The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1014905
SEPTEMBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 27 1. DL Aidan Hutchinson — Michigan isn't hurting for defensive linemen at present, but there's always the next wave, and the son of former U-M All-Amer- ican Chris Hutchinson is riding this one. He's putting no expectations on his rookie year, but at 6-6, 268 pounds, he already bears a college look to his frame. "I'm just going to go in there and try my hardest, let it work itself out," he said, regarding any early playing time. "I'll go into camp and do my best. I give 100 percent effort, and I'll see where that takes me." Hutchinson assured that he's looking to get better in every way, starting with his technical approach to the game. "I'm always going to be improving in technique," he said. "Even though I think I have good technique, you're always going against those 21-year-olds in college. It's got to be better, period. "I also play a little high sometimes. That may be due to that fact that I go against some 5-10 offen- sive linemen. I've got to stay low, being 6-6 ½." He knows one thing for sure: "The future is ex- tremely bright for Michigan. We're going up. The team is good, and we're putting all the pieces together. We're going to be very successful in the future." 2. RB Hassan Haskins — Michigan seeks a No. 3 running back behind senior Karan Higdon and junior Chris Evans. The 6-1, 212-pound Haskins has plenty of competition for that job, but he's already demonstrated some ability, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. "I'm hearing great things about Hassan Haskins," Harbaugh said. "I've seen some of his numbers from testing this summer. They've been really good." 3. LB Cameron McGrone — Linebacker isn't the easiest position for a rookie to break in, especially with a lineup featuring 'backers as strong as Michigan's this season. McGrone will certainly learn quickly and try to make an impact with his 6-1, 228-pound frame. He can move, and defensive coordina- tor Don Brown assured his veteran players would get McGrone grounded in the basics of the U-M defense over the summer. Now comes the whirlwind of fall camp and a fight for time, including special teams. 4. FB Ben VanSumeren — VanSumeren's timing couldn't be much better, if he in fact winds up at fullback. The Wolverines just lost a pair of seniors at that position, and while sophomore Ben Mason looks destined for that spot, Michigan needs more than one big hitter in the backfield. VanSumeren is 6-3, 236, and can move, according to those who watched the local product from Essexville, Mich. Now he gets to try his hand against much tougher competition. 5. TE Mustapha Muhammad — Muhammad's prep coach always taught him to prepare like he's going to play, every single year. The 6-4, 245-pound tight end took those words to heart and has been working as if he's got to move into the Michigan lineup in September. The Wolverines feature some talent stocked at that spot, but Muhammad will be looking to move some mountains on his way toward making an impact. — John Borton Michigan's Top Five Rookies For 2018 Michigan sideline reporter Doug Karsch likes to call Peoples-Jones a "Frisbee-catching dog," because of his ability to wow onlookers via his leap- ing catches. Getting free to do so became his greatest challenge as a freshman, and he's taken strides in that area. Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press put it this way, regarding the tal- ented wideout's rookie season. "Consistency is always an issue for fresh- men and Peoples-Jones was no exception," Baumgardner assessed in February. "There were plenty of times late in the season where he'd begin to look like more of a veteran receiver, ahead of his age. Then, he'd round off a route or not fin- ish a play or mishandle a punt, illustrating he was a freshman who was still going through the process. "He wasn't Julio Jones as a freshman. Few are. But any- one who deferred to his high school tape over his star rank- ing probably expected that. Still, only four Michigan true freshman receivers [Greg Mc- Murtry, Mario Manningham, Martavious Odoms and Roy Roundtree] finished their first season with at least 22 catches. Peo- ples-Jones managed that with a poor quarterbacking situation." P e o p l e s - J o n e s f i n i s h e d t h i rd among the Wolverines pass catchers with those 22 receptions and fourth in yardage (277) as a true freshman. He also returned 40 punts for an 8.0 average, with a 79-yard touchdown. His experience-based gains in getting free off the line of scrimmage should make him a top target for Michigan's quar- terbacks. Again, he's not a finished product, but he's taking strides among a crew that could be one of the nation's best groups of pass catchers. "You can see this coming to- gether," Karsch said. "If they take a standard progression … that position is on the brink of being special." 10. DONOVAN PEOPLES JONES, SO., WR PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN The Wolverines' defensive line is stout, but rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is talented enough that the former consen- sus four-star recruit is a good bet to find his way into the rotation. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN