The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MAY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 39 Evans concurred, noting it's been a point of emphasis this spring. Warin- ner said the offensive line often got a bad rap last year for mistakes that weren't theirs, and a good portion of that would probably be on the run- ning backs. A positive — in year two, the com- munication between Jay Harbaugh and his backs has gotten markedly better. "You're not feeling each other out or figuring out, 'What's the expecta- tion,' or 'How is this guy going to react?'" Harbaugh said. "So, maybe there's a little bit of a head start in that regard because we have a level of trust and understanding between myself and the players. You probably get off to a better start that way." It helps, he said, that all of his guys are extremely coachable. He's still looking for a third back, and he'll be breaking in a new full- back with the graduations of Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi. Sophomore Ben Mason, who Jim Harbaugh calls the team's "toughest guy," is ex- pected to fill that role. "Coaching guys like Karan and Chris and Ben [Mason] and [sopho- more] O'maury [Samuels] and [red- shirt sophomore] Kareem [Walker] and [redshirt freshman] Kurt [Taylor] and all those guys, they want to be really, really great," Jay Harbaugh said. "As a coach, that makes your job so much more fun and interest- ing … they're always looking to be a sponge and consume more." TIGHT ENDS First-year tight ends coach Sher- rone Moore was like a kid at Christ- mas when he got a first look at his group this spring. Though far from a finished product, this unit has the makings of a deep and potentially great corps. "The staff has done a great job training and recruiting quality kids," Moore said of the U-M coaches. "They are very smart individuals, but from a skill standpoint, playing the tight end position, the sky is the limit for this group. "Each kid presents a different issue for different defenses. All of them have their strengths; all of them have their weaknesses. But as a group, they're going to be really danger- ous." Redshirt junior Zach Gentry, con- verted from quarterback in his first year, returns as the top receiver in the group, having hauled in 17 re- ceptions for 303 yards a year ago — just four yards behind Grant Per- ry's team-leading total. Junior Sean McKeon had his ups and downs as a pass catcher but still caught 31 balls for 301 yards, while junior Nick Eubanks credited McKeon with be- coming an outstanding blocker this spring. "They are both outstanding threats in the passing game," Moore said. "Zach being 6-7 and five-eighths, I think they measured him at, he's a mismatch nightmare with his size, his strength and he's 265 pounds right now. "And Sean — he's just so cerebral, and he's strong for a guy his size. He's so athletic. They both bring a different premise to the group." Eubanks, meanwhile, has the chance to become a force in the pass- ing game. He is a mismatch with his speed, and he showed it in catching a 48-yard pass in last year's opener with Florida. An elbow injury suf- fered at Purdue sidelined him for the rest of the year. This spring, redshirt junior Tyrone Wheatley Jr. was plagued by the in- jury bug, suffering a broken foot. Eubanks has gotten more reps as a result, and he's played well. "Another improving, ascend- ing player, Nick Eubanks, is doing a fantastic job," Harbaugh praised April 11. ❏ Five Biggest Spring Risers On Offense Michigan's five most improved offen- sive players based on reports and com- ments from coaches and players: 1. Jon Runyan Jr. — Runyan has al- ways seemed physical enough, he just hasn't been consistent in his opportuni- ties. That's changed this spring, and the redshirt junior seems to have emerged as the starting right tackle. 2. Donovan Peoples-Jones — Peo- ples-Jones showed flashes of his five- star potential last year in catching 22 passes for 277 yards, but he's been in- credible this spring, per coaches and teammates. The sophomore receiver is better off the line and has made a num- ber of circus catches in emerging as U- M's top receiving threat. 3. Nick Eubanks — An elbow injury suffered early in the Big Ten season slowed Eubanks last year, but the junior tight end has come back strong. He's up to 250 pounds — he was 225 when he first arrived at Michigan — and is fast enough to beat linebackers in coverage, yet big enough to handle his blocking duties. He's one to watch closely this fall. 4. Nico Collins — Collins, a huge target at 6-4, 206 pounds, started to emerge late last year and caught two passes in the Outback Bowl. The sopho- more has got great hands and a long stride, and should be part of an eventually elite group of wide receivers. 5. Juwann Bushell-Beatty — Some wondered if Bushell-Beatty might not get a fifth year, but he applied himself in the offseason and continued to reshape his body … now he's battling for the starting left tackle spot. There's a long way to go, but the fifth-year senior is certainly one of the Wolverines' top five linemen heading into the summer. — Chris Balas Redshirt junior John Runyan Jr. has emerged as the Wolverines' top option at right tackle with a strong spring performance. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN