Warde Manuel Reaction & Preseason Position Grades for Michigan’s Offense | The Blue Print

Warde Manuel Reaction & Preseason Position Grades for Michigan’s Offense | The Blue Print

On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner react to the news that Warde Manuel will be stepping down as University of Michigan Athletic Director come the end of the year.  The guys share their thoughts on the decision, the process by how it was reached and where the athletic department goes from here. Then, we head back onto  the field and give you our preseason position grades for the Wolverines offense.  How high is Andrew Marsh’s ceiling?  Could the running back duo of Marshall and Hiter be the best in the country?  And does anything else even matter if Bryce Underwood doesn’t show significant improvement? Devin and Jake weigh in on all that and more on this week’s edition of the Blue Print!

Is Bryce Underwood Talking Too Much? PLUS: Where Michigan Ranks in EA’s Toughest Stadium List

On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner have some thoughts on Bryce Underwood’s claim that he’s “the best player ever to come out of Michigan.” Are we sure it’s a good idea for him to be saying things like this?  Is he putting an even greater target on himself coming into the season?  And which NBA player does Devin see as the guy Bryce should try to emulate when it comes to his public persona? The guys weigh in on all of it! Then: EA Sports has released its list of the 20 toughest stadiums to play at in all of college football.  So, how’re we feeling about Michigan coming in at #12?  Too low? Too high? Just right?  The guys also talk about the inherent SEC bias in lists like this and they give you some of their most underrated stadium experiences from their time as players.

Ranking the Top 5 Big Ten Defenses + Michigan’s Summer Grind

On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner rank the top five defenses in the Big Ten heading into the season. Where does Michigan stack up against the conference’s best? And which teams could challenge the Wolverines on the defensive side of the ball? Plus, Jake and Devin take you inside the offseason grind for Michigan football, breaking down what summer really looks like for Wolverines players. From intense workouts and conditioning to film study and preparation, they share what it takes to stay sharp when the games are still months away. Tune in for offseason insight, Big Ten analysis, and plenty of Michigan football talk on The Blue Print, wherever you get your podcasts.

Selecting Our Top 5 Big 10 Offenses for 2026; Does Michigan Make the Cut?

On the latest episode of The Blue Print, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner are giving you their top 5 Big 10 offenses for the upcoming 2026 season.  Does Michigan have enough to make cut?  Or are their questions at quarterback a little too prominent to beat out some of the elite competition? Plus, we open up the Michigan mailbag to answer your questions on other programs that may have “Brady Hoke-esque” locker room rules, the possibility of Bryce’s backups seeing some time and the incredible challenges that this season’s schedule presents.

Eric Weddle Said WHAT About Bryce Underwood?? Devin & Jake’s 3-Step Plan to Improve QB1

On the latest episode of The Blue Print, former 2x All-Pro Safety Eric Weddle had some harsh criticism of Michigan QB Bryce Underwood after watching him at practice and our own Jake Butt and Devin Gardner are weighing in on those comments. The guys discuss what could have driven Weddle to speak out in the way that he did and if his perspective actually does have some validity. Then, in an effort to help silence the critics, Devin and Jake each lay out the 3 things they’d moist like to see Bryce improve upon to change the narrative around the trajectory of his career!