The Wolverine

February 2020*

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1202829

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 30 of 75

FEBRUARY 2020 THE WOLVERINE 31 There was good and bad with this group, but the kicking game over- all was inconsistent. Sophomore Jake Moody and redshirt junior Quinn Nordin split kicking duties early in the year before Nordin took control of the job — he made 10 of 13 field goals, including his last 10 straight and a 57-yarder as part of a 3-of-3 effort against Alabama in the Citrus Bowl in an impressive show- ing. Moody's kickoffs remained solid with 34 touchbacks on 75 kicks. Will Hart, last year's Big Ten Punter of the Year, saw his average dip from 47 yards to 44.2, and Brad Robbins assumed the duties against Ohio State with four kicks for 42.75 yards, but in the Citrus Bowl Hart had five tries to Robbins' one, which was partially blocked. Junior Donovan Peoples-Jones averaged only 7.2 yards per punt return and had a tough time judg- ing when to field them this year, while freshman Giles Jackson was outstanding on kick returns, aver- aging nearly 26 yards per return. U-M's coverage teams were very good minus a kick return for touchdown al- lowed at Maryland. They allowed just 7.1 yards a punt return with a long of 17 and 23.2 yards per kickoff runback despite the 97-yarder given up to the Terrapins. StatuS Of SchOlarShip playerS ELIGIBILITY REMAINING (YEARS): LS Camaron Cheeseman (1)* K Quinn Nordin (1) K Jake Moody (2)* P Brad Robbins (2) * Former walk-on B SENIOR KHALEKE HUDSON This one's unconventional, but Hudson was named Michigan's Special Teams Player of the Year for a reason. In addition to being a factor in coverage, he was also elite on punt rush, forcing a number of hurried kicks and coming up with a key block against Michigan State that set up a touchdown in a 44-10 blowout. Hudson set the Michigan re- cord with five blocked punts in his career and also notched four deflections. "He has a knack," head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the MSU game. "It starts with really good technique that he's developed, really good coaching of that technique. A lot of times when you block against the shield punt, if they have two or three blockers, you're trying to out-man them by one, and you don't know who is actually going to get blocked and who's going to come free. "It's a group effort there to try to get that punt blocked, but he definitely has a great technique." 2020 PLAYER TO WATCH GILES JACKSON Jackson had a great first year as a return man, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media after averaging 25.9 yards per return (third in the Big Ten). He was named a second-team Freshman All-Ameri- can by Pro Football Focus as a kick returner. His 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown opened the game and set the tone in a win at Maryland, and he has raised expectations head- ing into his sophomore season. The Wolverines will be looking for a punt returner, as well, with Peoples-Jones having declared for the NFL Draft. Jackson should get a look and battle with junior-to-be Ronnie Bell and others for the right. OVERALL GRADE PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Special teamS NUMBERS TO KNOW Nordin saw his 2019 campaign get off to a rough start, failing to connect on his first three field goal attempts of the year while alternating tries (both extra points and field goals) with Moody. The veteran Nordin ended the year on a hot streak, however, by converting his final 10 field goals of the season, including a 57-yarder in the 35-16 loss to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1 (he tied Hayden Epstein, who did it in 2001, for the lon- gest make in school history). Nordin clearly became the club's primary kicker down the stretch, receiving the nod on 10 of U-M's final 11 kicks, and both are expected back next fall. MVP Khaleke Hudson

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - February 2020*