The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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36 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2017 we're looking at to play a big role." On defense, fifth-year senior line- backer and team captain Mike Mc- Cray observed: "He had a great fall camp. He's become one of the top leaders in the secondary. That's a big role for us, him being a safety. You've got to be really vocal in the second- ary, and he's one of those guys we all trust. "He plays hard. He's fast to the ball. He's not afraid to come down and make tackles. He can cover. He's a great, all-around player." Harbaugh himself liked everything Kinnel brought to the table in fall camp. "He's ready to go," the head coach said. "He's one of those hard work- ing, it's really important to him, fo- cused type of guys." NOTES OF CAUTION Marcus Ray has witnessed several strong Michigan secondaries, and participated in one that helped bring home a national championship to Ann Arbor. The former U-M safety now provides analysis for the Big Ten Network while hosting a local radio show with another former Wolver- ine, running back Jamie Morris. Ray likes the way Kinnel has pro- gressed in his grooming time to step into the spotlight. "In the time I've seen Tyree play, he's shown some flashes in special teams of being a playmaker," Ray said. "He's gotten his hands on a couple of balls, and he plays with great effort and technique. When he's been in on defense, he's been more in a backup, conservative role. "I think he can be a good player. He possesses some of the tools it takes to be a great safety." It's different, though, when you're stepping in as the leader of an all- new secondary, Ray advised. Not only do the Wolverines feature four new starters in the defensive back- field, the other three starters are sophomores. That makes Kinnel's job more dif- ficult. "It's a lot tougher," Ray offered. "When I played, the leader of the secondary was basically the quarter- back of the defense. He made all the checks. He wasn't necessarily a play- maker, but he was a guy who knew all the checks and could get guys lined up, so you went to him for your align- ment and your assignment. "Tyree has to be both for Michi- gan's secondary, for him to be good. Junior safety Tyree Kinnel joins a long and storied list of Michigan starters in the defensive backfield hailing from the state of Ohio. Some of the finest those fertile fields from the south ever produced escaped to shine in Ann Arbor and beyond. Here are five of Michigan's all-time greatest performers in the secondary, all of whom chose the Wolverines over anyone in their home state: 1. Charles Woodson, CB, Freemont, Ohio, 1995-97 — Woodson not only became a Heisman Trophy winner and a national champion in 1997, he proved a Buckeye killer along the way. His 78- yard punt return touchdown marked the difference in Michigan's 20-14 win over OSU in '97. Woodson actually went 3-0 against Ohio State, beginning his career with two interceptions in U-M's 31-23 win over the Buckeyes in 1995. Woodson recorded 18 interceptions in his three seasons with the Wolverines. 2. Dave Brown, CB, Akron, Ohio, 1972-74 — Brown per formed bril- liantly as a two-time All-American for Bo Schembechler's early Michigan squads. He racked up 174 tackles and 11 inter- ceptions over the course of three seasons, breaking up 15 passes and piling up 202 yards of interception returns. He also averaged 11.7 yards per punt return, with three touch- downs. 3. Tom Curtis, S, Cleveland, Ohio, 1967-69 — Tom Curtis switched away from quarterback to become Michigan's most proficient pickoff artist of all time. He still holds the U-M career record with 25 interceptions, including a single- season record of 10 in 1968. The follow- ing year, Curtis picked off two passes in Michigan's monumental upset of Ohio State in Michigan Stadium, helping boost the senior safety to consensus All-America status. 4. Thom Darden, CB, Sandusky, Ohio, 1969-71 — Darden proved a stalwart on Schembechler's first three squads, racking up 218 tackles and 11 interceptions along the way. Darden played on Big Ten championship squads in 1969 and 1971, the latter as an All- American. He posted one of the most famous interceptions in Michigan his- tory, a game-sealer in '71 against Ohio State thought to be pass interference by OSU head coach Woody Hayes. A couple of torn-up down markers and unsports- manlike conduct penalties later, Michi- gan emerged victorious. 5. Marcus Ray, S, Columbus, Ohio, 1994-98 — Ray performed along with Woodson on Michigan's last national championship squad in '97. He posted 71 tackles and five interceptions that season, drawing nationwide notice for a hit that launched OSU receiver David Boston. Ray's interception against the Buckeyes in his hometown a year earlier sealed a win in the Snakepit, and he wound up with 229 total tackles over the course of his career. — John Borton In 1997, Charles Woodson, a native of Freemont, Ohio, became the only primarily defensive player to earn a Heisman Trophy and helped the Wolverines win the national championship. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Ohio Has Produced Some Of Michigan's Best DBs Former All-American safety Marcus Ray on Kinnel "His job is big. I do think he has the capabilities to carry the bulk of that load."