The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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108 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS running backs and quick wide receivers. "The position gives you flexibility as far as lining him up and still being able to play two linebackers inside, if they need to." Partridge set the stage for a potential move last August, when he had Hudson and Peppers rooming together in fall camp. They weren't exact replicas, he noted, but they had the same kinds of attributes. Hudson played primarily on special teams in 2016 and appeared in two games at strong safety. He finished with eight tackles and one pass breakup. "It hasn't been as hard of a transition to viper as it might seem," Hudson said this spring. "At the strong safety position, you also have to know what the viper position is doing. We line up to the same side of the field. So, when I moved to the position [in the off- season], some of the viper I already knew, but some stuff I had to learn. It didn't take me long to learn it, though, because I was familiar with viper. "You blitz, cover tight ends, cover slot re- ceivers and also play deep as a third safety. When I found out I was moving to the posi- tion, I started watching all the film I could on Jabrill." Sophomore Josh Metellus filled the spot in the Orange Bowl when Peppers went down with Rivals.com rated Michigan's 2017 freshman linebacker haul No. 2 in the country behind only Alabama, and three of the four signed remain at the position heading into fall camp. Only three-star Ben Mason has moved out — he will try his hand at fullback this fall. That leaves a five-star and two four-stars for coaches Chris Partridge and Don Brown: Jordan Anthony (6-1, 220, Rivals.com's No. 26 player overall nationally), Drew Singleton (6-2, 218, No. 52) and Joshua Ross (6-2, 230, No. 222). Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Anthony was the highest ranked of the group, and he could provide immediate help at the position. "That guy was always in the middle of the tackle. Always," Rivals Mid-Atlantic re- cruiting analyst Adam Friedman said. "He makes tackles, fights off linemen really well, sees running lanes and shoots the gaps really well. He always just seemed to be in on the play. "He's not the fastest guy or the biggest linebacker, but he's a really smart football player with a great work ethic that did more than what was asked of him off the field to prepare for a game." He has work to do in pass coverage, Friedman added, but he's deadly against the run. "Working in front of him between the hashes, being able to come downhill, and read- ing the play and flowing to the ball … that's his best area," he said. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic's Singleton was the top-rated player in New Jersey, hailing from the same school as U-M sophomore end Rashan Gary. He blew out his knee early in his senior year but was well on his way to recovery when Friedman saw him in December. He was running then, and he reported in February he'd be 100 percent by fall camp. "When he was healthy, he was a physically gifted linebacker," Friedman said. "He plays sideline to sideline and has really good instincts. He was able to not get faked out by play action, which is something he was susceptible to early in his career. "He just always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and he's an ener- getic and punishing hitter. He's someone teammates were really drawn to. The way he performed on defense breathed life into teammates on both sides of the ball." He has the frame to fill out and will be a great four-year player for the Wolverines, Friedman predicted. "He is such a fast linebacker and has such good change of direction. You can call it his football instincts … they were improving substantially every time I saw him," he said. "The way he's able to move in the open field was very impressive. It was on display at the many Rivals camps he attended. He's a special linebacker who can keep up with running backs down the field. Not many can do that." Ross, the Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's outside linebacker and brother of former Wolverine James Ross, was the No. 3 prospect in the state of Michigan. He's a bit bigger than his brother, Rivals Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt reported, "plays longer" and is also rangier than his brother. "James saw the game so well. He was very intelligent," Helmholdt said. "He saw things happening and made it look like he was a step ahead coming out of high school. Josh has some of that, too, but he doesn't have that as refined as James did at the same stage." But Josh is able to cover more ground, he added. "He's an athletic linebacker. Speed is what he hangs his hat on," Helmholdt said. "He can play in space and play sideline to sideline, but he's also stout enough to hold up at the point of attack and not give anything away in run support, and he can hang with running backs and tight ends in coverage." All three will get a chance to play this fall, and it wouldn't surprise if any of them contributed, either on defense or special teams. — Chris Balas Former walk-on Mike Wroblewski was awarded a scholarship prior to the 2016 campaign and appeared in nine contests last season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Elite Freshman Trio Will Add To Linebacker Competition Freshman Jordan Anthony was a five-star re- cruit ranked as the No. 26 overall player and No. 1 inside linebacker nationally by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM