The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 79 TIGHT ENDS FYI Senior Zach Gentry accounted for 32 catches and 514 yards last season, more than all other Michi- gan tight ends combined (22 and 279). Gentry's rise saw senior Sean McKeon's catches drop by more than half from 2017 to 2018, from 31 to 14. McKeon actually led the team in catches in 2017. Redshirt freshman Luke Schoonmaker became one of many rookie Wolverines taking advantage of the NCAA's new playing rules last season. He appeared in the game at Rutgers last Nov. 10, and nor- mally playing that late would wipe out a year of eligibility. But freshmen can now participate in up to four contests without losing eligibility, opening the door for Schoonmaker's late-season showing. Gentry's 514 receiving yards in 2018 marked the third time in four years under Jim Harbaugh that Michigan has featured a tight end with more than 500 yards receiving. All-American Jake Butt posted 546 receiving yards in his senior season of 2016, while racking up 654 receiving yards as a Michigan junior. The tight ends, as a group, have posted at least 54 catches, 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns each season under Har- baugh, with four-year averages of 59.8 catches, 770.8 receiving yards and 4.5 scores per campaign. In the eight years prior to Harbaugh, U-M tight ends averaged just 24.4 receptions for 318.3 yards and 3.4 touchdowns a season. Now it's about making a move on the Michigan roster, and with a year of training behind him, he's ready to begin climbing the ladder in earnest. Redshirt freshman Luke Schoonmaker stands as Michigan's tallest scholarship tight end, with Gentry gone. Schoonmaker towers off the end of the line at a listed 6-6, 231, and made it into one game as a true freshman, playing at Rutgers last Nov. 10. He's another challenger with a year of college experience behind him. Moore ap- preciates the strides both of the second-year Wolverines have made. "Both of those kids are really coming on," Moore said. "Mustapha … is really show- ing up, and what you saw in his high school film is really showing up. He was a little sick at the beginning, pushed forward and got better. "Both those kids are going to be outstand- ing players. They just have to continue to learn the system, and both have done a great job in the weight room. Mustapha is 250, 255, and Schoonmaker 235 or 240, and both can run. They just have to keep pushing themselves." One rookie didn't have to be pushed at all. He has generated an abnormal amount of at- tention this spring. True freshman early enrollee Erick All, at 6-5 and 225 pounds, looked like all that and a bag of physicality, according to observers ranging all the way up to the head coach. Jim Harbaugh isn't inclined toward hyping up freshmen much, but he made sure to mention early on the impression All made. Following Michigan's first spring practice, Harbaugh noted: "Well, I probably shouldn't talk too much about freshmen, but the guy is competing right now until he drops. He's re- ally athletic and is catching the ball as good as anybody out there." The praise didn't stop there. Moore spoke about All's physical play combined with a high level of freshman ferocity. "He's just physical," Moore said. "For a freshman … he'll throw his face in the fan. He doesn't care who it is, whether it's a linebacker, if it's a defensive end. He's a physical, physical kid. "And in the pass game, once he knows the route he's supposed to run, he runs it extremely fast and he runs and goes and gets the football. I'm really excited about him." Even fifth-year senior Jon Runyan Jr. jumped on the All train, after watching him in spring practice. "He's going to have to put on some weight, but he's out there throwing his body around, throwing shoulders into guys," Ru- nyan said. "I love watching him play. He's going to be a special player here." Redshirt junior Nick Eubanks has only caught 10 passes in 18 career appearances, but they have averaged 21.8 yards per reception, and he has posted a catch of 40-plus yards in each of the last two seasons. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL TIGHT END PRODUCTION FOR THE LAST 10 SEASONS 2018 — 54 catches, 793 yards, 4 TD 2017 — 54 catches, 697 yards, 5 TD 2016 — 59 catches, 667 yards, 6 TD 2015 — 72 catches, 926 yards, 3 TD 2014 — 8 catches, 70 yards, 0 TD 2013 — 70 catches, 985 yards, 9 TD 2012 — 19 catches, 271 yards, 5 TD 2011 — 24 catches, 253 yards, 4 TD 2010 — 19 catches, 266 yards, 3 TD 2009 — 20 catches, 264 yards, 3 TD