It's always hard to be the guy who follows guys.
After an offseason that saw more than a half-dozen coaching and staff position changes following last season's national championship, there will be a lot of the same for Michigan State football in 2024.
Sherrone Moore, who replaced Jim Harbaugh as head coach, is at the top of the list, and likely Don “Wink” Martindale, who replaced Jesse Minter as defensive coordinator, is at the top of the list, but strength… & The conditioning department is not far behind.
That's where Justin Torres took over from mentor Ben Herbert, whom Jim Harbaugh has long called the “X-factor” of his program and who he made sure to bring to the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.
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Torres never imagined he would land his dream job in this way, and while it's bittersweet that the guide has to take over elsewhere, he's well prepared for the job. I feel that there is.
“We built that together, and I think he would say that too,” Torres said on Michigan Football's “In The Trenches” podcast earlier this week. “I've been with him this whole time. There's been good times, there's been bad times. Seasons 2-4 before winning the national championship, I've seen it all.
“The point is that we don't have to change everything, in terms of what we do and how we do it. Putting our own stamp on it is simply me being me. .”
With Torres taking over on Jan. 29, the Wolverines also announced the retention of Abigail O'Connor, the team's director of performance nutrition. Torres, 28, has been with UM for the past six years, including last year as the team's associate director.
And when Torres took over, there were no major changes within the department.
“I didn't give them the speech first. We just trained them,” Torres explained. “So at the end I brought them up and said, 'That was totally different, wasn't it?' They were looking around, 'Is this a trick? I said, 'Yes, no, no.' said. The message I gave them was that the reason there is no difference is because of the standards they have set. they choose to do so. We help them achieve the standards, but ultimately it's their choice every day.
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[ MUST LISTEN:Make“Hail Yes!” your go-to Michigan Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple,Spotify) ]
“We're doing pretty much the same thing in the same way, with the same details. How can we do it better? How can we tighten up the details? It's happened in the past, and it was good. ”
Tress also explained other behind-the-scenes ideas. As much as programs like to have “big money” combine-specific drills this time of year, Lucas Oil Stadium makes sure the lights aren't too bright when that moment arrives.
UM is now more than five weeks into its offseason conditioning program, which is when the biggest changes occur in the football players' physiques.
“He's got more strength and speed and his appearance has changed,” Torres said. “They've worked so hard, so they're obviously walking around with their hearts held high. To finally be able to spend that time with them and step underneath them was so special. ”
mccarthy scoffs
Mock drafts will continue to fly until the NFL Draft begins in Detroit on April 25th, with quarterback JJ McCarthy still pegged at the top of the first round.
Our own Dave Burkett released his second mock draft on Wednesday, selecting McCarthy 11th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
Unsurprisingly, Detroit Lions team writer Tim Twentyman agreed with the same ranking, placing McCarthy 11th overall on the Vikings.
“McCarthy had such a great combine that I left Indy thinking this kid was simply a winner,” Twentyman wrote. “The Vikings have weapons on offense and it's a great landing spot for McCarthy.”
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Yahoo! Writers Charles McDonald and Nate Trice are trying to land McCarthy in Minnesota, but not necessarily with the No. 11 overall pick. They believe the Vikings will strike a deal with the Chargers to trade the No. 5 pick for McCarthy's former college coach, Jim Harbaugh, and acquire UM's signal-caller there.
“The upside is that (McCarthy) could be a good NFL starter, even if it takes time for him to develop into the player people expect him to be in the future,” McDonald and Trice wrote.
NFL Network's Charles Davis said McCarthy will head to the Big Apple with the No. 6 overall draft pick to play for the New York Giants, adding, “Before he picks up the ball in 2025, Daniel will be drafted in 2024. “There's a very good chance he'll sit behind Jones.”
But none of them are the best in McCarthy. On Wednesday, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson entered with a mock 7.0 after last week's combine, but for the first time, McCarthy was not selected behind North Carolina's Drake Maye.
Instead, Wilson expects McCarthy to go No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots. Slightly higher than Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback of all time, at No. 199 overall.
“We talked to him at the combine as well,” Wilson said. “Charisma and leadership ooze from him.”
Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com.please follow him @RealTonyGarcia.
