The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/998618
162 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY AUSTIN FOX Former Wolverines In The NFL Name Pos. Years In NFL Current Team Richard Ash^ DT 3 Dallas Cowboys Played in 10 games last season with two starts, and notched 15 tackles and one pass defended. Ben Braden OG 1 New York Jets Cut Sept. 3, but was then signed to a reserve/future contract by the Jets Jan. 1. Tom Brady QB 18 New England Patriots Started all 16 regular-season games and the team's three playoff contests for the AFC champion Patriots. Completed 66.3 percent of his passes (third-highest mark of his career) while throwing for 4,577 yards (led the NFL) and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions in the regular season. Led all players with 1,132 passing yards and eight touchdowns — with no picks — in three playoff games. He also took home NFL MVP honors for the third time in his career. Alan Branch DT 11 Free Agent Appeared in 12 games with six starts for New England, recording 12 tackles along the way. Was not activated for the postseason, and the Patriots declined the op- tion on his contract March 6. Jake Butt TE 1 Denver Broncos The ACL injury he suffered in the 2016 Orange Bowl loss to Florida State caused him to miss his rookie campaign. Taco Charlton DE 1 Dallas Cowboys Appeared in all 16 contests and recorded 19 tackles, three sacks, one pass de- fended and one forced fumble. Jehu Chesson WR 1 Kansas City Chiefs Made one start in 12 games for the AFC West champions and recorded two catches for 18 yards. Played in the Chiefs' playoff contest, but did not record any statistics. Frank Clark DE 3 Seattle Seahawks Started 12 times and appeared in every contest. Forced two fumbles, broke up two passes and tallied 32 tackles with nine sacks, which tied for 23rd in the league. Jeremy Clark CB 1 New York Jets Began the year on the reserve/non-football injury list due to an ACL injury he suf- fered at Michigan, but was activated to the Jets' roster Dec. 8. Appeared in one game, but did not post any stats. Mason Cole C R Arizona Cardinals Was the highest Wolverine selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, going in the third round at No. 97 overall. Blake Countess^ CB 2 Los Angeles Rams Started one game and appeared in all 16 for the NFC West champs. He compiled 25 tackles, one pass defended and one interception, which he returned for 19 yards. Also accumulated two stops in a playoff loss. Amara Darboh WR 1 Seattle Seahawks Racked up eight catches for 71 yards in 16 games (no starts). Devin Funchess WR 3 Carolina Panthers Put together the best year of his professional career, starting all 16 contests and hauling in 63 passes for 840 yards and eight touchdowns (the latter two led the team). His regular-season TD total tied for eighth in the league, and he added four catches for 79 yards in a playoff loss. Ben Gedeon LB 1 Minnesota Vikings Started nine contests and appeared in all 16 during his rookie campaign, racking up 37 tackles. Added a tackle in two playoff appearances off the bench. Graham Glasgow G/C 2 Detroit Lions Started in all 16 regular-season games — five at center and 11 at left guard. Ryan Glasgow DT 1 Cincinnati Bengals Compiled 23 tackles in his rookie season, participating in all 16 games with one start. Brandon Graham DE 8 Philadelphia Eagles Put together an incredible season for the Super Bowl champions, accumulating 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two passes defended in 15 games played (all starts). Tied for 19th in the league for regular-season sacks. The highlight of his season came with just 2:21 remaining in the Super Bowl, when he strip-sacked Brady with New England attempting to mount a game-winning drive. Leon Hall CB 11 Oakland Raiders Appeared in nine games (one start) with San Francisco, tallying 16 tackles and one pass defended. Was signed by Oakland March 29. Chad Henne QB 10 Kansas City Chiefs Participated in just two games for AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars and did not complete either of his two pass attempts. Signed a two-year deal with the Chiefs March 16. Willie Henry DT 2 Baltimore Ravens Started three of the 14 contests he took part in, tallying 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five passes defended and one fumble recovery. Delano Hill S 1 Seattle Seahawks Did not earn a start, but played in 15 games and notched five tackles. Maurice Hurst DT R Oakland Raiders Selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by Oakland, No. 140 overall. Kyle Kalis G 1 Washington Redskins The Colts signed him off the Redskins' practice squad Oct. 3, and from there he went on to partake in four games with two starts for Indianapolis. Was waived by the Colts Dec. 2, and claimed by Washington two days later. Joe Kerridge FB 2 Green Bay Packers The Packers waived him Sept. 8, but then signed him to their practice squad Oct. 3 and promoted him to the active roster Nov. 18. Played in the team's next four games, catching one pass for three yards. Green Bay placed him back on the practice squad Dec. 2, and then resigned him April 17. PRO UPDATE Defensive end Brandon Graham helped the Philadelphia Eagles cap- ture the franchise's first Super Bowl victory with a sack and forced fumble late in the game that helped clinch the 41-33 triumph. PHOTO COURTESY PHILADELPHIA EAGLES