The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/998618
126 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW The Best Players At Each Position On Michigan's Schedule QB: Fifth-year senior Trace McSorley, Penn State — McSorley had a highlight filled 2017, accounting for 39 total touchdowns, but will have to repeat it with fewer weapons this fall. RB: Sophomore Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin — Taylor finished sixth in the Heis- man Trophy voting last season and is a favorite for the award heading into 2018 after rushing for 1,977 yards last season. WR: Senior Stanley Morgan Jr., Nebraska — Morgan is the Big Ten's leading returning receiver after hauling in 61 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He was second in the league in receiving in 2017. TE: Fifth-year senior Jerome Washington, Rutgers — Washington is one of the few bright spots on the Scarlet Knights offense. He led the team with 282 receiving yards last year. OL: Fifth-year senior Beau Benschawel, Wisconsin — You could just say the entire Wisconsin offensive line. Four of the five starters are projected to be first-team All-Big Ten honorees by Athlon Sports. Benschawel is the best interior lineman in the league and maybe the country. DL: Junior Nick Bosa, Ohio State — Bosa tore up the Big Ten with 8.5 sacks while sharing time. He'll only be better as a full-time starter. LB: Fifth-year senior T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin — A finalist for the Butkus Award, Edwards is the heart and soul of the Badgers' defense and tallied 81 tackles in 2017, second most on the team. DB: Junior Julian Love, Notre Dame — Love had an astounding 23 pass defended in 2017, second most in the nation. K: Fifth-year senior Rafael Gaglianone, Wisconsin — Was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2017 after hitting 16 of 18 field goals. P: Junior Blake Gillikin, Penn State — Was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten honoree last year. He had 26 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and averaged 43.2 yards per punt. KR: Fifth-year senior Parris Campbell, Ohio State — The speedy wide receiver averaged 36.6 yards per kick return, highest in the conference last sea- son despite only returning nine kicks. He should get more action this fall. PR: Fifth-year senior J-Shun Harris II, Indiana — If only he could stay healthy. Harris, a dynamic punt returner, has had three consecutive seasons cut short due to torn ACLs. Last season, he took two kicks back for touchdowns on 14 attempts and averaged 19 yards per runback — most in the Big Ten among those with more than one punt return. Returning Starters Opponent 2017 Record (Out of 24) Notre Dame 10-3 16 Western Michigan 6-6 13 SMU 7-6 16 Nebraska 4-8 15 Northwestern 10-3 15 Maryland 4-8 14 Returning Starters Opponent 2017 Record (Out of 24) Wisconsin 13-1 15 Michigan State 10-3 21 Penn State 11-2 12 Rutgers 4-8 13 Indiana 5-7 12 Ohio State 12-2 15 A Quick Look At Michigan's 2018 Opponents PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE PREVIEWING MICHIGAN'S 2018 OPPONENTS BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT