The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 135 BY RYAN TICE After his one-year stop at U-M under Jim Harbaugh, former Wolverine defensive coor- dinator DJ Durkin looks like he has Maryland on an upward trajectory. The 3-9 squad he took over went 6-7 last year, and then he followed by signing the nation's No. 17 recruiting class. The seven four-stars signed in the 2017 class trailed only Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State in the Big Ten, and redshirt junior UNC transfer quarterback Caleb Henderson — him- self a former four-star recruit — is ready to take the reins after sitting out last year. Henderson should solve the quarterback problems that have plagued the squad for a few years — four different signal-callers at- tempted at least 33 passes last year. However, he has just one career passing attempt. Mobile quarterback Tyrell Pigrome is also back after ranking third on the team with 254 rushing yards and four touchdowns, but he'll need to improve as a passer to win the job. The one-two backfield punch of junior Ty Johnson and sophomore Lorenzo Harrison returns after combining for 1,637 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago, with both boasting an average of more than 7.0 yards per attempt. Johnson became the ninth 1,000-yard rusher in program history, thanks to several big plays — he had nine rushes and one reception that went 40-plus yards over the last 10 games. The offensive line returns redshirt junior center Brendan Moore — ranked the No. 1 underclassman at his position nationally by ESPN's Mel Kiper — and a pair of starters on the right side. Redshirt junior Damian Prince, a 6-3, 315-pounder, has 20 career starts at right tackle, while classmate Derwin Gray started three times at left tackle last season and is even bigger (6-5, 328). That means the ground game could be better than when it ranked fourth in the Big Ten with an average of 199.5 yards per game. Junior D.J. Moore is on his way to becom- ing one of the most accomplished receivers in program history after leading the squad with 41 catches for 637 yards and six touchdowns in 2016. He's also a dangerous kickoff returner and will occasionally rush or throw a pass. Like the 5-10, 215-pound Moore, the wide receiving corps doesn't have much size but it is fast — of the expected top six, only one is listed at taller than six-foot. The 4-2-5 defense features seven returning starters and several other key players coming back. Fifth-year senior linebackers Jermaine Carter Jr. and Shane Cockerille lead the way from the middle. Carter has eclipsed 100 tackles each of the last two years, with 23 tackles for loss and six sacks during that time. He is the only 13-game starter return- ing to the unit from last season, although 10 more started at least four games a year ago. Cockerille, a former quarterback then full- back, switched to defense for the first time last year and responded with 108 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He ranked third in the Big Ten with an average of nine stops per game, but he was suspended for the bowl game and again in the spring. However, the true playmaker on the unit in 2016 proved to be defensive end Jesse Anie- bonam, who returns for his senior year after logging 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Senior tackles Kingsley Opara and Cavon Walker started just 12 combined games last fall, but logged 71 tackles, including 20 for loss and 6.5 sacks. The biggest question marks are in the secondary. Progress for the Terps would be being more competitive against league foes, but it might not show in the final record this year — the schedule isn't easy with an opener at Texas and crossover games at Minnesota, at Wisconsin and home against Northwestern; they also are on the road against divisional foes Ohio State and Michigan State. Still, Maryland is probably in better shape now than it ever was under former coach Randy Edsall, who went 22-34 from 2011-15. Notes The Terrapins might not have been as competitive as their final record indicates — they did not beat a team that finished with a winning record and only one of their six Big Ten losses came by fewer than 21 points … Maryland was outscored by 187 points in those six contests, an average point differential of 31.2 points … The five FBS teams they beat finished 18-43. ❑ Three-Win Improvement Gave Terps Encouraging Start Under DJ Durkin 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 at Texas — Sept. 9 Towson — Sept. 23 UCF 30-24 (2OT) Sept. 30 at Minnesota L, 31-10 Oct. 7 at Ohio State L, 62-3 Oct. 14 Northwestern — Oct. 21 at Wisconsin — Oct. 28 Indiana L, 42-36 Nov. 4 vs. Rutgers* W, 31-13 Nov. 11 Michigan L, 59-3 Nov. 18 at Michigan State W, 28-17 Nov. 25 Penn State L, 38-14 * at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y. PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: D.J. Moore, Jr., WR — Started the final 10 games of his true freshman sea- son and all 13 contests last year … Has posted at least one catch in 21 straight contests … His nine touchdown catches in his first two years tied a school record … Has 66 career catches for 994 yards. Defense: Jesse Aniebonam, Sr., DE — The 6-3, 260-pounder paced the squad with 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks a year ago despite starting just six times … Started only three times in 2015 but logged 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks … Ranked fifth in the Big Ten with an average of 0.69 sacks per game. Junior running back Ty Johnson set a school record and led the nation by averaging 9.1 yards per carry (minimum 100 rushes) in 2016. PHOTO COURTESY MARYLAND ATHLETICS MARYLAND TERRAPINS • NOV. 11• GAME 10 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 5-1 First Meeting: U-M 20, Maryland 0 (Sept. 28, 1985, at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 59, Maryland 3 (Nov. 5, 2016, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: DJ Durkin, 6-7 at Maryland (second year) and 7-7 overall (was interim coach at Florida in 2014) 2016 In Review: 6-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten (5th East) Final 2016 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense, 7 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2016 (Quick Lane, vs. Boston College, L 36-30) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 0 (9 ACC titles, last in 2001) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Tyrrell Pigrome (322 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) Rushing: Ty Johnson (1,004 yards, 6 TD) Receiving: D.J. Moore (637 yards, 6 TD) Tackles: Jermaine Carter (110) Sacks: Jermaine Carter (6.0) Interceptions: Jermaine Carter, Shane Cockerille and J.C. Jackson (1)