The Wolverine

February 2020*

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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70 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2020 BY AUSTIN FOX K ansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was named to the 2020 Pro Bowl Dec. 17 after post- ing eight sacks in 14 regular-season games, marking yet another impres- sive notch on his NFL belt in his de- but campaign with the club. The Pro Bowl selection was the first of Clark's career, despite the fact that he regis- tered at least nine sacks in each of the three seasons with Seattle (2016-18), including a career-best 13 in 2018. The 26-year-old Cleveland na- tive took his quarterback terrorizing skills to a different level in this year's postseason, setting a new organiza- tion record in the process. He tallied three sacks in Kansas City's 51-31 triumph over the Hous- ton Texans Jan. 12, which were the most ever by any player in a postsea- son showdown in the 47-year history of Arrowhead Stadium. "Clark didn't just have quantity when it came to sacks on Sunday, he also had quality," ESPN's Adam Teicher wrote following the Chiefs' triumph. "He sacked [Texans quar- terback] Deshaun Watson for a 17- yard loss on Houston's final play. He also had a sack in the third quar- ter on which Clark simply wouldn't quit. On that play, he took a couple of passes at Watson but failed to get him and even fell to the ground at one point. But he got up and finally made the tackle because, as Clark himself said, he had no choice. "The Chiefs needed a big game from Clark since they played with- out [defensive end] Chris Jones, their leader in sacks in each of the past two seasons. Jones missed the game with a sore calf. The Texans had beaten the Chiefs in October without Jones — one of two games this season in which the Chiefs failed to register a sack. This time, led by Clark's effort, the Chiefs had five sacks." Clark chipped in another QB take- down the following week for good measure, sacking the Titans' Ryan Tannehill on Tennessee's final of- fensive play of the game and se- curing Kansas City's spot in Super Bowl LIV, where it will take on the San Francisco 49ers Feb. 2. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Jan. 20 • Ben Braden (Played at U-M from 2012-16), OL, New York Jets: Saw ac- tion in the 7-9 Jets' 13-6 win at Buffalo Dec. 29, marking his only appearance of the 2019 season. • Tom Brady (1996-99), QB New England Patriots: Connected on 60.8 percent of his passes for 4,057 yards with 24 scores and eight interceptions, and also ran for three touchdowns … Finished seventh in the NFL in passing yards, tied for 13th in scoring tosses and 19th in passer rating (88.0) … Com- pleted 54.1 percent of his passes for 209 yards with no scores and a pick in New England's 20-13 playoff loss to the Titans Jan. 4. • Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pitts- burgh Steelers: Played in all 16 affairs and started 15 of them, accumulating 109 tackles, one sack, four passes de- fended, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery he ran back nine yards for a touchdown … His 109 tackles led all NFL rookies. • Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Mi- ami Dolphins: Started five of the 10 clashes he appeared in, and compiled 21 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kan- sas City Chiefs: Started 11 of the 14 regular-season contests he took part in, and logged 37 tackles, eight sacks, four passes defended, one pick and three forced fumbles … Tied for 33rd in the league in sacks … Notched eight tack- les and four sacks in Kansas City's two playoff victories over Houston and Ten- nessee, and will participate in the Super Bowl Feb. 2. • Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Arizona Cardinals: Received playing time in all 16 of the Cardinals' games, but only started two of them. • Blake Countess (2011-14), CB, New York Jets: Took part in six outings, but did not post any stats. • Devin Funchess (2012-14), WR, In- dianapolis Colts: Missed the final 15 showdowns of the year with a broken collarbone, after only appearing in the 7-9 Colts' season opener … Hauled in three catches for 32 yards before suffer- ing the injury. • Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers: Played in all 16 tilts (no starts) and racked up 21 stops and two sacks … Received playing time in both of Green Bay's postseason affairs, but only recorded two tackles. • Ben Gedeon (2013-16), LB, Minne- sota Vikings: Suffered his second con- cussion of the year Nov. 17, and spent the rest of the campaign on injured re- serve … Started five of the eight clashes he took part in for 10-6 Minnesota and registered 13 tackles. • Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pitts- burgh Steelers: Only received playing time in four contests and tallied one reception for four yards. • Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Detroit Lions: Earned the starting nod in all 15 games he participated in, miss- ing one game due to a back injury. • Ryan Glasgow (2012-16), DT, Cin- cinnati Bengals: Started two of the five outings he played in and totaled seven tackles for the 2-14 Bengals, but suf- fered a knee injury Oct. 27 and missed the rest of the year. • Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Started all 16   MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Frank Clark Earns Pro Bowl Selection, Sets Postseason Record With Chiefs Clark finished the regular season with eight sacks, but exploded in the postseason with four sacks in the first two games to help the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl. PHOTO COURTESY KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

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