The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2018 THE WOLVERINE 41 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. LINEBACKERS M ichigan's linebackers complete a now-veteran front seven which could prove devastating for opponents in 2018. Juniors Devin Bush Jr. and Khaleke Hudson are All-Big Ten defenders who are fast, talented, savvy and extremely well grounded in defensive coordinator Don Brown's attack. Filling the third linebacker spot will be important, but Brown has shown he has an eye for who fits where and a knack for getting players up to speed in a hurry. Some wondered what would become of a Michigan defense that saw major NFL attrition in the spring of 2017. It became (or remained) one of the top defenses in the nation and will be even better this season. It needs to be just that, though, to get the Wolverines over the top in tough games. They don't lack those, with road contests at Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State, along with a loaded home slate. 0.62 Was Khaleke Hudson's sack average from 2017, tied for sec- ond among Big Ten performers. 2 Fumble recoveries by Noah Furbush in 2017, tied for sec- ond in the Big Ten. 3rd Was Michigan's national ranking in total defense a year ago, the Wolverines surren- dered 271.0 yards per game. 8 Tackles for loss by Hudson against Minnesota, which tied an NCAA single-game record and earned him a 99.9 grade (out of 100) from Pro Football Focus, its highest mark for a Power 5 player all year. 179 First downs allowed by the Wolverines in 2017, the third fewest in the country. POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Mike McCray's departure leaves a hole in the middle of the Michigan defense, but there are no shortage of candidates looking to fill it. Redshirt sophomore Devin Gil stepped in capably at times a year ago, even starting the opener against Florida when McCray took ill. Gil saw action at several other games as a linebacker, and he'll be battling the redshirted freshmen along with sophomore Josh Ross, who played in 12 games as a rookie. Ross saw the field mostly on special teams, but he'll look to show he's ready for more. WHO'S GONE MIKE MCCRAY Michigan loses a steady captain and Ufer Bequest honoree from 2017 in McCray, who made 25 career starts and finished second on the team last year with 84 tackles. WHO'S BACK JUNIOR DEVIN BUSH JR. Bush led Michigan in 2017 with 102 tackles, including 9.5 for loss with five sacks. His blazing speed will once again be fea- tured in a follow-up to a third-team All-America (AP) campaign. JUNIOR KHALEKE HUDSON The viper also enjoyed a breakthrough 2017 campaign, fin- ishing first on the team in tackles for loss (18.5) and tying for the team lead in sacks (eight). He'll move up from last year's second-team All-Big Ten status (AP). FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR NOAH FURBUSH Furbush proved a very capable outside linebacker against power offenses, totaling 30 tackles, recovering a pair of fum- bles and picking off a pass in the Outback Bowl. He should remain a major contributor. JUNIOR JOSH UCHE Uche got off a strong start in 2017, posting a sack among two solo tackles in the opener against Florida. He appeared on defense in nine other games and will be among many vy- ing for time this year. TOP NEWCOMERS REDSHIRT FRESHMAN DREW SINGLETON Rivals' No. 52 overall recruit out of Paramus (N.J.) Catholic rehabbed a senior-season knee injury and should be ready to come out of the gate firing in 2018. REDSHIRT FRESHMAN JORDAN ANTHONY This Rivals.com five-star 'backer out of IMG Academy also spent a year lifting, training and practicing in anonymity, all of which should pay off moving forward. FRESHMAN CAMERON MCGRONE One of Michigan's top signees for 2018, McGrone (6-1, 225) out of Lawrence Central in Indianapolis is an aggressive, in- stinctive linebacker who appears a perfect fit in Don Brown's relentless scheme. BY JOHN BORTON "Everybody was wondering what was going to happen when Jabrill Peppers left. How could anybody possibly play that position like Jabrill Peppers did? In Khaleke [Hudson]'s first year, he out-performed a guy that was up for the Heisman in every statistical category." — U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE BY THE NUMBERS DEVIN BUSH