The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133482
106 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS 106 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACHES Anthony Campanile is begin- ning his first season as a defensive assistant with Michigan, after be- ing hired following the end of the 2018 campaign. Campanile comes to Ann Arbor after spending the last three years with Boston College, where he served as the de- fensive backs coach and became the co-defensive coordinator in 2018. He helped oversee a defense that finished in the top 50 in a myriad of national categories last fall, including turnovers forced (11th), sacks (26th) and tackles for loss (42nd). He was named the National Defensive Backs Coach of the Year by 247Sports.com in 2017 after BC finished third in pass efficiency on defense and tallied 18 interceptions. From 2012-15, Campanile served in a variety of roles at Rutgers. He began his career there as a defensive assistant, but eventually coached tight ends and wide receivers during his stay. While with the Scarlet Knights, the coach mentored talented players such as tight end Tyler Kroft, who was first- team All-AAC and eventually was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. After starting his coaching career as a student assistant at Rutgers in 2005, Campanile coached at Fair Lawn High School and Don Bosco Prep for six years, again coaching several position groups over his tenure. Don Brown enters his fourth season serving as Michigan's de- fensive coordinator and working with the team's linebackers. The 36-year coaching veteran has worked as a defensive coordina- tor for 23 seasons, with the 2015 campaign at Boston College being one of his best. He directed the Eagles' defense to the very top of the national rankings in eight categories that season: total defense, scoring defense, rushing de- fense, red-zone defense, first-down defense, third- down defense, fourth-down defense and tackles for loss. BC also finished second in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. He has also been excellent during his tenure at U-M. The 2018 campaign was another stellar one for Brown and his unit. The Wolverines finished second in total defense, second in passing yards al- lowed, tied for sixth in defensive touchdowns, sixth in first downs allowed and helped Michigan finish fifth in time of possession. His unit held Big Ten foes No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 14 Penn State to 13 points or less, while a total of five opponents were limited to one touchdown or less. In each of his first two seasons at Michigan, he directed a unit that led the nation in both passing defense and opponent third-down conversion per- centage. The Wolverines ranked among the nation's top three in five defensive categories in 2017. U-M checked in first or second in the NCAA in seven categories in 2016. Eight opposing teams were held without a rushing touchdown, and all 11 defensive starters earned some form of All-Big Ten honors. Brown's aggressive, blitz-saturated style has been honed over many years in college coaching, includ- ing 12 seasons as a head coach. He produced a 94-45 combined record as the head man at Plym- outh State (1993-95), Northeastern (2000-03) and Massachusetts (2004-08). From UMass, he moved on to Maryland (2009-10) as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, then to Connecticut (2011- 12) in those same roles, and then to Boston College (2013-15) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He has coached at a number of venues in the East, beginning his college career as a Dartmouth assistant in 1982 and returning from 1984-86, and also spending time at Mansfield University in Penn- sylvania (1983), Yale (1987-92), Brown (1996-97) and Massachusetts (1998-99). Brown was nominated for the Broyles Award as the best assistant in college football three straight years from 2013-15. He earned American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year honors for the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2015. RETURNING PLAYERS JORDAN ANTHONY • LB R-So. • Silver Spring, Md. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 245 • Played in seven games in 2018, and recorded three tackles with one sack. • Redshirted his first year in Ann Arbor. • Notched 79 tackles, five stops for loss, 0.5 sacks and three passes defended as a senior at Braden- ton (Fla.) IMG Academy, and was named All-State second team by USA Today. • Tabbed by Rivals as a five-star talent, and the No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 26 overall player in the nation. MICHAEL BARRETT • LB R-Fr. • Valdosta, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 224 • Saw snaps in two games as a freshman, primarily on special teams. • Named to the Class 7A All- State first team and the 7A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior by The Atlanta Journal-Con- stitution. • Was a dual-threat quarterback in his prep career, totaling more than 2,500 yards and 38 scores on the ground, while also throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns in his last two seasons. • Regarded by Rivals as a three-star talent and the No. 69 player in Georgia. DEVIN GIL • LB R-Jr. • Pembroke Pines, Fla. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 231 • Recorded 33 total stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery over 13 starts in 2018. ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Elig. Hometown (High School) 34 Jordan Anthony LB 6-0 245 Jr. So. Silver Spring, Md. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 6 Michael Barrett LB 6-0 224 So. Fr. Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes) 41 Adam Fakih* LB 6-2 227 Jr. So. Dearborn Heights, Mich. (Detroit Country Day) 8 Devin Gil LB 6-1 231 Sr. Jr. Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Flanagan) 29 Jordan Glasgow LB 6-1 223 5th. Sr. Aurora, Ill. (Marmion Academy) 7 Khaleke Hudson LB 6-0 220 Sr. Sr. McKeesport, Pa. (McKeesport) 44 Cameron McGrone LB 6-1 228 So. Fr. Indianapolis (Lawrence Central) 40 Ryan Nelson* LB 5-9 188 Jr. So. Northville, Mich. (Northville) 56 Jameson Offerdahl* LB 6-2 225 5th. Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons) 38 Geoffrey Reeves* LB 6-0 215 Sr. Jr. Detroit (University of Detroit Jesuit) 12 Josh Ross LB 6-2 225 Jr. Jr. Southfield, Mich. (St. Mary's) 45 Adam Shibley* LB 6-1 228 Jr. So. Cleveland (Saint Ignatius) — Anthony Solomon LB 6-1 200 Fr. Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas) — Charles Thomas LB 5-11 224 Fr. Fr. Atlanta (St. Thomas More [Conn.]) 6 Josh Uche LB 6-2 238 Sr. Sr. Miami (Columbus) * Walk-on Redshirt sophomore Jordan Anthony was rated a five-star prospect (No. 26 overall re- cruit) coming out of IMG Academy in Florida. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL