The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
������ michigan football Schofield, a 6-7, 300-pound fifth-year senior, started all 13 games at right tackle for the Wolverines in 2012. photo by Brian Blanco loves Michigan and is willing to make every effort possible to play any position they want to use him at for the best interest of the team,��� Braden���s high school coach, Ralph Munger, said. ���Ben is the consummate team player, and if they want him inside, he���ll attack that challenge with enthusiasm.��� Munger doesn���t believe Braden, who starred as an offensive tackle for Rockford High School, will have any problem transitioning to guard. ���He has great speed and terrific feet. He���s physical, and he really pulls well,��� Munger said. ���It���s pretty clear Michigan is revamping their offense, and Ben is built for power. They want to have more of a Midwestern flavor, more inside running, off-tackle plays, and he fits in with that type of attitude and approach. ���I don���t have the pleasure of working with him anymore, but he has excellent feet so he���ll get better at pass protection really fast, and already has. ���Ben���s a kid with a lot of upside. He understands he has to work his tail off, but he���s been blessed with some physical gifts, and an abundance of talent.��� Braden, Kalis and classmates Erik Magnuson and Blake Bars, plus six new signees, represent the future of the offensive line ��� big, physical, mauling types that can overpower opponents. ���For as long as I have been watching Michigan football, I watched games that were taken over in the third and fourth quarter by tough and mean offensive lines,��� Funk said. ���They drove the defense off the ball, got four or five yards every play, and the next thing you know they are constantly moving the sticks and eating up clock. ���I remember vividly in 1989 when I was at Illinois, Michigan got a doubledigit lead and we couldn���t get the ball back. They had a good tailback and fullback, no question about that, but it was that offensive line that dominated the game. That has been my vision from day one here, and that is what we are recruiting towards. ���These young guys have been recruited here to play specifically in the style we want to play. As they get here, mature and get more experience, we think they are going to be a super group. We have some guys that have demonstrated the ability to play the type of football we want.��� ���