WATCH: Michigan signee Mason Curtis shows off insane athleticism; talks role in defense
Michigan has signed 27 players during the early signing period on Wednesday including Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth 2024 four-star outside linebacker Mason Curtis.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder was the first commit of this class when he verbally pledged back in June of 2022.
Wit his national letter of intent officially in, he talks about becoming a Wolverine.
“While being committed for so long, it was a date I had been looking forward to,” Curtis told The Michigan Insider. “It felt good to make it official. (The Michigan fans should expect) someone who is going to give it their all every play and every game.”
As for his football role and where the Maize and Blue defensive staff sees him fitting in, they have an idea and it’s one Curtis loves.
“They know I’m versatile and can play different positions in the defense, but as of right now they see as a Jaylen Harrell,” Curtis said. “Someone who can rush the passer while being able to drop into coverage.
“I love it. He makes plays and that’s what I want to do. Michigan does great developing people, so if I’m playing that position or another one, I’m going to get the best coaching and development.”
Curtis sits as the No. 303 overall prospect in the 2024 class, the No. 23 linebacker in the nation and the No. 6 player in the state of Tennessee for his class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
READ MORE:
Michigan Football: Nick Saban Still Driven by Disdain for ‘Michigan Folks’
It has been a while since Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and Alabama’s Nick Saban had a proper go at each other. The last signal of a rivalry of any sort came in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, when Saban ticked off Wolverines everywhere by scoring a cheap late touchdown with former Michigan recruit Najee Harris, despite Alabama already having a 28-16 lead with time running out and Michigan having no timeouts.
The pair do have history. But according to longtime college football commentator Paul Finebaum, who appeared on the Detroit Free-Press’s “Hail Yes!” podcast this week, Saban’s disdain for Michigan extends well beyond Harbaugh’s arrival in Ann Arbor, back to his tenure as Michigan State’s head coach from 1995-99.
Said Finebaum, who has had his own tussles with Michigan football and Harbaugh over the years, and has been known to cuddle up to Saban: “He doesn’t like Michigan. That would include a lot of us, wouldn’t it?”
‘This Is Not a Normal Opponent’ for Nick Saban
No surprise there. Finebaum has been outspoken in his criticism of Harbaugh over the years, and especially in the sign-stealing “scandal” that marked the NCAA’s latest crusade against Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football. In 2017, after Finebaum accused Harbaugh of “cheating,” Harbaugh tweeted that Finebaum, “the unabashed SEC water carrier, really needs to get his facts straight. #AlternativeFacts.”
But Finebaum is right to say that Saban’s distaste for Michigan football runs deep, and that despite the passage of 24 years since his MSU days, the Wolverines remain in a different category for Saban.
“This is not a normal opponent,” Finebaum said. “I have seen Saban do a few things like that (in the Citrus Bowl), that I normally would not have seen. But during most of his tenure, he would never score at the end of the game. I don’t know if it’s really personal with Harbaugh, I can’t answer that. But, yeah, when you’re the Michigan State coach for five years, I would say you spend plenty of time having your face rubbed in the dirt by Michigan folks.”
Finebaum Sees Jim Harbaugh Leaving Michigan Football
As one might expect, Finebaum was hardly kind during the interview with the Free-Press podcast. He called Harbaugh a, “dinosaur,” who does not adjust well. He also is of the opinion that Harbaugh will, and should, leave the collegiate ranks as the NCAA closes in.
“I still think he’s a fascinating figure. I am not sure we’ve had many people like him in college football,” Finebaum said. “But I don’t know him very well, and I have had some interactions over the year and some near-misses. I think he is somewhat of a dinosaur in a changing world. Like many, I will be surprised if he’s there whenever Michigan’s season ends because there is too much baggage built up.
