The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1155524
34 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2019 Collins led Michigan in receiv- ing yards last year with 632, on 38 catches featuring six touchdowns. He's one that could top 1,000 yards receiving, if the past is prologue for the offenses Gattis has worked. Collins is physically imposing enough to go up and over people and come away with the football, but has also learned an elusiveness that will make him a major target. Needless to say, he's excited about what his new offensive coordina- tor has in store for the Wolverines' attack. Meanwhile, Gattis isn't disap- pointed to see a 6-4, 222-pound wideout in his arsenal. The new OC didn't get to see Col- lins enough in the spring, an offsea- son surgical procedure keeping the third-year wideout out for most of the practices. He did get back at the very end, giving Gattis a live look at him. "Just being able to see what he could do as far as sinking his hips, transition, stuff like that," Gattis said about what he ob- served. "We didn't do a lot with him, but he showed his potential. I'm excited to catch him up. "I think it'll be really exciting to get all those guys healthy, keep them healthy so we can figure out all the different creative ways to get guys the ball and get them active on offense." That said, the fall will be huge for Collins in continuing to get caught up on some of the developmental aspects he missed during his time away, the new coach stressed. "Obviously, people were able to see the talented receiver he is," Gattis said. "I think he can be an elite receiver. I really do believe it, and I'm excited to get the chance to work with him when we get back in the fall, to take his game to the next level." 6. CESAR RUIZ, JR., C The tip of the spear is getting sharper in every way, in Ruiz's third year of action with the Wolverines. He took over at center last season, and managed to get third-team All- Big Ten recognition from the coaches as a sophomore. If the Wolverines score like they aim to, and win like many are pre- dicting, Ruiz will be the center of enhanced postseason plaudits. 7. JOSH METELLUS, SR., S Metellus is another big keep for Brown's defense. He directed the show from his safety spot last year, providing considerable aggression and tying for the team lead in inter- ceptions, with three. The second-team All-Big Ten per- former by the coaches and media — and first-teamer per the Associated Press (AP) — brought one back for a 73-yard touchdown, and always injects an attitudinal edge into the Wolverines on his side of the football. 8. JON RUNYAN JR., 5TH-SR., OT Runyan's long battle to assert him- self as a Michigan starter found its re- ward in 2018. He not only took over as Michigan's left tackle, he climbed all the way to first-team All-Big Ten status (coaches and AP). He also earned the Hugh H. Rader Memorial Award given annually to Michigan's best offensive lineman, after starting all 13 U-M games. He'll be more than motivated to up the ante as a fifth-year senior. 9. KHALEKE HUDSON, SR., LB Hudson appeared to take a step back in 2018, after posting numbers as a sophomore that outshone those of the early departing Jabrill Peppers at his best. But Hudson still managed 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery. He will have every opportunity to once again show what he can do from the vital viper position. 11. JOSH UCHE, SR., LB/DE If finishing just outside the top 10 on this list motivates Uche, he knows how to channel any perceived slight. The fourth-year linebacker/defensive end made only 15 tackles last year, but seven of them were sacks and eight were behind the line of scrimmage. 5. NICO COLLINS, JR., WR PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN