Leaders and Next

Bryson was key for the Wolverines down the stretch in 2025 - helping secure road wins at Northwestern and at Maryland.   We caught up with Bryson just after the Maryland game, where he started in place of an injured Jordan Marshall and ran for 100 yards and 3 TDs (no big deal).  Bryson tells us about that amazing experience and his journey to get there, including an amazing relationship with RB coach Tony Alford.  We promise, we limit the "did you know he was a walk-on" trope to a bare minimum.  

We interview our new starting Left Tackle, Blake Frazier.  We caught up with Blake after two straight weeks of holding down the starting spot.  Against MSU, in his first start, he paved the way for 2 100+ yard rushers and 276 yards total (the most in 30 years against the Spartans).  Against Purdue the next week, he paved the way for a monster performance from Jordan Marshall (185 yards and 3 touchdowns).   Oh...and a lot of those plays went left!

The conversation with Blake is awesome.  We catch up on personal life, recruiting, football, his competitive mindset and more.  And of course - we close with some Michigan football trivia.  

Jake Guarnera has burst onto the scene in the 2025 season, starting at guard for the Wolverines for 3 straight games.  He's made a huge impact in the run game, helping pave the way for big rushing outbursts against CMU, Nebraska and Wisconsin (who was the #1 rush defense?).  Jake bulldozes through our gauntlet of questions like a pro, including a stellar performance on the Michigan trivia quiz at the end.  

Wide Receiver Channing Goodwin joins the podcast to discuss his fast start to the 2025 season and ascent to being a starter on the Michigan offense.  It’s an action-packed episode covering the season, thoughts on the new college football landscape, and closing with a pop-quiz on Michigan receiving history.

(1:14) – When did he find out he was going to be starting?  And why switch from #14 to #9?

(2:40) – If Bryce is Batman, what superman are you?

(6:15) – Does the offense have a celebration brewing like the defense’s “Turnover Buffs”?

(8:50) – What are you working on improving as the season progresses?

(10:40) – Best hands on the team?

(12:45) – Blocking out the outside noise

(16:25) – Team over Me

(19:40) – Balancing being a “legacy” vs. making his own.

(20:57) – Recruiting journey

(22:20) – What do you like about the new college football landscape?  Changes you’d make?

(23:45) – Dream NIL

(27:00) – the 24-hour rules after Oklahoma

(28:45) – his relationship with Quarterback Jadyn Davis

(30:30) – Life after football?

(31:30) – Choosing a school in the era of NIL.

(34:00) – Frisbee dog controversy

(37:00) – Michigan receiving pop-quiz

Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan joins the show after a BREAKOUT game against New Mexico - tallying 5 tackles, 1 sack and an interception in less than a half of play.  Cole's performance wasn't a surprise to those close to the program - he's been ascending the depth chart with his raw athleticism and a new-found 30 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

Listen in on a great show to hear Cole's story - how jumping on top of his family car jump-started his recruiting process, how the 2024 season helped him grow, and his choice to study Statistics in college!

We officially welcome offensive lineman Brady Norton to the Michigan football family after transferring in from Cal Poly earlier this year.   Brady allowed 0 sacks in 11 starts last year and was the highest-graded offensive lineman (by PFF) in Cal Poly history.  He’s a bench-pressing, Ohio-hating, milk-chugging machine, and we're glad he's on our side.

(1:06) – What do you want Michigan fans to know?

(1:48) – the Transition from FCS to Power 4

(2:49) – Flying under the radar as a high school recruit

(4:48) – Sensing his potential for FBS

(7:48) – How much milk do you drink??

(10:36) – Entering the portal

(13:37) – Picking Michigan

(16:36) – Hating on Ohio State

(24:46) – Where he’s fitting in on the line

(30:00) – Spring game reactions

(33:21) – Bench Press mastery

(34:49) – School and life after football

(37:56) – 2 minute drill

Recurring guest and RB1 Jordan Marshall joins the show.  Jordan is an incredible player, person and representative for the University of Michigan.  We love talking to Jordan and have a great conversation covering his breakout game in 2024, mindset heading into 2025, and even talk a little football history trivia.

(7:20) – Beating Ohio State

(9:00) – Michigan’s 2025 running back room, setting the standard

(11:30) – Hitting the backflip in Columbus

(22:00) – Bama bowl game

(39:00) – Welcoming Justice Haynes

(56:00) – Advice from Steve Casula

(57:00) – His favorite memory from last season

(60:00) – Jordan takes on trivia…Michigan RB history quiz

Michigan’ star kicker (and recurring guest) Dominic Zvada joins the podcast.  We geek out on the science of kicking, reflect on his first season at Michigan, talk about his preparation of the season.  And, of course, his Ohio State and Alabama heroics.  We close with a hilarious attempt at our first intra-show trivia quiz called “Guess That Kick?”.

(1:40) – The art and science of kicking

(8:50) – Preparation for the season

(9:45) – Do kickers watch film?

(13:00) – NFL kicker talk

(15:00) – Reflecting on his first season at Michigan & favorite moments from the year

(22:30) – Ohio State game and getting trash talked by OSU teenagers

(31:00) – Throwdown at midfield

(40:45) – Decision on going pro after 2024

(44:00) – What makes a great long-snapper?

(50:00) – School and internship updates

(54:00) – Shout-out to Pinball Pete’s!

(55:00) – The first even Leaders and Next Trivia … “Guess that kick?”

Todd Lansky, founder of Detroit Army (detroitarmy.com), joins the podcast. With support from Dan Campbell and press in the New York Times - Detroit Army is officially taking the world by storm.  Todd shares the company's origin story and talks about the goals and mission of the organization.  

Recurring guest and 2024 captain Max Bredeson joins the podcast.