The Wolverine

September 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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SEPTEMBER 2019 THE WOLVERINE 45 80 yards and seven scores, caught one pass for 15 yards and made five tack- les. He is up 18 pounds to 272. Dylan McCaffrey QB 4 Redshirted as a freshman and saw spot duty last year, rushing 10 times for 99 yards with one touchdown, and going 8-of-15 passing for 126 yards and two scores before suffering a season- ending shoulder injury. He is expected to see time in every game this year, per head coach Jim Harbaugh. Phillip Paea DL 3 Redshirted, then moved from de- fensive line to offensive line, where he appeared in two games last season. He is now back at defensive tackle. Kwity Paye DE 3 Finished with five tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and one sack in nine games as a freshman. He then started four of 13 contests last season, notching 29 tack- les, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media and is slated to start at weakside end this year. Donovan Peoples-Jones WR 4 U-M's 2017 Rookie of the Year after he ranked third on the team with 654 all-purpose yards (277 receiving) and scored one touchdown on a punt re- turn. He followed up with a team-high 47 receptions for 612 yards and eight scores to earn Michigan's 2018 Offen- sive Skill Player of the Year honor. Brad Robbins P 2 Started 10 games as a freshman after supplanting Will Hart for the job and kicked 64 times, averaging 40.4 yards per punt and earning All-Big Ten hon- orable mention from the coaches. He hurt his back and missed last season, and is still working his way back. Josh Ross LB 4 Played in 13 games his first year, pri- marily on special teams, and registered four total tackles. Broke out last fall to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in notching 61 tackles (fourth on the team) and a sack. He will start at middle linebacker this year. Cesar Ruiz OL 4 Appeared in all 13 contests (starting the final five games at right guard) as a freshman and took over the center du- ties last year, opening all 13 games. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches a year ago. O'maury Samuels RB 4 Carried eight times for 13 yards as a freshman and 13 times for 66 yards as a sophomore, but was dismissed from the team last December. Drew Singleton LB 4 Redshirted his first year and left the team after playing in seven games last season. Will reportedly be immediately eligible at Rutgers this fall. Aubrey Solomon DT 5 Appeared in all 13 games as a rookie and showed signs of being starter material, opening four of the final six contests. Was limited to five appear- ances by injury last season, and has transferred to Tennessee, where he's seeking immediate eligibility. Benjamin St-Juste CB 4 Saw action in 12 games and regis- tered three tackles as a rookie, but inju- ries cost him his sophomore campaign. Transferred to Minnesota this spring. Andrew Stueber OL 3 Redshirted as a freshman, but worked his way into the two-deep at right tackle and started the final two tilts last year. He is in a battle with red- shirt freshman Jalen Mayfield to start there this season. Kurt Taylor RB 2 Redshirted as a freshman and did not play as a sophomore, then trans- ferred to Iowa Central Junior College. Ambry Thomas CB 4 Played in all 13 games as a freshman, recorded seven tackles and returned 20 kickoffs for 396 yards. Again played in all 13 games last year, including eight at cornerback, recorded nine tackles and returned 19 kickoffs for 412 yards and one touchdown, a 99-yarder at Notre Dame. He has been slowed by illness in August, but will be one of U- M's top three corners when he returns (date unknown). Luiji Vilain DE 4 Tore his ACL and redshirted as a freshman, suffered another knee injury last year and continues to work his way back. Has yet to see game action. J'Marick Woods S 3 Notched nine tackles in 12 games (one start) as a freshman, primarily on special teams, and notched 13 tack- les in 11 games as a sophomore. He is expected to be in the two-deep at safety. ❑ Top Contributor To Date WR/PR Donovan Peoples-Jones: He has contributed both as a wideout and return man, and has become a big-play threat. His 79-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter at Michigan State last fall was a game changer. He has only scratched the surface of his potential, slowed in spring by a nagging injury. Unsung Hero S Brad Hawkins: He is neck-and-neck with senior Josh Metellus as Michigan's best safety, defensive coordinator Don Brown said in the spring, and will also see time at nickel and perhaps cornerback. He has been on the rise since arriving as a wide receiver and moving to the defensive backfield. Ready To Make An Impact This Fall DT Donovan Jeter: He is a great comeback story, having worked his way back from a knee injury and moving from end to tackle to solidify the interior. He was one of the most talked about players in the spring due to his improvement and will be in the two-deep at tackle this fall. Center Cesar Ruiz started five contests at right guard as a freshman and then last year transitioned to center, where he opened every game and was named third-team All- Big Ten by league coaches. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN

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