Michigan Football Preview 2013

2013 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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TE player bios Position Coach Dan Ferrigno enters his third season as U-M's tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. Ferrigno possesses 33 years of coaching experience including 21 years in the Pac-12 and two seasons under Brady Hoke at San Diego State (2009-10). He has made stops at California (1996-99, 2006-07), Oregon (2001-05), Southern California (2000) and Oregon State (1987-95). As a true freshman in 2012, tight end Devin Funchess flourished under Ferrigno's purview, catching 15 passes for 234 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. In 2011, Ferrigno coached senior Kevin Koger to career bests in receptions (23), receiving yards (244) and scores (four). While at California, Ferrigno was the position coach of firstteam All-Pac 10 selection and future NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was selected with the 13th pick of the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Ferrigno began his coaching career at Cleveland St. Ignatius High School in 1975, and also spent time as the offensive coordinator of Western Michigan (1982-86). Returning Players Dylan Esterline • TE R-Jr. • Blissfield, Mich. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 240 Career Highlights: Saw action in one game in 2012 … Posted first career catch versus Illinois … Caught one pass for seven yards … Did not see action in 2011 … Redshirted in 2010. Prep: Attended Blissfield High School … Dually enrolled in Siena Heights University during the fall of 2009 and Adrian College in the winter of 2010 … A two-time unanimous all-league selection. Personal: Born Dylan Craig Esterline on April 8, 1992 … Enrolled in College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. Devin Funchess • TE So. • Farmington Hills, Mich. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 228 Career Highlights: A Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American in 2012 … All-Big Ten honorable mention … Appeared in all 13 games, making three starts … Posted 15 catches for 234 yards and a team-high five touchdowns … Caught four balls for 106 yards and a score in his first career home game (versus Air Force) … Recorded six catches of 20 yards or more … First U-M tight end since Bennie Joppru (2002) to catch at least five touchdowns in a season. Prep: Helped lead Farmington Hills Harrison to a Division II state championship as a junior … Nabbed 21 balls for 452 yards (21.5 yards per reception) and five touchdowns as a senior … Caught 34 passes for 709 yards (20.9 yards per reception) and five scores as a junior … A three-star recruit, the ninth-ranked player in Michigan and the No. 14 tight end nationally according to Rivals.com … Named to the 2011 Detroit News Blue Chip list. Personal: Born Devin Funchess on May 21, 1994 … High school teammates with sophomore defensive end Mario Ojemudia … Enrolled in the College of Kinesiology, major undeclared. YearGP/GS Rec. Yds.Avg. TD 201213/3 15 234 15.6 5 Clark Grace • TE R-Fr. • Tecumseh, Ont. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 228 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2012. Prep: Attended L'essor High School … Played football. Personal: Father, Gordon Grace, is the athletics director at University of Windsor … Gordon earned master's degree in sports management from Michigan … Enrolled in the College Of Literature, Science and the Arts, undeclared major. Michael Jocz • TE R-Fr. • Novi, Mich. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 213 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2012. Prep: Attended Novi High School. Personal: Enrolled in the College of Engineering, majoring in mechanical engineering. Alex Mitropoulos-Rundus • TE R-So. • Ann Arbor, Mich. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 254 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2012. Prep: Attended Pioneer High School. Personal: Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in cellular and molecular biology. Jordan Paskorz • TE R-Jr. • Gibsonia, Pa. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 251 Career Highlights: Made career debut versus Massachusetts in 2012, playing special teams … Did not see game action in 2011 … Redshirted in 2010. Prep: Four-year starter for Hampton High School at both tight end and defensive end … Recorded 85 tackles, Roster No. Name Pos. 88 Jake Butt TE 42 Dylan Esterline TE 19 Devin Funchess TE 46 Clark Grace TE — Khalid Hill TE 95 Michael Jocz TE 91 Alex Mitropoulos-RundusTE 94 Jordan Paskorz TE 84 A.J. Williams TE Ht. 6-6 6-5 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-6 Wt. 231 240 228 228 230 213 254 251 265 YearElig. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. So. So. Hometown (High School) Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington North) Blissfield, Mich. (Blissfield) Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison) Tecumseh, Ontario (L'essor) Detroit (Crockett) Novi, Mich. (Novi) Ann Arbor (Pioneer) Gibsonia, Pa. (Hampton) Cincinnati (Sycamore) Redshirt junior Jordan Paskorz moved from linebacker to tight end during spring practice a year ago, and he saw the field for the first time on special teams last fall. photo by per kjeldsen including 13 sacks, and caught five passes for 136 yards (27.2 yards per reception) and two touchdowns as a senior … Rivals.com rated him as a three-star recruit and the 23rd-best player in Pennsylvania … Earned first-team allstate honors as a senior. Personal: Born Jordan Paskorz on July 18, 1991 … Brother, Stephen, played fullback at Notre Dame … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. A.J. Williams • TE So. • Cincinnati Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 265 Career Highlights: Appeared in all 13 games as blocking tight end in 2012 … Did not record a catch. Prep: Attended Sycamore High School … His blocking led the way for a ground attack that averaged 297.8 yards per game in 2011 … Did not catch a pass his senior year … Listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 22 tight end in the nation by Rivals.com. Personal: Born A.J. Williams on March 23, 1994. Newcomers Jake Butt • TE Fr. • Pickerington, Ohio Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 231 Career Highlights: Enrolled early at U-M. Prep: Attended Pickerington North High School … Caught 96 passes for 1,361 yards and 20 touchdowns during his prep career … Posted career highs in catches (68), yards (907) and touchdowns (12) in 2012 … Named Associated Press Division I All-Ohio first team … Invited to U.S. Army All-American Game, but did not play due to injury … Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 5 tight end in the land and the No. 144 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Jake D. Butt on July 11, 1995. Khalid Hill • TE Fr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 230 Prep: Attended Crockett High School … Caught 29 passes for 511 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012 … Played three games at offensive tackle due to an injury … Tallied 55 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and six sacks … Detroit Free Press All-City first team … Detroit News Blue Chip List honoree … Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 21 player in Michigan and the No. 32 tight end nationally by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Khalid Rashard Hill on June 4, 1995. The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview  ■ 111

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