Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2018 55 talent he has flashed. He played in 10 games over his two seasons in Oxford, Miss., throwing for 3,139 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Rebels, though, managed just a 4-6 record in those contests and Patterson missed the final five games in 2017 because of a knee injury. "This is a kid who was on pace to throw for 3,800 yards last year before he got hurt at Ole Miss after seven games," said Chris Balas, the senior editor of TheWolverine.com. "Put in perspective, Michigan has had only two 3,000-yard passers in the history of the program. "… Patterson makes plays with his arm and his feet. He can throw it on a dime on the run and has a swagger at the position U-M has been lacking." Even with the high expectations of what Wolverine faithful hope is their "Messiah Quarterback," Patterson should be complemented by a good running game to open up passing lanes. Senior Karan Higdon returns after rushing for 994 yards and 11 touchdowns on 164 carries (6.1-yard average) in 2017. Higdon is complemented by junior Chris Evans, who has rushed for more than 600 yards each of the past two seasons. "[Higdon] and Evans are co-No. 1 backs per head coach Jim Harbaugh, and we don't think that's 'coach speak,'" Balas stated. "Evans averaged 7.0 yards per carry as a freshman and has a bit of that wiggle that's innate. "One of these guys is going to rush for 1,000 yards this season behind an improved offensive line, and we'd bet on Higdon." Michigan returns its top four receiv- ing threats, including senior wide- out Grant Perry, sophomore wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones, junior tight end Sean McKeon and senior tight end Zach Gentry. Perry had 25 receptions for a team- high 307 yards and reeled in one touchdown last year, while the tight end duo of Gentry and McKeon com- bined for 48 receptions, 604 receiving yards and five scores. Peoples-Jones showed flashes in his first season (22 catches for 277 yards), while classmate Tarik Black caught 11 passes for 149 yards in just three games before suffer- ing a season-ending foot injury. "Good, with the potential to be great," Balas said about the group's ability to support Patterson. "The tan- dem of Tarik Black and Donovan Peo- ples-Jones could be elite by the time they leave Michigan. … These two have had great camps, and veteran Grant Perry is underrated in the slot. There's also depth with second-year guys Nico Collins and Oliver Martin. "The tight ends should be a strength. Zach Gentry is now 6-8 and has also added 15 pounds. … [Junior tight end] Nick Eubanks has had a great camp, too. He's a matchup problem with his speed." New offensive line coach Ed Warin- ner is taking over a group that allowed 36 sacks a year ago. Improvement will be essential. "[Warinner] combined with their improved strength should make this group much better," Balas explained. "Early indications in camp are that this is the most improved position on the team. It was always expected to be solid inside. Warinner said sophomore center Cesar Ruiz is reminiscent of some of his guys who started from day one in the NFL, and junior left guard Ben Bredeson is an All-Big Ten guy. "They'll be solid at right guard with junior Stephen Spanellis or classmate Mike Onwenu, and senior tackle Jon Runyan Jr. was the most improved player on offense this spring. They still need to find one more tackle to make the offense hum, and that's been a work in progress." While the offense remains relatively unproven, that is not the case with the defense. Michigan finished among the top 20 nationally in total defense (No. 3, 271.0 yards allowed per game), pass defense (No. 1, 150.1), rush defense (No. 18, 120.9) and points allowed per game (No. 13, 18.8) in 2017 and returns nine starters from that group. It will provide quite the test for an Irish unit in year two under the direction of offensive coordinator Chip Long. "Blitzes come from anyone and any- where, and they've got the guys to get home," Balas explained. "[Defensive coordinator] Don Brown has called this his fastest defense ever, too. "That, combined with the fact that there's NFL talent all over the field, should make this one of the nation's top groups this year. It's expected to be that good." It starts up front with fifth-year se- nior end Chase Winovich (79 tackles, 18 stops for loss and eight sacks) and junior end Rashan Gary (66 stops, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks). "Gary has brute strength that can't be coached," Balas said. "Both Michi- gan tight ends said this fall he was nearly unblockable given his speed and his strength, and he often com- mands more than one blocker. "That has opened things up for Win- ovich on the other side. He's got an array of pass rush moves, is relent- less and never gives up on a play. One opponent we spoke with at Big Ten Media Days said he was the best pass rusher in the conference last year." On the second level, the talent con- tinues. Juniors Devin Bush (102 tack- les, 9.5 stops for loss and five sacks) and Khaleke Hudson (83 stops, 18.5 GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN Facts & Figures MICHIGAN AT NOTRE DAME Game Info Date: Sept. 1, 2018. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (77,622). Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129) and on Notre Dame's IMG affiliates. Series Facts: This will be the 43rd all-time meeting between the two programs, with Michigan leading the series 24-17-1. Since 1978, when the teams began meeting more regularly, the series is 15-15-1. Head Coaches: Michigan — Jim Harbaugh (28-11, fourth season); Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (69-34, eighth season). Noting Michigan: The Wolverines are aiming to beat Notre Dame in South Bend for the first time since 2010 (28-24) while keeping the Irish from winning back-to-back games in the series for the first time since 2004-05 … Notre Dame is 9-10-1 against Michigan at home, which includes three losses when the series began in the late 1880s … The Wolverines have averaged only 3.0 points per game in their last two trips to South Bend, failing to score a touchdown in either game — a 13-6 loss in 2012 and a 31-0 defeat in 2014 … The Irish are 5-0 versus the Wolverines in night games at Notre Dame Stadium.