The Wolverine

2017 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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166 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRANDON BROWN T he 2012 cycle was Brady Hoke's first full shot at putting together his own recruiting class, and on paper the group looked quite promising. Containing 25 members and coming in at No. 7 nationally in Rivals.com's team rank- ings, the haul was supposed to be a program changer for the new head coach. Like most recruiting classes, some players surpassed their billing, some met expectations and some did not. Of the 25 signees, 10 players went on to have fruitful careers at Michigan and are looked at as "hits" in the group. Eight more played meaningful snaps in the winged helmet, and seven didn't finish their careers as Wolverines. All but one of the 18 signees who ended their playing careers at Michigan played for Jim Harbaugh in his first year at the helm. Wide receiver Devin Funchess opted to forego his senior season at U-M just a few weeks before Harbaugh was hired. The class was involved in 40 wins and 24 losses at Michigan, but went 1-3 in bowl games and won only three of 13 games against Ohio State, Michigan State and Notre Dame. A Solid Group The 2012 Recruiting Class Made Valuable Contributions To The Early Success Of Jim Harbaugh Devin Funchess hauled in 126 receptions for 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns over three seasons while playing both tight end and wide receiver for the Wolverines. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD 2012: 8-5, 6-2 Big Ten, Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina (L, 33-28). Final Rank- ings: Associated Press No. 24, Coaches unranked 2013: 7-6, 3-5 Big Ten, Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl vs. Kansas State (L, 31-14). Final Rankings: AP unranked, Coaches unranked 2014: 5-7, 3-5 Big Ten. Final Rankings: AP unranked, Coaches unranked 2015: 10-3, 6-2 Big Ten, Citrus Bowl vs. Florida (W, 41-7). Final Rankings: AP No. 12, Coaches No. 11 2016: 10-3, 7-2 Big Ten, Orange Bowl vs. Florida State (L, 33-32). Final Rankings: AP No. 10, Coaches No. 10 FIVE-YEAR RECORD Overall: 40-24 (.625) Big Ten: 25-16 (.610) Bowl Games: 1-3 Versus Ohio State: 0-5 Versus Notre Dame: 1-2 Versus Michigan State: 2-3 Top-20 Finishes: 2, 2015 and 2016 BIG TEN TEAMS' WINNING PERCENTAGES FROM 2012-16 Rk. School Rec. Pct. 1. Ohio State 61-6 .911 2. Wisconsin 49-19 .721 3. Michigan State 45-20 .692 4. Nebraska 43-23 .652 t5. Michigan 40-24 .625 t5. Penn State 40-24 .625 7. Iowa 39-26 .600 8. Northwestern 37-26 .587 9. Minnesota 37-28 .569 10. Rutgers~ 29-34 .460 11. Maryland^ 27-36 .429 12. Indiana 25-37 .403 13. Illinois 20-41 .328 14. Purdue 15-46 .246 ^ Spent 2012-13 in ACC ~ Spent 2012 in the Big East and 2013 in the AAC NFL DRAFT PICKS Jehu Chesson — Kansas City Chiefs, fourth round, No. 139 overall, 2017 Jeremy Clark — New York Jets, sixth round, No. 197 overall, 2017 Amara Darboh — Seattle Seahawks, third round, No. 106 overall, 2017 Devin Funchess — Carolina Panthers, second round, No. 41 overall, 2015 Willie Henry — Baltimore Ravens, fourth round, No. 132 overall, 2016 Ryan Glasgow* — Cincinnati Bengals, fourth round, No. 138 overall, 2017 Chris Wormley — Baltimore Ravens, third round, No. 74 overall, 2017 * Michigan walk-on

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