The Wolverine

2018 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/998618

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 146 of 179

1. DT Maurice Hurst — Hurst was expected to anchor Michi- gan's defensive line heading into the year, and he lived up to that billing — and then some. The fifth-year senior wreaked havoc in opposing backfields all season long, racking up five sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss (tied for sixth most in the Big Ten), en route to earning consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors and first-team All-American accolades from the Associated Press and Sporting News. The statistics didn't tell the whole story as to how dominant the defensive tackle was, though. His ability to eat up space and demand double teams allowed his defensive end team- mates — most notably redshirt junior Chase Winovich and sophomore Rashan Gary — to also cause destruction. The 2017 team MVP will go down as one of the best Michigan defensive tackles in recent memory. 2. CB Lavert Hill — Heading into 2017, cornerback was considered to be the biggest weakness on Michigan's roster. That narrative was only enhanced in fall camp when position coach Mike Zordich expressed his concern for the group. It actually wound up being one of the strongest on the entire team, though, thanks in large part to Hill. The first-year starter intercepted two passes — includ- ing a pick-six against Cincinnati Sept. 9 — and broke up seven more to earn All-Big Ten second-team recognition from the coaches and Associated Press. While his statistics weren't necessarily off the charts, Hill didn't have a chance to bolster them much simply because teams seldom threw the ball his way. 3. CB David Long — Long was the second part of Michigan's dominant cornerback tandem, helping an- chor a secondary that allowed the fewest yards per game through the air in the country (150.1). Like Hill, opponents chose not to pick on Long very often, preventing him from racking up gaudy statistics — two interceptions and six passes broken up. He still earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the me- dia, though. The California native proved to be dangerous with the ball in his hands as well, compil- ing 105 return yards on his picks, third most in the conference. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks only accumulated an 11.9 passer rating when they targeted Long, the best single- season mark since they started tracking college football data in 2014. 4. LB Devin Bush Jr. — Bush burst onto the scene in the 2017 season opener against Florida by tallying 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. The performance against his home-state Gators would be a sign of things to come for the young linebacker, who quickly became known for his blazing speed and thunderous hits. The sophomore led the team with 102 stops — 18 more than runner-up Mike McCray — with 9.5 tack- les for loss and 5.5 sacks on the year, and collected plenty of postseason honors as a result. He was a first- team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, a second- team All-American by Walter Camp and a finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, which honors the nation's top linebacker. 5. DE Chase Winovich — Counterpart Rashan Gary was expected to dominate headlines at the position heading into 2017, but it was actually Winovich who posted the better statistics. He led the Big Ten with 18 tackles for loss and tied for second with eight sacks. The redshirt junior was chosen as a first-team All-Big Ten performer by the media at sea- son's end, and became a fan favorite with his relentless motor and iconic, flowing blond hair. Maurice Hurst's 96.8 was the highest season-long grade Pro Football Focus has awarded an interior defender since they began grading col- lege football games in 2014. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL TOP FIVE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS TOP FIVE INDIVIDUAL GAME PERFORMANCES THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 145 rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, helping lead the team to a thrilling 27-20 overtime win Oct. 14. Higdon averaged eight yards per carry on the afternoon and ran for the game- winning, 25-yard score on the first play of the extra session. 3. John O'Korn vs. Purdue — The fifth-year senior quarterback put together his best game — by far — in a Michigan uniform Sept. 23 at Purdue in relief of injured redshirt junior signal-caller Wilton Speight. O'Korn completed 18 of 26 passes for 270 yards with a touchdown and an inter- ception, and showed an ability to elude pressure all game long. He also led the of- fense on four touchdown drives, including one of 13 plays and another of 11. 4. Chase Winovich vs. Purdue — The redshirt junior defensive end had the best statistical game of his career in the Sept. 23 contest, racking up 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, both of which were single-game career highs. Winovich was also a big reason the Boil- ermakers were only able to muster 30 yards on the ground, and was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Wee and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. 5. Chris Evans vs. Minnesota — The sophomore running back posted incred- ible statistics in this weather-delayed night affair, piling up 191 yards and two touch- downs, while averaging 14.7 yards per carry. He recorded scoring runs of 60 and 67 yards. Higdon actually ran for more yards — 200 — against the Gophers, but Evans gets the nod here since he averaged over two more yards per carry (14.7 to 12.5).

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - 2018 Michigan Football Preview