The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1184078
12 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2019 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS BY THE NUMBERS " Guess what? Any stories that @CoachJim4UM [Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh] is leaving for the NFL are complete BS, just like the other 1,342 'reports' from 'sources' that claimed Harbaugh's going to the NFL since BEFORE he took the Michigan job. Feel free to file this one where you put all the others." — New York Times bestselling author and U-M historian John U. Bacon, following a report by FootballScoop.com that Harbaugh was potentially looking to return to the NFL Spot for senior guard BEN BREDESON at his position in the 2020 NFL Draft rankings, according to ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. Classmate Josh Uche was the only other Wolverine to make Kiper's top 10 positional rankings (updated Nov. 7), checking in as the No. 9 draft-eligible outside linebacker. Bredeson is also ranked No. 1 nationally in pass-blocking grade among guards according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), checking in with an elite 90.0 mark in that department as of Nov. 12. On 639 offensive snaps through nine games, he has allowed just five quarterback pressures — and they have all been hurries, the least egregious of the three outcomes that PFF considers a quarterback pressure (the others are QB hits and sacks). Of PFF's top 26 graded edge defenders who have played at least 300 snaps through Nov. 5 don the Maize and Blue for Michigan — No. 22 Josh Uche (83.4) leads the way, while sophomore Aidan Hutchinson and ju- nior Kwity Paye are tied for No. 26 (81.8). 23-5 Was the combined score of sophomore heavyweight wres- tler MASON PARRIS' final two matches at the Michigan State Open, which came against Pittsburgh's Demetrius Thomas, ranked No. 14 in the FloWrestling preseason rankings, and Central Michigan's Matt Stencel, who began the year at No. 5. Parris opened the campaign at No. 9 accord- ing to Flo, but quickly rose to No. 5 after such dominant performances. Parris beat Thomas by a 14-3 major decision and won 9-2 over Stencel, who finished seventh at the NCAA Championships last year after pinning Parris in the consola- tion bracket for his second victory of the season over the Wolverine. " I think it's important for me to critique myself and hold myself accountable, because I'm asking our players to take accountability in how they compete." — Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard following the club's 81-52 exhibition victory over Saginaw Valley State Nov. 1 " I have @xaviersimpson3 [senior point guard Zavier Simpson] rated as the fifth- best point guard in college BB. Why? Stopper on D, 89 career wins, durable & tough with 116 straight starts. A+ leader. I have attended three practices & two tailgates this fall. He has taken ownership of @umichbball. Also, love the hook shot." — Former Michigan center Tim McCormick (1980-84) in an Oct. 24 tweet PHOTO BY KADIR CALISKAN 1 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 3