The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/835590
THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 107 LINEBACKERS assists and a half tackle for loss last season, and now he's primed for a breakout season. "I'm looking forward to seeing him play on a daily basis," Simpkins said. "I think his aggressiveness is going to really be a plus for the Michigan defense. Not only is he aggres- sive, he has so much athleticism. Now can he harness it and make the calls and those kinds of things? "Talent gives him the opportunity to play, but being football smart keeps him on the field." Bush was progressing on a daily basis, Partridge said this spring, and starting to understand what it takes to be a Big Ten linebacker. He is the kind of guy that comes to work every day and gets better every day, the coach added. That's no surprise to Simpkins, who saw Bush dominate at times in the spring game. He finished with two sacks among his three stops and was all over the field in limited action. "You could see it on special teams last year," Simpkins said. "He's outrunning peo- ple; he's aggressive, attacking. When you get into that structured defense and you're making those calls and adjustments … if you can do that, now you're becoming a football player." Those two words — a 'football player' — are what head coach Jim Harbaugh calls the ultimate compliment for the athletes he coaches. He used it often with do-everything stand- out Peppers, and as Brown explained this spring, there's no 'next Jabrill Peppers.' But they aren't lacking for options to help fill his shoes. The defense can be every bit as good this year — there's talent at all posi- tions — if the pieces work together. Sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson — per- haps one of the more underrated players in Michigan's 2016 recruiting class, according to his Big 33 prep all-star game coaches — was given the first shot to fill Peppers' shoes. Like Bush, he made the most of his first big opportunity on defense, shining with three tackles and a sack, also in limited action during the spring game. He got home several times on pass rushes, though the quar- terback was off limits. The viper position is critical in Brown's defense, and Simp- kins explained why. "More so than anything else it's the versatility and how you can use him, especially with the offenses now a days," he said. "You have so many multiple-formation offenses and have got so many guys that flex out. You've got smaller Fifth-year senior Mike McCray opened the 2016 campaign by setting career highs with nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks against Hawai'i in his first career start. He later tied the tackle total against Ohio State, where his father played football. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL FYI Devin Bush Jr.'s father, Devin Bush Sr., was his high school coach and is also a former Florida State great, having played on the 1993 national championship team. Bush Sr. is in his third year on Jim Harbaugh's staff as a defensive analyst, while his daughter, Deja, plays softball at Florida State. … Bush Jr. and Devin Gil played together at Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Flanagan with fellow sophomore Josh Metellus (safety). Redshirt sophomore viper Jordan Glasgow is the third of his three brothers to walk-on at U-M, behind Graham (a center with the Detroit Lions) and Ryan (a fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals). Michigan's linebackers — Ben Gedeon, Mike McCray and Jabrill Peppers — were the team's top three tacklers a year ago, led by Gedeon's 106 stops. … They accounted for 44 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Jordan Anthony and Drew Singleton were rated the top 1-2 freshman punch at linebacker by Rivals.com after Signing Day in February. Rivals national recruiting director Mike Farrell said An- thony could play Peppers' vacated position at viper and hold up well ("He's that good."). Sophomore viper linebacker Khaleke Hudson blocked two kicks on special teams last year. LEADING RETURNING TACKLER AT LINEBACKER Year Player Solo Asst. Total TFL Sacks 2016 Mike McCray 39 37 76 12.5-51 4.5-30 2015 Jabrill Peppers 34 11 45 5.5-16 0.0-0 2014 Joe Bolden 55 47 102 4.0-18 2.0-15 2013 James Ross III 46 39 85 5.5-23 1.5-17 2012 Jake Ryan 56 32 88 16.0-71 4.5-35 2011 Kenny Demens 49 45 94 5.0-20 3.0-18 2010 Kenny Demens 47 35 82 1.5-2 0.0-0 2009 Obi Ezeh 27 42 69 5.0-8 0.0-0 2008 Obi Ezeh 59 39 98 7.0-27 1.0-7 2007 Obi Ezeh 33 35 68 4.0-18 2.0-14