The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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passes a week from a JUGS machine, on top of regular sessions with fel- low Detroit Country Day senior Ty- ler Wiegers, a four-star quarterback committed to Iowa, and workouts with Country Day head coach Dan MacLean. "I am trying to get stronger," Ways said. "I'm not necessarily trying to get bigger or gain weight, just get physically stronger. And I am con- stantly working on becoming a better route runner and catcher, to become a better overall receiver. I want to be more fluid in my route running. "I have a lot of guys I can work with to get better, and I will continue to do that this semester." The 6-3, 192-pound Ways is ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 6 player in Michigan and the No. 58 wide receiver nationally by Rivals. com. He has also been collaborat- ing with Michigan State fifth-year senior wide receiver Bennie Fowler, a Country Day alumnus. The two be- gan working out together last sum- mer, and Ways says he has learned a lot about the next level from the seasoned veteran. "He is helping me get right for college," Ways said of Fowler. "He shows me the workouts they do at the college level, footwork drills, techniques and hand-eye coordina- tion stuff. All the meticulous things it takes to be a receiver in college. He helps out a lot. "Of course, through the whole re- cruiting process, he was talking to me about State and everything. He is my big brother before anything. He understands why I chose Michigan, and he is just helping me become a better receiver." MacLean has been extremely im- pressed with Ways' transformation from an underclassman basketball player to one of the most dedicated football players he has ever coached. "His whole work ethic has im- proved exponentially," MacLean said. "He worked very hard over the last summer. Sometimes, he was probably overworking himself. He was working so hard at so many different things. The intent want to make himself better, which he obvi- ously did. He has a clear focus, and I have been very impressed with him. He is bigger, stronger, faster now." Ways' offseason work also helped him make a more diverse impact on the Country Day offense as a senior. In 2012, the Yellowjackets relied on Ways' size and basketball skills to throw deep jump balls to him over the top. That was certainly still a big Detroit Country Day head coach Dan MacLean on Ways "He worked very hard over the last summer. … He was working so hard at so many different things. The intent want to make himself better, which he obviously did. He has a clear focus, and I have been very impressed with him. He is bigger, stronger, faster now."