The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TOP FIVE PLAYERS OUT OF SPRING BALL 1. Redshirt freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers: Peppers has yet to prove anything when it really matters, but he had an excellent spring. What was supposed to be a huge freshman season for the former five-star became limited action in three games before he went down with a leg injury, finishing with only eight tackles and one punt return. Those behind the scenes say the second-year safety is one of the team's hardest workers on the practice field and in the weight room, and he's expected to be a difference maker at free safety and possibly in the punt return game. 2. Senior safety Jarrod Wilson: "Steady" might be the word to best describe the 6-2, 210-pounder over the last couple of years, but now it's time for Wilson to take his game to the next level. He has finished with 50 tackles and two passes broken up in each of the last two seasons, but he's notched only two career interceptions with both coming in 2013. 3. Junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis: The 5-10, 176-pounder still needs to work on his consistency, but his sophomore season — 39 tackles, a team-leading six passes broken up and two interceptions — proved his potential. He's always around the ball and has very good recovery speed. 4. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Chris Wormley: Injuries have slowed Worm- ley's progress, but he started six of the 12 games in which he appeared last year, and recorded 21 tackles (10 solo), five tackles for loss and three sacks in emerging as a solid op- tion on the line. He elevated his game this spring to the point that head coach Jim Harbaugh called him "one of our best players." 5. Junior tight end Jake Butt: Butt caught 20 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman and hauled in 21 passes for 211 yards and a pair of scores in only 10 games last year, when he was limited by a knee injury. He's completely healthy, he reported in May, and has great potential to be one of the year's breakout players in Harbaugh's tight end-friendly offense. BY CHRIS BALAS I t's now been (remarkably) 10 years since Michigan last won a Big Ten title. Even more startling, the Wolverines haven't been in contention on the last day of the Big Ten season since 2007. Minus an 11-2 campaign in 2011 — former head coach Brady Hoke's first year of four at the helm — U-M has lan- guished as an also-ran in a conference it once dominated. Most college football experts believe that's about to change with former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh at head coach, but how quickly? U-M doesn't return a single all-conference player from a team that finished 5-7 last season, and while there are pieces, many of the young players have yet to prove them- selves. There are huge question marks at several positions and no proven playmakers on offense. The good news — U-M gets both Michigan State and Ohio State at home this season, and the Wolverines should be able to go toe-to-toe with most of the Big Ten's teams. Here are factors to watch heading into Harbaugh's first year. SEASON PREVIEW A Primer On Michigan's Outlook Entering The Jim Harbaugh Era 2015 Redshirt freshman and former fi ve-star prospect Jabrill Peppers was lauded for his work ethic during the spring, which has led many to believe he will make a major impact at free safety and possibly as a punt returner this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN THE WOLVERINE 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TOP FIVE PLAYERS OUT OF SPRING BALL 1. Redshirt freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers: Peppers has yet to prove anything when it really matters, but he had an excellent spring. What was supposed to be a huge freshman season for the former five-star became limited action in three games before he went down with a leg injury, finishing with only eight tackles and Those behind the scenes say the second-year safety is one of the team's hardest workers on the practice field and in the weight room, and he's expected to be a difference maker at free safety and possibly in the punt return game. "Steady" might be the word to best describe the 6-2, 210-pounder over the last couple of years, but now it's time for Wilson to take his game to the next level. He has finished with 50 tackles and two passes broken up in each of the last two seasons, but he's notched only two career interceptions The 5-10, 176-pounder still needs to work on his consistency, but his sophomore season — 39 tackles, a team-leading six passes broken up and two interceptions — proved his potential. He's always around 4. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Chris Wormley: Injuries have slowed Worm- ley's progress, but he started six of the 12 games in which he appeared last year, and recorded 21 tackles (10 solo), five tackles for loss and three sacks in emerging as a solid op- tion on the line. He elevated his game this spring to the point that head coach Jim Harbaugh Butt caught 20 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman and hauled in 21 passes for 211 yards and a pair of scores in only 10 games last year, when he was limited by a knee injury. He's completely healthy, he reported in May, and has great potential to be one of the year's breakout players in Harbaugh's tight end-friendly offense. BY CHRIS BALAS t's now been (remarkably) 10 years since Michigan last won a Big Ten title. Even more startling, the Wolverines haven't been in contention on the last day of the Big Ten season since 2007. Minus an 11-2 campaign in 2011 — former head coach Brady Hoke's first year of four at the helm — U-M has lan- guished as an also-ran in a conference it once dominated. Most college football experts believe that's about to change with former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh at head coach, but how quickly? U-M doesn't return a single all-conference player from a team that finished 5-7 last season, and while there are pieces, many of the young players have yet to prove them- selves. There are huge question marks at several positions and no The good news — U-M gets both Michigan State and Ohio State at home this season, and the Wolverines should be able to go toe-to-toe with most of the Big Ten's teams. Here are factors to watch heading into Harbaugh's first year. A Primer On Michigan's Outlook Entering The Jim Harbaugh Era Redshirt freshman and former fi ve-star prospect Jabrill Peppers was lauded for his work ethic during the spring, which has led many to believe he will make a major impact at free safety and possibly as a punt returner this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN