Michigan Football Preview 2015

2015 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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116 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW DEFENSIVE BACKS PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACHES Greg Jackson enters his first year coaching the second- ary at Michigan and his 11th season working with defensive backs in college and the NFL. Jackson will handle the safeties at U-M, while Mi- chael Zordich coaches the corners. A safety at LSU from 1985-88, Jackson was a first-team All-American in 1988, leading the nation with seven intercep- tions while finishing his career with 11. He helped lead the Tigers to a 36-10-2 record over the course of his four years, with SEC champion- ships in 1986 and 1988. Jackson also played 12 seasons in the NFL, for four teams: the New York Giants (1989-93), Philadelphia Eagles (1994-95), New Orleans Saints (1996) and San Diego Chargers (1997- 2000). In 129 starts, he made 32 interceptions. Jackson began his coaching career at the University of Idaho in 2003, then spent three seasons at Louisiana-Monroe before a three-year stint at Tulane from 2007-09. From 2011-14, Jackson worked for Jim Harbaugh as the as- sistant secondary coach for the San Francisco 49ers. He helped produce four Pro Bowl players and two All-Pros. Michael Zordich is in his first season coaching the cornerbacks at Michigan and his sixth season coaching overall, between college and the NFL. An All-American safety for Penn State from 1983-85, Zordich recorded 201 tackles. He then spent 12 seasons in the NFL, two with the New York Jets (1987- 88), and five with both the Arizona Cardinals (1989-93) and Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98), tallying 20 interceptions and 588 tackles. Zordich began his coaching career with Youngstown State in 2009 and would return to Youngstown in 2013-14 after three seasons working with the Eagles. RETURNING PLAYERS SHAUN AUSTIN • S R-Jr. • Plymouth, Mich. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 202 Career Highlights: Switched posi- tions from quarterback to safety before the 2014 season … Did not see game action in 2012, 2013 or 2014. Prep: Attended Plymouth High School and was a three-year varsity letterman in football … Earned all-conference and all-district recognition as a quarter- back during his junior and senior seasons. Personal: Born Shaun Ryan Austin on Oct. 16, 1994 … En- rolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. JEREMY CLARK • S R-Jr. • Madisonville, Ky. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 205 Career Highlights: Has appeared in 19 career games, with six starts at safety in 2014 … Recorded 18 tackles with one pass breakup in 2014 … Made first career start against Appalachian State in the 2014 season opener … Appeared in one game as a reserve safety in 2013, checking in against Central Michigan … Redshirted in 2012. Prep: Starred at Madisonville North Hopkins High School … Stockpiled 70 tackles, 15 passes broken up, three interceptions and four defensive scores as a senior … Rated a three-star prospect, the No. 4 player in Kentucky and the No. 37 safety in the country by Rivals.com … Earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. Personal: Born Jeremy Marcus Clark … Grandfather, William McFarland, played football at Oklahoma State … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major un- declared. ANTHONY DALIMONTE • DB R-So. • Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Ht.: 5-9 • Wt.: 176 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2013 or 2014. Prep: Attended Brother Rice High School … Racked up 48 tackles, two interceptions and 18 pass breakups as a senior. Personal: Born Anthony Dalimonte …Enrolled in the Col- lege of Literature, Science and the Arts. REON DAWSON • CB R-So. • Trotwood, Ohio Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 175 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2014 …Redshirted in 2013. Prep: Attended Trotwood-Madison High School … Began playing football as a sophomore … Totaled 34 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior … Ranked a three-star recruit and the No. 53 player in Ohio by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Reon Lee Dawson on Oct. 29, 1993 …En- rolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. DELANO HILL • S Jr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 204 Career Highlights: Has appeared in 20 career games, making five starts at safety in 2014 … Recorded 20 tackles and had a fumble recovery in 2014, log- ging his first career start against Miami (Ohio) …Played in one game as a defensive back in 2013, mak- ing his career debut in the season-opening win over Central Michigan … Also contributed on special teams. Prep: Coached by former U-M running back Thomas Wilcher at Cass Tech High School … Won back-to-back state titles in 2011 and 2012 … Tallied 60 tackles and two interceptions as a senior … Tabbed as a four-star recruit, the No. 7 player in Michigan and the No. 23 safety in the country by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Delano Kash-Pride Hill on Nov. 26, 1995 … Enrolled in the School of Kinesiology. JOURDAN LEWIS • CB Jr. • Detroit Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 176 Career Highlights: Has appeared in 25 career games, with seven starts at cor- nerback in 2014 …Recorded 39 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions in 2014 … Made his first career start and had his first career interception in the win over Miami (Ohio) in 2014 … Appeared in eight games as a reserve defensive back in 2013 … Tallied 17 tackles and two pass breakups. Prep: Coached by former U-M running back Thomas Wilcher at Cass Tech High School … Won back-to-back state titles in 2011 and 2012 … Recorded 16 tackles and an interception as a senior … Allowed just one completed pass on him all season … Tallied 33 catches for 506 yards and seven TD in final prep campaign … Rated a four-star recruit, the No. 3 player in Michigan, the No. 10 cornerback in the nation and the No. 132 overall player in the country by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Jourdan Julius Lewis on Aug. 31, 1995 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in Sociology. MATT MITCHELL ª DB R-Fr. •Dexter, Mich. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 179 Career Highlights: Did not see game action after joining the team as a walk- on in 2014. Prep: Attended Dexter High School … First-team all-conference as a senior in 2013. Personal: Born Matthew James Mitchell … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. FRANCOIS MONTBRUN • DB R-So. • Ishpeming, Mich. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 183 Career Highlights: Did not see game action in 2014 after joining the team as a walk-on. Prep: Attended Westwood High School Personal: Born Francois Montbrun … Enrolled in the School of Kinesiology, majoring in Move- ment Science. A.J. PEARSON• S R-Jr. • Johns Creek, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 202 Career Highlights: Has appeared in five career games, all in 2014 … Made college debut against Appalachian State in the season opener, notching a tackle … Did not see game action in 2013 or 2012. Prep: Attended Northview High School … Three-year let- ter winner in football … Earned first-team all-North Fulton Country honors in 2012. Personal: Born A.J. Pearson on Feb. 1, 1994 … Enrolled in the School of Kinesiology, majoring in Movement Science. JABRILL PEPPERS • S R-Fr. • Paramus, N.J. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 205 Career Highlights: Has appeared in three career games, making one start in 2014 … Started the season opener against Appalachian State but missed the following game with an ankle injury … Returned to play in Michigan's next two contests before suf- fering a season-ending knee injury …Was granted a medical redshirt for the year … Finished the season with eight tackles and one punt return for six yards. Prep: Attended Paramus Catholic High School … During his prep career, totaled 134 tackles, seven interceptions, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks on defense; carried the ball 373 times for 3,059 yards and 43 touchdowns; and caught 57 passes for 842 yards and 17 scores … Won four straight New Jersey state championships … Named All-USA Defensive Player Of The Year by USA Today as a senior … Five-star prospect, ranked the No. 3 overall player and the No. 1 cornerback in the 2013 class by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Jabrill Peppers on Oct. 4, 1995 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.

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