The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1155524
SEPTEMBER 2019 THE WOLVERINE 35 10. KWITY PAYE, JR., DE He is Michigan's heat-seeking missile to the quarterback, looking to prove he can be an every-down player. 12. TARIK BLACK, R-SO., WR Black needs good health and good breaks (or more accurately, no breaks) to avoid becoming the best Michigan receiver that never was. Annually touted as an extremely dangerous pass catcher, the third- year performer suffered foot frac- tures (in different feet) both of his seasons thus far. He wound up with four catches for 35 yards last year, and needs to make the most of his opportunity in Michi- gan's new offensive world. 13. AIDAN HUTCHINSON, SO., DE This is lofty territory for a soph- omore who hasn't started a single game. But Hutchinson combines con- siderable physical talent with a major opportunity, after the Wolverines lost both starting defensive ends to the NFL this past spring. As a true freshman, he posted 1.5 tackles for loss among 15 stops and provided a consistent physical pres- ence, which should only grow this year. 14. JOSH ROSS, JR., LB Ross earns the BFN Award (Biggest Feet Necessary) this year, having to fill the shoes of the newest Pittsburgh Steeler, Devin Bush Jr. In fact, it's not even fair to put that on one player, but Ross will have a huge hand in the middle of Michigan's defense. Last year, he finished fourth on the team in tackles with 61, while notch- ing a sack among five tackles for loss. Paye stepped up in a big way when injuries hit last season, and this year fig- ures to be the full payoff. He's stepping into Rashan Gary's vacated defensive end spot — a position he started in four times a year ago — after posting 29 tack- les, 5.5 stops for loss and two sacks. He also forced a fumble, and forced coaches and teammates to keep men- tioning him frequently as a power player for the Wolverines in 2019. He's done more than draw attention with his play, though. Approaching his third season in a winged helmet, he's shown a major investment in making Michigan's younger players better. "There's a lot of young guys on the team," he said. "I have to be the guy to pull the guys aside, ones who have been messing up in practice, and say, 'Let's work on this today.' "It's my junior year, and I have to speak up. I can't just be the guy who leads by example. I have to have a voice." Paye stands ready to fill a gap, following Michigan's significant personnel departures on the defensive line and the defense in general. He's convinced the Wolverines stepping for- ward with him will do so effectively. "I think we'll be good," he said. "We're young, but we've got guys that want to play. Our young guys are hungry. They're trying to take as many reps as they can. "I tell them my story. My freshman year, I got my opportunity because Chase [Winovich] was a little injured. Coach [Greg Mattison] made me take all his reps to learn all my plays faster and just get more comfortable." He's very comfortable now. "Kwity might be, technically, the best football player in the country," Brown offered. "I'm just saying. That guy, he's hard to fool. No concerns about him." PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN