On Monday, running back Donovan Edwards and edge rusher Josaiah Stewart confirmed their plans to return for the 2024 season, giving national champion Michigan a boost on both sides of the field.
Following a weekend in which numerous notable Michigan players, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, defensive linemen Kris Jenkins and Jaylen Harrell, and defensive back J.J. McCarthy declared for the NFL draft, Edwards and Stewart also made their intentions public on social media.
Stewart, who joined Michigan from Coastal Carolina in December 2022, tied for third place in tackles for loss (8.5) and came in second in sacks (5.5) among team members. The coaches of the league named him an honourable mention All-Big Ten selection. In 2021, Stewart had a stellar rookie campaign for Coastal Carolina, racking up 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Edwards, who has spent the majority of his career playing behind Corum, witnessed a decline in performance this season until Michigan’s victory against Washington in the national championship game, when he scored touchdowns of 41 and 46 yards. In the title game, the junior gained 497 rushing yards and five touchdowns, capping a season in which he only saw six carries for 104 rushing yards.
After Corum had a knee injury late in the 2022 season, he enjoyed his most productive stretch of play. In an unexpected victory over Ohio State, Edwards ran for 216 yards and two scores. He then backed that up with 185 yards against Purdue in the Big Ten title game and 119 yards against TCU in a CFP semifinal defeat.
With 1,662 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns coming into the fall, Edwards has also finished his first three seasons with the Wolverines with 200 or more receiving yards.
The Washington football team announced on Sunday that Jedd Fisch will take over as head coach.
According to reports, Fisch was given another interview this weekend by Troy Dannen, the athletic director of Washington, who reduced his options down to the former Arizona coach. Following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama, only he made it through the first round of candidate calls for a second interview.
ESPN was informed by sources that Arizona had staff meetings at 6 p.m. ET and a team meeting at 6:30 p.m., during which Fisch made his announcement about moving to Washington. According to a source, Fisch and his family left for Washington to meet with the Huskies at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET following his discussions with Arizona.
Fisch shot a video in Arizona before getting on the plane, which Washington shared on social media. To the Huskies supporters, he said as the video came to a finish, “Let’s go get that championship we’ve been talking about.”
