The Wolverine

January 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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10 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2019   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Sitting Down With Michigan Junior Center Jon Teske Michigan junior center Jon Teske has made a huge leap this year as a starter, especially on the defensive end. He's become elite in the middle of the U-M defense, averaging 2.2 blocks per game through 10 contests, and his of- fense continues to improve (8.8 points per game). Teske answered some of our questions in this Dec. 3 Q&A: The Wolverine: Coach John Beilein talks about how much your body has changed since you first arrived in Ann Arbor and how much fitter you are. What's been the key? Teske: "I give a lot of credit to Sand Man [strength coach Jon Sanderson] and staying here all summer the past two years, work ing on my body. I feel good out there. Some of those stretches you're going to get tired, but I'll get rest … "I feel fine out there. I go out and play my game; sometimes I may have to go for longer stretches, maybe shorter. It just depends on how the game's flowing or what the matchups are like. I feel comfortable no matter how many minutes I play." The Wolverine: What exactly did those summer workouts entail, and how hard were they? Teske: "It's hard, but it definitely pays off as you've seen. [Sanderson] has worked a lot with the older guys, and look where they are now. I'm kind of fol- lowing their success so I know what he's talking about really works. "Every day was something new. Each and every day we were lifting or strength and conditioning or agility. That always has ways of getting you better. And I enjoyed my time with my teammates, Austin [Davis], Isaiah [Livers] and Jordan [Poole] were here with me, spent a lot of time with each other. We saw each other every day and we'd work hard in the weight room and on the court." The Wolverine: You made a pair of three-pointers in a win over Purdue Dec. 1. Where'd that come from? Teske: "It was always there. I'm just trying to feel it out and know my role. My freshman, sophomore year I really didn't have to do that. I know I've got to score more [this season]. "I've been working on it all summer, shooting the three, with a lot of help from the managers all summer as well. … In high school I was a capable three-point shooter, knocking it down in transition. I'm trying to do the same thing here." The Wolverine: What feels better, making that three or throwing down a dunk? Teske: "Dunking on someone [laughs]. But if it's just a dunk, a three." The Wolverine: Your coach said the starting five have a unique chemistry. Can you describe that? Teske: "It feels like we're all connected, know where we're at on the floor when a guy drives down the lane. Someone may be in the corner; they know where I am. We just have the feel from playing ball together." — Chris Balas Through Dec. 10, Teske increased his scoring average from 3.4 points per game last year to 8.8. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN the latter two numbers tied for the team lead. On the offensive side of the ball, eight Wolverines made All-Big Ten teams. Senior running back Karan Hig- don earned unanimous first-team recognition after he rushed for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns, while av- eraging 5.3 yards per carry. In 2017, he was selected to the third team by both the coaches and the media. Hig- don was the first Michigan running back since Mike Hart to be selected to the first team. Redshirt junior left tackle Jon Runyan Jr. was selected to the first team by the coaches and AP and the second team by the media after he started all 12 games at left tackle for the Wolverines this season. Junior left guard Ben Bredeson was a unanimous second-team All- Big Ten choice after he started all 12 games this season. This was the second consecutive season he was a unanimous second-team selection. Michigan had five offensive play- ers named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches: junior quarterback Shea Patterson, sophomore wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, sophomore center Cesar Ruiz, junior guard Mi- chael Onwenu and redshirt junior tight end Zach Gentry. Patterson passed for 2,364 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with his 65.1 completion percentage in his first season with the Wolverines. He also ran for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Peoples-Jones had a team-high 39 catches, 541 yards and seven touch- downs, and was named the third- team return specialist by the coaches and media. Gentry had 30 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns. Ruiz started all 12 games at center, and Onwenu started every contest at right guard this season. Redshirt sophomore punter Will Hart was named the Big Ten Eddle- man-Fields Punter of the Year and was selected to all three first teams. The only other Wolverine to win the award was Will Hagerup in 2012. Hart was also a semifinalist for the Ray Guy award, honoring the na- tion's top punter. Hart averaged 47.6 yards per punt, which would have been good for fourth in the country if he had enough attempts to qualify. ❏

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