Steve Clinkscale raves about the two early enrollee cornerbacks in CFP practice
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — You would think with Michigan football preparing to play in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl that there would be little time to get the early enrollees up to speed. But that’s not how the Wolverines are approaching their preparation.
The maize and blue brought seven of their new signees to Arizona for the game, and they’re not just taking everything in. They’re participating, dressed and practicing as if they’re playing, despite having never played in a college game. And they’re getting valuable reps, too. On Tuesday, in the portion of practice the media was able to view, cornerback Cameron Calhoun made a play on a scout-team receiver, looking not much different than five-star freshman Will Johnson. Jyaire Hill, the big get during the early signing period for the Wolverines, was also involved in practice.
While you might think working to get new players up to speed in the middle of a playoff run would be an extra burden on coaches, those two players in particular haven’t inconvenienced co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale — even the slightest.
“I haven’t had to balance it because they have adjusted so fast,” Clinkscale said. “The rest of the team, their teammates, their peers, the rest of the DBs, have really accepted them very fast because they see their talent. They see their ability. I’m very open and honest with our group, everybody knows where they stand. So the players understand we got to continue to build on this, continue to bring in top-tier talent. And when you see these two guys out there doing what they do just naturally without much coaching and adjusting right now, just naturally, it kind of opens everybody’s eyes that we were heading in the right direction.
“And the players have really adjusted well with them and brought them out like little brothers, I believe DJ, Mikey are both taking them both under their wing to try to just help them navigate the time, the schedule, where to be, how to get there on time, and then how to practice. And I’ll be honest with you, it hasn’t been — we haven’t had taken one step back with these two guys. Like they practice so hard. And they do a great job. I’m excited for them.”
Now that Hill and Calhoun are no longer high school prospects and are working out with their newfound peers, what have they looked like in practice?
Clinkscale notes that, of course, they’re still a work in progress. The good thing is established players, particularly Mike Sainristil and DJ Turner, have been mentors to the duo.
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“They’re long, athletic, they’re quick, and they pick up very fast,” Clinkscale said. “When we do a drill, they either do it naturally, or if they didn’t do it right the first time, they did the second time — they do it perfect. They’ve done a great job with picking up the scheme. We call in a couple of defenses for them, they go out there and they look at them and tell them, ‘Hey, your man or you’re a third player, you’re a quarter player, you’re playing this,’ and then they’re able to adjust with just a few days of knowledge.
“So they do a good job of paying attention more than any freshman I’ve ever been around. They’re not there talking about how good they are, and how they’re gonna come and beat everybody out. They’re watching great players in front of them and they want to learn from them. So I told them when I recruited them, there’s not many people that come in to play as true freshmen. Especially, start a game as a freshman your first game. Will Johnson didn’t even start. He just kept building and building and building as the year went on. And so you guys come and learn. The best coach for you is the players in front of you. Learn from them, see how they do, see what they do. And then you will be able to take that and take it to another level with your talent and they’re taking that advice to the max.”
Though they are practicing, it is highly unlikely either will appear in the College Football Playoff given their inexperience as well as participating would officially wipe out one year on the clock for their college career.
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