The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 49 TOP FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock: The Iowa graduate transfer didn't play at Michigan Stadium in two years as a starter for the Hawkeyes, but he's got a great chance to be the opening quarterback for the Wolverines this year. He doesn't have a huge arm, but he's extremely intelligent — just as importantly, he's played in the Big Ten's most daunting venues and held his own. 2. Sophomore nose tackle Bryan Mone: The Utah native has the potential to be a game changer on the defensive line with his size, but does he have the motor to do it consistently? This is the year we find out. He should command double teams in the middle and keep blockers off his linebackers, making it tough for opponents to run the ball. 3. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Maurice Hurst: Hurst played in only eight games a year ago, notching three solo tackles and a tackle for loss, but he was all over the field in the spring game, using his quick first step to provide coveted pass rush from the line. He's not U-M's biggest lineman at 6-2 and 281 pounds, but he has the potential to be a very good one. 4. Fifth-year senior cornerback Wayne Lyons: Senior cornerback Blake Countess' transfer to Auburn puts even more pressure on a secondary that doesn't boast much depth. Enter Lyons, a Stanford transfer who spent much of his career in the Cardinal's cornerback rotation. The former four-star prospect started every game at corner in 2013, compiling 69 tackles and making a pair of key interceptions in a late-season win against Notre Dame, and split starting time in 2014, finishing with 30 tackles, three passes broken up and a forced fumble. 5. Redshirt freshman rush end Lawrence Marshall: Marshall proved difficult to block on the edge in the spring and could emerge as the Wolverines' best pass rusher since Brandon Graham if he continues to progress. The Southfield, Mich., native plays with a high level of energy and has the desire to be great. TOP FIVE STRONGEST POSITION GROUPS 1. Defensive line — There's not really a close second here, either. Sophomore Bryan Mone is a potential star, yet he's not that far ahead of former walk-on Ryan Glasgow. Those two should both play plenty at the nose tackle posi- tion. Redshirt junior Willie Henry tallied 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception returned for touchdown in only nine games played last year, while redshirt junior Chris Wormley and redshirt sophomore Maurice Hurst are primed for breakout seasons after great springs. "Those guys did a stud job up front," fifth-year senior line- backer Desmond Morgan said following the spring game. "Taking out blockers and wreaking havoc … they've done that all spring." 2. Safety — Senior Jarrod Wilson has played enough games that he should be a vocal and confident leader in the secondary while making the checks, and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers is one of the Big Ten's best young players. Depth will be critical here, however. Junior Delano Hill looks the part physically and notched 20 tackles in seven games last year while battling injuries, but he needs to be more consistent. Junior Dymonte Thomas (34 career tackles) has yet to live up to his lofty billing as Rivals.com's No.109 player out of high school. 3. Linebacker — There's not a lot of star power here, but there is plenty of experience. Fifth-year senior Desmond Morgan and senior Joe Bolden have played in 75 games and notched 416 tackles between them on the inside, while Sam linebacker James Ross has started 18 of the 37 games in which he's appeared. Senior Royce Jenkins-Stone showed flashes of potential as a pass rusher in the spring, and junior Ben Gedeon has progressed in each of his first two seasons. This should be a solid group. 4. Cornerback — Losing senior Blake Countess as a grad transfer to Auburn hurts the depth, but junior Jourdan Lewis and fifth-year senior and Stanford grad transfer Wayne Lyons should be a very good starting duo. It's up to others to provide depth behind them, starting with Channing Stribling. The lanky, 6-2 junior has great abil- ity, but he's lacked the consistency needed to play the posi- tion at a high level. Peppers might have to help out here or at nickel back should sophomore Brandon Watson or senior Terry Richardson not rise to the challenge. 5. Running back — Michigan's stable includes a pair of former prep five-star talents in junior Derrick Green and redshirt sophomore transfer Ty Isaac, but junior De'Veon Smith emerged as the No.1 in the spring due in large part to injuries to the other two. Redshirt junior Drake Johnson might be the best of the bunch — he rushed for 361 yards and four scores last season — but a second torn ACL in as many years has left his 2015 season in jeopardy. "Those who stay will be champions" was Bo Schembechler's rallying cry when he took over in 1969, and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has used something similar to moti- vate his troops in 2015. "Those who try hard will stay, and those who stay will be champi- ons" Harbaugh tweeted May24 above a picture of four of his players. But which of the leaders will be the best of the best? Here are educated guesses on Harbaugh's first captains. Defense: LB Desmond Morgan There are plenty of leaders on the defense, but Morgan stands out as one of the guys who has earned respect in the locker room for the work he's put in. He's not the biggest or fastest linebacker in the Big Ten, but he plays at a high level by working at his craft. While he missed most of last year with an injury, he was one of the leaders of the defense before going down. A dark horse — the quiet but talented Jarrod Wilson. The senior safety leads by example and has been a mentor to some of the young defensive backs. Offense: WR Amara Darboh and FB Joe Kerridge As hard is it might be to believe, Darboh is already entering his fourth year. Though he has yet to emerge as a premier Big Ten receiver, he has earned the respect of the locker room with his work ethic and his demeanor. Kerridge, meanwhile, is the guy teammates insist gets no acclaim, but should. The tailbacks often stop film to point out a block he made that sprung them for a solid gain and speak of him as the guy who always has their backs. The former walk-on is highly respected for the work he's put in to get where he is. A potential dark horse: grad transfer quarterback Jake Rudock. He could be the starter, and he was highly respected in Iowa for his leadership and work ethic on and off the field. — Chris Balas With young players such as redshirt sophomore Maurice Hurst primed for breakout campaigns, the defensive line is easily the deepest and strongest position group on the team. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Michigan's 2015 Captains: Best Bets Wormley and redshirt sophomore Maurice Hurst are primed for breakout seasons after great springs. "Those guys did a stud job up front," fifth-year senior line- backer Desmond Morgan said following the spring game. "Taking out blockers and wreaking havoc … they've done that all spring." 2. Safety — games that he should be a vocal and confident leader in the secondary while making the checks, and redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers is one of the Big Ten's best young players. Depth will be critical here, however. Junior Delano Hill looks the part physically and notched 20 tackles in seven games last year while battling injuries, but he needs to be more consistent. Junior Dymonte Thomas (34 career tackles) has yet to live up to his lofty billing as Rivals.com's No.109 player out of high school. 3. Linebacker — there is plenty of experience. Fifth-year senior Desmond Morgan and senior Joe Bolden have played in 75 games and notched 416 tackles between them on the inside, while Sam linebacker James Ross has started 18 of the 37 games in which he's appeared. Senior Royce Jenkins-Stone showed flashes of potential as a pass rusher in the spring, and junior Ben Gedeon has progressed in each of his first two seasons. This should be a solid group. 4. Cornerback — transfer to Auburn hurts the depth, but junior Jourdan Lewis and fifth-year senior and Stanford grad transfer Wayne Lyons should be a very good starting duo. It's up to others to provide depth behind them, starting with Channing Stribling. The lanky, 6-2 junior has great abil- ity, but he's lacked the consistency needed to play the posi- tion at a high level. Peppers might have to help out here or at nickel back should sophomore Brandon Watson or senior Terry Richardson not rise to the challenge. 5. Running back — former prep five-star talents in junior Derrick Green and redshirt sophomore transfer Ty Isaac, but junior De'Veon Smith emerged as the No.1 in the spring due in large part to injuries to the other two. Redshirt junior Drake Johnson might be the best of the bunch — he rushed for 361 yards and four scores last season — but a second torn ACL in as many years has left his 2015 season in jeopardy. "Those who stay will be champions" was Bo Schembechler's rallying cry when he took over in 1969, and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has used something similar to moti- vate his troops in 2015. "Those who try hard will stay, and those who stay will be champi- ons" Harbaugh tweeted May24 above a picture of four of his players. But which of the leaders will be the best of the best? Here are educated guesses on Harbaugh's first captains. Defense: LB Desmond Morgan There are plenty of leaders on the defense, but Morgan stands out as one of the guys who has earned respect in the locker room for the work he's put in. He's not the biggest or fastest linebacker in the Big Ten, but he plays at a high level by working at his craft. While he missed most of last year with an injury, he was one of the leaders of the defense before going down.