The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 101 BY JOHN BORTON M ichigan's defenders spent the winter savoring the sweet aroma of their Jan. 1 Florida flogging, the dominant 41-7 effort over the not-so-game Gators. Most of the Wolverines did, anyway. One of them looked on that afternoon, rooted, rejoiced from afar … and ached. Jabrill Peppers ached over inaction, ached that he couldn't magically heal the hand injury that left him powerless to join in on the fun. He's not powerless anymore. The redshirt sophomore experienced a whole winter and spring to marinate in the anticipation of the upcoming season, and to prepare for what's to come. Peppers also soaked in everything he could from new defensive coordinator Don Brown and his hair-on-fire system, geared toward maximum quarterback discomfort. As a newly designated Sam linebacker, Peppers represents the engine in this Indy car, and he's just beginning to rev up. The All-American insists he's all ears, regarding the new boss. Why not, he mused. "It's a notch up," Peppers pointed out. "We've got Coach Brown, who is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, if not the best. They had the No. 1 defense last year [at Boston College]. You'd have to be a fool not to listen to what he has to say." Peppers is no fool. In fact, he's one of the most intelligent — as well as one of the most gifted — performers in college football. Faced with an assignment to become Michigan's not-so-secret weapon — close to the line and able to rush the passer, drop into coverage, blow up bubble screens to wideouts and generally wreak havoc as a designated Brown bomber — he grew as excited as a chocoholic in Hershey, Pa. Michigan linebackers coach Chris Partridge raved over Peppers embracing the challenge put before him. The new duties seemed to energize the already ebullient Peppers throughout spring ball, given what it might mean for both him and the U-M defense. Brown showed him video of Boston College's Matt Milano, whom the coach used in Peppers' designated spot last season. The 6-1, 218-pound Milano recorded 6.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss for the nation's top defense. Brown challenged Peppers to match it. "He said, 'You think you could do that?'" Peppers recalled. "I said, 'I know I could do that, coach. I'm probably better.' We shared a laugh about that. "But Coach Brown's a great guy, a great coach, and you'd just be a fool not to listen to him and not to believe that he has your best interests at heart." READY TO LAUNCH Jabrill Peppers Is Set For Liftoff In Don Brown's Defense In 2015, Peppers became Michigan's fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the first at U-M since run- ning back Mike Hart in 2004. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL