The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133554
THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 121 PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACHES Jay Harbaugh and Chris Partridge will once again share special teams coaching duties. RETURNING PLAYERS CAMARON CHEESEMAN • LS R-Jr. • New Albany, Ohio Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 235 • Appeared in every game over the last two seasons for the Wolverines at long snapper. • Redshirted during his freshman season in Ann Arbor. • Tabbed as the nation's No. 7 long snapper in his class by Kohl's Kicking. • Participated in the Semper-Fidelis All-American Bowl. WILL HART • P R-Jr. • Hunting Valley, Ohio Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 192 • Named a Sports Illustrated second-team All-American in 2018. • Played in every game for Michi- gan last fall, averaging a single-season school- record 47.0 yards on 43 punts with a long of 65. • A semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, given annu- ally to the nation's top punter. • The unanimous All-Big Ten first-team choice (coaches, media and AP) was also named the league's Punter of the Year. • Received the team's first-ever Specialist of the Year Award. • Delivered a stellar performance against North- western, registering six punts for 306 yards — an average of 51 yards per-punt. • Set the school record (minimum three punts) by posting a clip of 59.3 yards on three kicks against Nebraska. • Appeared in four games in 2017, averaging 37.7 yards on 13 attempts. • Originally came to U-M as a walk-on. JAKE MOODY • K So. • Northville, Mich. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 177 • Handled the kickoff duties in all 13 games for Michigan in 2018, as well as placekicking in three games. • Went 10 of 11 on field goals, highlighted by go- ing 6 for 6 on field goals and 1 for 1 on PATs against Indiana in his place-kicking debut, setting single-game kicking records at Michigan for his 19 points scored and six made field goals. • Nailed a career-best 48-yard field goal in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. QUINN NORDIN • K R-Jr. • Rockford, Mich. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 206 • Played in 11 games in 2018, fin- ishing 11 of 16 on field goals and 45 of 46 on PATS for a team-high 78 points. • Appeared in all 13 games during his redshirt fresh- man season, finishing 19 of 24 on field goals and 35 of 38 on PATS for a team-best 92 points (19th in school history). • Ranks among U-M's career leaders in kicks made from 40 or more yards (nine, seventh) and 50 or more (three, tied for second), successful attempts (30, eighth) and field goal percentage (75.0, tied for seventh). • The 19 field goal makes in a season tied for second in the single-season record books and helped him earn All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition. • Also ranked among the single-season leaders in makes from 40 or more yards (six, tied for second) and highest field goal percentage (79.2, tied for 12th). • Drained a 55-yard field goal in AT&T Stadium, put- ting him in the record book for the longest field goal in the stadium by a collegiate kicker and tied for the fourth-longest make in program annals. Also became the first U-M kicker to make two 50- yard kicks in one game in that contest, his debut with the Wolverines. • Ranked as a three-star recruit, the No. 22 player in Michigan and the No. 1 kicker in the country by Rivals. BRAD ROBBINS • P R-So. • Westerville, Ohio Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 206 • Missed all of the 2018 season after undergoing back surgery in the fall. • Played in 10 games during his freshman season and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches. • Punted 64 times in 2017 with an average of 40.4 yards and a long of 58. • Ranked as the No. 1 punter in the nation by Korn- blue Kicking coming out of high school. SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL TEAMS SPECIAL TEAMS A Tale Of Two Kickers Redshirt junior Quinn Nordin and sophomore Jake Moody couldn't be more different personality-wise. Nordin is the gregarious, intense and outspoken guy in the room, while Moody is laid-back, quiet and calm. Both, though, are very competitive, said former Michigan kicker Brandon Kornblue, who has coached both of them in the past at his kicking camps. "If they were golfers, Jake is the guy who never shows emotion throughout his rounds," Kornblue said. "Quinn is more like Tiger Woods. He gets very emotional, and is up and down." Moody might not say a word on the sidelines, whereas Nordin has been known to fire back at his coaches when they get on him during a game. "Quinn has fire and emotion, and it's not bad — just different," Ko- rnblue said. "They are just two different guys, but both are so good. "Jake and Quinn get along really well. I'm impressed from that stand- point. Jake came in humble, just the way he should, and Quinn has dealt with his situation with maturity as well." Both had great springs, and each will have a chance to earn the start- ing job in the fall. — Chris Balas Redshirt junior Quinn Nordin already ranks eighth in school history for made field goals in a career (30), but he'll compete with teammate Jake Moody for the starting spot this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN