sean magee

Last year I did an offseason series looking at changes via NFL decisions/coaching changes/transfer portal for every team in the B1G. While I hope to still do that, it hasn't yet felt appropriate when Michigan is going through major changes of their own on. Instead, it feels like a better idea to do a piece looking at some of the changes that have been made to the coaching staff we have yet to cover at MGoBlog, as well as some NIL and off-field staffing news. 

Introducing: Greg Scruggs, DL Coach

Though not yet official, it appears that Wisconsin DL coach Greg Scruggs will be joining Michigan's staff. Insiders on both the Michigan and Wisconsin side have confirmed the news and Josh Henschke tweeted on Tuesday that Scruggs has begun calling Michigan players to announce his arrival. Seems like it's happening. 

In which case, what's the story with Scruggs? Firstly he's 33 years old, beginning a theme of many of these coaches that Sherrone is targeting being on the younger side. Scruggs is from Cincinnati and played at St. Xavier in Ohio, home of Michigan DL recruit Ted Hammond, among many other players. Scruggs played his college ball as a defensive end at Louisville, competing on the 2010 and 2011 teams coached by Charlie Strong, that featured young Sherrone Moore on staff as a GA. That is the basis for Scruggs' relationship with Moore, which was then followed by Scruggs' transition to the NFL. He was a 7th round pick by Seattle who played some in 2012 but then was mostly a reserve piece after that, seldom competing in actual games (he did, however, participate in a photoshoot where he modeled kilts). After winning Super Bowl LI from the sidelines with New England in February 2017, Scruggs called it quits as a player and went into coaching. 

Scruggs returned to his hometown as a coach, joining Luke Fickell's staff at Cincinnati for the 2018 season. He spent two years as Director of Player Development, before getting the DL Coach job for the 2020 season. Over two seasons running Fickell's DL, Scruggs coached some talented players who were dominant within the American Athletic Conference. The 2020 Cincinnati defense featured one 1st Team All-AAC lineman and two 2nd teamers. The 2021 defense didn't have any 2nd teamers, but had two 1st Team All-AAC linemen. Among the players to earn honors under Scruggs were Curtis Brooks (6th round pick), Myjai Sanders (3rd round pick), Marcus Brown, and Elijah Ponder. The latter two went undrafted but Ponder got a cup of coffee as a UDFA in Tampa and recently signed in the CFL. For an American Athletic Conference team, Cincinnati had talented, strong defensive lines and Scruggs had a hand in coaching and developing those. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: the other hires]