 2023 recruiting class that featured zero five-star caliber players and a heavy dose of the transfer portal — despite Michigan’s recent on-field successes — Davis becomes the first five-star to commit to a 2024 Michigan class that has the potential to be Harbaugh’s best. Ranked fourth nationally prior to Davis’ commitment, his addition helped Michigan leap past Notre Dame in the national rankings. 

Not necessarily known for its national recruiting in recent program history, Davis’ commitment flips the script for Michigan. Davis looks to serve as both a cornerstone of his class and potentially the next three or four years of Harbaugh’s program, should he live up to the hype. 

After back-to-back Big Ten championships and wins over Ohio State under a new era of Michigan football success, Jadyn Davis looks to extend that recent tradition into a time-honored one.

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Playoff hockey is all gas, no brakes. When the chips are down, hard work and effort aren’t just encouraged, or expected of successful teams.

They’re mandatory traits.

So, in a 1-1 game headed into overtime that had been anything but smooth for the No. 1 seed Michigan hockey team, the Wolverines had to go all in. And when the stakes couldn’t be any higher, sophomore forward Mackie Samoskevich and his second line laid a royal flush.

“I knew Mackie was going to score, he’s so clutch,” freshman forward T.J. Hughes said. “… So happy for him that he was able to bury (it).”

Hughes, Samoskevich and their third musketeer — sophomore forward Dylan Duke — were never supposed to be together. With a mid-season shake-up brought about by returning players, a slumping lineup and coaching creativity, the three were united as a byproduct, not a feature.

While each player has exceptional individual talent, plus the added chemistry of Duke and Samoskevich’s previous time together last season, there were no guarantees that it would all manifest properly. Reassigned to the second line, Samoskevich and Duke were removed from their headlining trio with freshman phenom Adam Fantilli and instead sent to play with the then-unheralded Hughes.

From an outsider’s perspective, relegation to the second line may not seem like treatment expected of two high-caliber prospects. It had its risks. The three might not gel, potentially stalling a Michigan lineup formerly in desperate need of secondary scoring. Or worse, the shifts could have shut down the Wolverines’ scoring entirely. It was a gamble.

But on Sunday night, Samoskevich and the second line put their cards on the table and erased any doubts.

“We all trust each other,” Hughes said. “We just play the game. We don’t cheat. We just play the game, get pucks in and that’s how we feed our offense.”

Offense was hard to come by Sunday, but that didn’t matter. For a line that’s shown up throughout the postseason to the tune of six goals, the three are a realization of Michigan’s desired identity. With five-foot passes and connected play, the Wolverines’ second line does the little things — and does them right. 

Each member has the traits that make them potential show-stoppers: Samoskevich has the lightning shot, Hughes has the playmaking ability, and Duke has the skates that glue themselves to the netfront. But above all, what’s driven their success — on Sunday and before — has been their dedication to emphasizing a play style above their own. They bought in, even when it was easy to check out.

Receiving new and not necessarily glamorous roles could’ve derailed it all — yet it didn’t. Instead, by trusting themselves and one another, the three musketeers gained what might be the most important trait for a playoff hockey team, or a gambler: confidence.

“We said it right before our first (overtime) shift, we said ‘We’re going to win this one,’ ” Duke said. “… It’s crazy that we literally scored that shift because, I mean, (Mackie) looked at me and he said it right before he went out and scored.”

Whether Samoskevich called his shot or benefited from a little bettor’s luck, the confidence from clinching a Frozen Four bid remains all the same. 

In less than a minute of overtime, with the stakes raised, Samoskevich and the Wolverines’ second line played the hand they were dealt — and cashed out in a trip to Tampa Bay.

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