Michigan players shine in college football's opening weekend

Seriously, it's incredible the number of big-time performances and highlight reel plays executed by gridders from the state of Michigan during college football's opening Labor Day weekend. Here is a sampling of the players from the Great Lakes State I watched on TV and read about during this past weekend's college football kickoff.

Minnesota 17, Buffalo 7 -- Starting at QB for Buffalo was sophomore standout Tyree Jackson (6-7, 245, Muskegon Mona Shores). By the time he's a senior, Jackson, who finished 22-of-42 passing for 211 yards with one TD and one interception, could be the MAC's best quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger (Miami (OH)). Also starting and playing well for the Bulls were sophomores WR K. J. Osborn (6-0, 200, Ypsilanti Lincoln) and TE Kevin Mabry (6-3, 250, Ypsilanti Lincoln), while defensively, junior CB Cameron Lewis (5-11, 185, Detroit Consortium Prep) and DE junior Charles Harris (6-4, 265, Southfield) also started for Buffalo. Playing major minutes throughout the game for the Bulls, rotating in, were senior WR Jamari Eiland (5-11, 195, Plymouth) and junior DT Jake Khoury (6-2, 300, Traverse City St. Francis). For Minnesota, redshirt sophomore TE Bryce Witham (6-4, 255, Grand Rapids West Catholic) played well for the Gophers.

Northwestern 31, Nevada 20 -- It was cool seeing Northwestern junior Tommy Doles (6-4, 290, Grand Rapids Christian) starting at OG for the Wildcats during their victory over visiting Nevada Saturday. By the time he's a senior, Doles will be a three-year starter on the O-Line for Northwestern.

Notre Dame 49, Temple 16 -- Fighting Irish sophomore DE Daelin Hayes (6-4, 260, Ann Arbor Skyline) definitely looks like a future All-American. Against the Owls, Hayes ended up with four tackles, one sack and one TFL. Also playing solid minutes for Notre Dame was sophomore DE Khalid Kareem (6-4, 265, Farmington Hills Harrison), who finished with one tackle for the Irish.

Ohio State 49, Indiana 21 -- In the Buckeyes' big opening week win over the Hoosiers, sophomore Michael Jordan (6-7, 310, Plymouth) started at OG, while senior Damon Webb (5-11, 195, Detroit Cass Tech) started at S. Webb, a two-year starter for Ohio State, recorded six tackles for the Buckeyes. Jordan, who started as a true freshman, will, more than likely, become a four-year starter for Ohio State. On the sidelines nursing an injury was returning starting TB Mike Weber (5-10, 215, Detroit Cass Tech). Hopefully, Weber will heal up quickly and get back on the field soon for the Buckeyes.

California 35, North Carolina 30 -- In the Tar Heels' setback against the visiting Bears, Cam Dillard (6-4, 310, Canton) started at C for North Carolina. Dillard, a two-year starter at C for Florida, is a grad transfer for the Tar Heels.

Iowa 24, Wyoming 3 -- Multiple Michiganders started for the Hawkeyes in their victory over the Cowboys. On offense, redshirt freshman OT Alaric Jackson (6-7, 320, Detroit Renaissance) started for Iowa, while on defense, sophomore DT Cedric Lattimore (6-5, 295, Detroit East English Village) and sophomore DB Michael Ojemudia (6-2, 190, Farmington Hills Harrison) also started for the Hawkeyes. Though not starting, redshirt freshman DE Chauncey Golston (6-5, 255, Detroit East English Village) saw plenty of minutes rotating in and out upfront for Iowa.

Illinois 24, Ball State 21 -- Junior LB Delshawn Phillips (6-2, 220, Detroit Cass Tech) led Illinois with 16 tackles against Ball State Saturday. For the Cardinals, multiple Michiganders started, including on offense senior OG and captain Vinnie Palazeti (6-4, 295, Flint Powers Catholic), a three-year starter, redshirt junior OG Alex Joss (6-4, 300, Walled Lake Western) and redshirt freshman TE Nolan Givan (6-2, 245, Berkley). Givan finished with three receptions, including an 8-yard TD catch for Ball State. Also playing for the Cardinals and in the rotation was senior WR Corey Lacanaria (5-8, 170, Birmingham Brother Rice), who ended up with three receptions for 16 yards. On defense, redshirt junior LB Damon Singleton (6-2, 240, Wyandotte) also started for Ball State.

Louisville 35, Purdue 28 -- In one of the better games this past weekend, many Michiganders played prominent roles for both squads. For Louisville, redshirt freshman WR Dez Fitzpatrick (6-2, 200, Waterford Mott) started and finished with four catches for 95 yards and one TD (20-yards). For Purdue, junior DT Eddy Wilson (6-4, 295, West Bloomfield) started and had three tackles and was a disruptive force all game, while sophomore S Navon Mosley (6-0, 190, West Bloomfield) also started and finished with seven tackles for the Boilermakers.

In the MSU, U-M, CMU, WMU and EMU opening games, there were too many Michiganders making plays and starting for each team. I will have a separate blog for those squads later. Either way, what a weekend it was for Michigan players and for college football, in general. So glad it's back.