The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 167 Top Five Players 1. Devin Funchess — Just a three-star tight end coming out of high school, Funchess developed into a big-time wide receiver while at Michigan. In his first season at Michigan, Funchess was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team as well as the ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team after reeling in 15 catches for 234 yards and five touchdowns. Funchess' sophomore campaign was his best at U-M. He was named the Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year and was voted by the media as an All-Big Ten first teamer after making 49 catches for 748 yards and six touchdowns. The 748 receiving yards are the most ever by a Michigan tight end in one season. During his junior year, he was moved to wide receiver full time and was named to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches after catching 62 balls for 733 yards and four scores. He finished his Michigan career tied for 12th on U-M's career 100-yard receiving games list with five. The Carolina Panthers took him in the second round, pick No. 41 overall, in the 2015 NFL Draft. 2. Amara Darboh — Listed as a four-star wide receiver out of West Des Moines, Iowa, Darboh lived up to his ranking as a prospect. He was the most productive wide receiver on the team during his stretch as a Wolverine, recording 151 catches for 2,062 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had at least one catch in 33 consecutive games, which is the fourth-longest streak in school history. After playing mostly special teams as a freshman and then missing his sophomore season due to a foot injury, Darboh became a very productive receiver. He was All-Big Ten honorable mention by both the coaches and media in 2015 and then upped his production to earn All-Big Ten second-team honors from the coaches and media in 2016 after making 57 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns. Darboh was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round (No. 106 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. 3. Jehu Chesson — Just a three-star wide receiver coming out of high school with 90 wide receivers ranked ahead of him nationally in the 2012 class, the 6-3, 203-pound Chesson definitely surpassed his projected production during his time in Ann Arbor. Chesson redshirted as a freshman, but followed up with four solid years. He finished with 114 catches for 1,639 yards and 12 touchdowns during his career. He also had 22 carries for 219 yards and three scores and a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the game against Northwestern in 2015. In 2015, Chesson recorded 50 catches for 764 yards and nine touchdowns, which earned him a spot on the Biletnifoff Award and Maxwell Award watch lists entering 2016. He was also named the Bo Schembechler MVP by his teammates in 2015 and picked up All-Big Ten first-team honors. He dipped a bit in 2016, but still earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the media. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Chesson in the fourth round (No. 139 overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. 4. Chris Wormley — Like Chesson, Wormley was a modestly ranked three-star prospect coming out of high school, listed by Rivals.com as just the No. 22 player in the state of Ohio. At Michigan, he performed admirably on and off the field. In the classroom, he was an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and 2016. His best years as a student also aligned with his best production on the field. In the same years, he was the Richard Katcher Award winner, which goes to the top defensive lineman at Mich- igan, after compiling 83 total stops, 23.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks during the two-year period. He was also a two-time All-Big Ten honoree. In 2016 he was named to the first team by the coaches and to the second team by the media, and in 2015 he was on the third team picked by the coaches. He was also voted a co-captain in 2016 as a fifth-year senior. Wormley was picked No. 74 overall in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2017 NFL Draft. 5. Willie Henry — Another lightly recruited prospect, Henry was just a three-star recruit as a senior and had 58 players ranked ahead of him in the state of Ohio. The 6-3, 311-pounder had three solid seasons at U-M that allowed him to forego his final year of eligibility and head to the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens selected Henry in the fourth round (No. 132 overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. While at Michigan, Henry recorded 86 tackles, 18.5 stops for loss and 10 sacks. He even had an interception, which he returned seven yards for a touchdown against Utah in 2014. During his final year at Michigan, Henry was All-Big Ten honorable mention. Top Storylines Two Early Entries: Two players from Michigan's 2012 class reached the NFL ahead of schedule. Tight end/wide receiver Devin Funchess saw action as a true freshman and bolted for the NFL after just three years in Ann Arbor. He was a tight end during his first two seasons at Michigan before transitioning full time to wide receiver as a junior. Funchess hauled in 126 receptions for 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns during his time at Michigan before being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (No. 41 overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Willie Henry redshirted as a freshman but developed nicely over the next three years and gave up his final year of eligibility to head to the pros as well. During his three years of on- field time at Michigan, Henry totaled 86 total stops, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He also had an interception that he returned for a touchdown against Utah in 2014. Henry was drafted by John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round (No. 132 overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. Seven Left Program: In 2010, 16 of the Wolverines' 27 signees didn't finish their careers at Michigan. Amazingly, the percentage went up when 15 of 20 bailed from the 2011 class. The situation settled down a bit in 2012 with just seven of the 25 finishing up their college careers out of a Michigan uniform. Offensive lineman Blake Bars decided to pursue a ca- reer in law rather than play football for his last year of eligibility after playing sparingly in just eight games over his Michigan career. Linebacker Allen Gant left U-M with a year of eligibility left as well. Running back Dennis Norfleet was dismissed from U-M after missing an exam and some classes heading into his senior year. He finished his football career at Tuskegee University. Defensive lineman Ondre Pipkins played three years at Michigan before transferring to Texas Tech for a redshirt season and fifth year. He signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Washington Redskins following the 2017 NFL Draft. Cornerback Terry Richardson appeared sparingly in 15 games at Michigan before transferring to Marshall Uni- versity. Richardson played in 11 games for Marshall and worked out for NFL scouts during Michigan's pro day, but was not drafted and has not been signed by an NFL team. Defensive lineman Tom Strobel played in 18 games at Michigan before taking the grad transfer route to Ohio. He played in 10 games in 2016, but is now likely done with football. Finally, linebacker Kaleb Ringer spent his freshman sea- son in Ann Arbor, but never played a down at Michigan before transferring to Ferris State. He then headed on to Butler Community College in Kansas before finishing up his last two years of eligibility at Georgia State. No Quarterback: In a move that has been criticized ever since it took place, Brady Hoke and his staff did not sign a quarterback in 2012. In 2011, Russell Bellomy was the guy and in 2013 it was Shane Morris. Those decisions undoubtedly played a role in Hoke's lack of success as his tenure at Michigan progressed. Landing a solid signal-caller in 2012 or 2013 would've been crucial to the development of the team as things stand heading into 2017. Hoke and Co. didn't prioritize the position and it ulti- mately played a part in them losing their jobs. Defensive lineman Willie Henry compiled 86 tackles, 18.5 stops for loss and 10 sacks during his U-M career before heading to the NFL a year early. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN