The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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20 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2019 oh, I've got this label now. That's just what he is, every day. He leads, and he's consistent, and he's a very au- thentic guy that really resonates with people. "We're thrilled to have him as a captain. I don't know if there could be a better guy." Kemp has experienced a battle get- ting to the field that Bredeson never did. The senior nose tackle came in as a linebacker, eventually moved to defensive end, then finally asked his coaches to move him to the inte- rior of the defensive line in hopes for more playing time. He found it last year, starting 12 games for the Wolverines. All the while, he maintained the type of atti- tude that can get one voted a captain. "It's kind of surreal, being a Michigan captain," Kemp admitted. "When you're a freshman, you have a lot of really talented and much older guys, especially the class I came in with. My captains that year, we had Big Worm [former defensive lineman Chris Wormley], obviously. "You just never think you're going to get to that point. It's a huge honor. It's a really, really unique feeling, be- ing honored by your teammates that way." Wormley texted Kemp following the vote, and so did former captain Mau- rice Hurst Jr. Kemp laughed about not being able to tell anyone in his family about the vote, because of having to rush to a meeting immediately after the results were announced. "They were informing me, more than I was informing them," he said. Kemp, like Bredeson, assured that the leadership among the Wolver- ines extends well beyond those des- ignated by the team vote. "There's still a lot of great leaders on this team," Kemp said. "That's the best part about this team. You get to be captain, and you're kind of the voice of all the people — that's how I look at it. But you get influenced by so many great players, so many great leaders. "You might only have three cap- tains, but you could name countless people who could easily be captain. They're just tremendous leaders. We're all just going to work and lead and feed off each other as the season goes on." Still, he'll be one of the few who gets his image put on the captains' wall inside Schembechler Hall. "I haven't really even thought about that yet," he said. "It just hasn't hit me. But it is going to be a really surreal moment to have my name there, especially with some of the guys I got to play with, like Devin Bush, who is one of my best friends for life. We're going to have our names together." His message to the teammates in- volves getting things done … while they still can. "It's just how important every sin- gle game is, and that you don't get the opportunity back," Kemp said. "We've been so close, so many times in my career here. It's time to capi- talize on those moments and really make our mark this year." Michigan secondary coach Chris Partridge noted Kemp can help them make that mark. "Carlo is a tremendous leader with a tremendous work ethic," he said. "He came in as a linebacker, and worked his way into being the start- ing nose tackle, which is not easy to do. "He holds his teammates account- able every single day, which is awe- some. He has a burning desire to make Michigan the best." Hudson's desire remains unmis- takable, Partridge assured. He's the epitome of the high-motor gridiron warrior. "Khaleke Hudson is as blue-collar as it gets — hard-working, violent, an old-school, throwback football player," Partridge said. "He thrives on contact and running around mak- ing big plays. You don't find a day where he's not working his hardest — a great leader." The captain's label comes as a re- ward for that work, in Hudson's es- timation. "Man, it's just a huge honor for me," he said. "It just makes me happy my teammates thought I'd be valid enough and good enough to be the captain of the team. It makes me happy because I've been working hard my whole life. "When things like this happen, it just shows my hard work is paying off. I'm going to keep working hard, The Last 25 Years Of Michigan Captains From a six-time Super Bowl winner to a former walk-on, the Wolverines have featured all sorts of captains over the past quarter-century. Here's a look back at 25 years of Michigan's team-voted leadership: 2019 — Ben Bredeson, Carlo Kemp, Khaleke Hudson, Shea Patterson (A), Josh Metellus (A) 2018 — Karan Higdon, Tyree Kinnel, Ben Bredeson, Devin Bush 2017 — Maurice Hurst, Mike McCray 2016 — Jake Butt, Chris Wormley 2015 — Joe Bolden, Joe Kerridge 2014 — Jake Ryan, Devin Gardner 2013 — Courtney Avery, Taylor Lewan, Cam Gordon, Jake Ryan 2012 — Jordan Kovacs, Denard Robinson 2011 — Kevin Koger, Mike Martin, David Molk 2010 — Mark Moundros, Steve Schilling 2009 — Stevie Brown, Brandon Graham, Zoltan Mesko, Mark Ortmann 2008 — Mike Massey, Tim Jamison, Will Johnson, Terrance Taylor 2007 — Jake Long, Mike Hart 2006 — LaMarr Woodley, Jake Long 2005 — Jason Avant, Pat Massey 2004 — David Baas, Marlin Jackson 2003 — Grant Bowman, Carl Diggs, John Navarre 2002 — Bennie Joppru, Victor Hobson 2001 — Eric Brackins, Shawn Thompson 2000 — Steve Hutchinson, Anthony Thomas, James Whitley, Eric Wilson 1999 — Tom Brady, Steve Hutchinson, Rob Renes 1998 — Jon Jansen, Juaquin Feazell 1997 — Jon Jansen, Eric Mayes 1996 — Jarrett Irons, Rod Payne 1995 — Jarrett Irons, Joe Marinaro A — Alternate captain