The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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94 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Football was also in his head, and Dwum- four put forth a persuasive argument to his faith-filled parents when he wanted to pursue the sport in earnest. "One thing that boy told us sticks with us," recalled Fred Dwumfour. "He said, 'Ma and Dad, you taught me how to pray. If you are worried for me to go to the field, just say a prayer for me. Football is not a danger, the way you people see it.'" "Every time I watched the TV, I wasn't for football," Agboloso said. "But my husband was for it. Michael told me, 'Ma, please don't worry about me. It's not as scary as you think. Just pray for me, and I will be okay.' Since then, I knew my son loved it, and I became for it also." The elder Dwumfour came from Ghana, Africa, in 1992, an avowed soccer fan. He and his wife settled in Queens, N.Y., before mov- ing to New Jersey when Michael turned two. When his son leaned toward football, he became a fan and turned himself into a knowl- edgeable one. "I'm now a staunch football watcher," Fred Dwumfour said. "If it's between soccer and American football, I stick with American foot- ball. "I used to not understand the game. But when Michael started playing, I Googled it, I read books, and he also taught me about it. I fell in love with it. I'm so hooked up with American football, especially the colleges." His mom got on board as well, seeing how consuming the sport became for her son. "Michael loved football," she said. "He was really passionate. Every time he had a game or practice, he never hesitated. He always wanted to be on time. He was just serious about what he was doing. "He'd always do what the coaches told him to do. When we'd tell him something, he'd say, 'No, Ma, my coach says this. My coach says that.' It was always, Coach, Coach, Coach. "Everything about the game and practice, he was serious about it. That's what I liked about him." A Friendship Carryover Dwumfour and Gary attended Scotch Plains (N.J.) Middle School together, and two years of high school there before going their sepa- rate ways to bigger football powers, Dwum- four to DePaul Catholic and Gary to Paramus Catholic. They never lost the dream of someday per- forming on the same college squad. "He was always competing with Rashan, trying to get better," Fred Dwumfour recalled. "He and Rashan were friends when they were little. I remember one time when I picked them up from basketball, and they told me if they can make it to college, they wanted to play together at the same college." When Michigan began recruiting both, some rival detractors weren't exactly chari- table to Dwumfour. They charged U-M with wooing the lesser-known prospect in order to secure and keep the commitment from Gary, the No. 1 prep prospect in the nation. If Dwumfour continues looking like he did in spring football, all of that talk gets crushed like an opposing tailback with nowhere to run. Gary absolutely reveled in talking about Dwumfour this spring, referring to him as "a Jersey kid." "He's fast off the ball, with a get-off just like Mo," Gary said. "It's ridiculous. You're going to see it when the time comes … "That's my brother. I've known him since the sixth grade. We grew up together, played Other Potential Breakout Players For Michigan Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour found himself singled out by multiple coaches as a potential breakout performer for Michigan this season. He's hardly alone, though, on a roster full of talented, hungry contenders. Here are five more who could move to the forefront in 2018: 1. Zach Gentry, R-Jr., TE — Gentry isn't a newcomer to the Michigan lineup. He started 11 games last year, catching 17 passes for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But the way he performed in spring ball has a number of people talking about him the way they did about All-American Jake Butt as he matured at tight end. Watch out this season, they say. 2. Devin Gil, R-So., LB — Somebody has to step in for departed Will linebacker Mike McCray, and Gil is a top contender. He played in 13 games a year ago, starting the opener after McCray took ill shortly before the game. Gil continues to improve and drew a strong vote of confidence from defensive coordinator Don Brown this spring. 3. Josh Ross, So., LB — Ross is another of Michigan's reserve linebackers from a year ago who gets high marks from the defensive coaches. He performed mostly on special teams in a dozen games a year ago. Now he's getting trained at both inside linebacker spots for more action on defense in 2018. At the very least, he'll be a top backup, but he intends to continue competing for a starting job. 4. Tarik Black, R-Fr., WR — Black generated the most talk of any three-game freshman in a long time. He sat out the entire conference season and the bowl game with a foot fracture, after making 11 catches for 149 yards and one touchdown in non-conference action. Many thought he'd have been Michigan's best receiver had he remained intact, giving rise to the notion that he'll enjoy a very big second year. 5. James Hudson, R-Fr., OT — Hudson is battling for the starting job at left tackle, a huge responsibility. He made the switch from the defensive line last fall and began training in earnest for a spot some observers believe he'll be playing in the NFL someday. For now, he'll either serve as a top backup or a breakthrough starter on a revamped Michigan offensive line. — John Borton Redshirt junior tight end Zach Gentry hauled in just 17 passes last year, which tied for fourth on the team, but he was just four yards behind wideout Grant Perry's squad-best total of 307 yards. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN