The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1212135
MARCH 2020 THE WOLVERINE 9 BY AUSTIN FOX T en of Michigan's graduating football players took part in postseason games this winter, with five par- ticipating in the East-West Shrine Bowl (defensive end Michael Danna, linebacker Jordan Glasgow, cornerback Lavert Hill, right guard Michael On- wenu and left tackle Jon Runyan) Jan. 18 in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the other five competing in the Jan. 25 Senior Bowl (left guard Ben Brede- son, viper Khaleke Hudson, safety Josh Metellus, quarterback Shea Pat- terson and linebacker Josh Uche) in Mobile, Ala. Tight end Sean McKeon, mean- while, practiced with the North squad at the Senior Bowl during the week leading up to the contest but did not play in the game itself, re- portedly due to injury. Pro Football Focus (PFF) declared Uche as not only the best Wolverine performer at the Senior Bowl, but the best overall player at the event. He only compiled one tackle but was tabbed with a 90.5 overall grade (64 is considered average), which was better than any of the other 94 ath- letes who took part in the event. PFF was also impressed with Hud- son's play during the game, tag- ging him with a 68.2 mark after he tallied four tackles in 26 defensive snaps. His 26 snaps checked in eighth among the 26 North defenders who saw the field. Metellus received the most play- ing time of any Wolverine in Mobile, meanwhile, with his 53 snaps finish- ing as the second most among the North defenders. He concluded with two tackles, but received a subpar 61.4 overall grade from PFF for his performance. The outlet was not pleased with the play of Michigan's offensive performers at the event either, slapping Brede- son with a 60.1 mark and Patterson with a 40.3 grade (the lowest of the 24 North players who saw the field). The signal-caller completed six of his 10 passes for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception, with his lone scor- ing toss of the day occurring on a 75-yard strike to TCU running back Darius Anderson in the second quarter. Patterson's 16 snaps were the fewest of the three quar- terbacks on the North squad, who defeated the South by a final score of 34-17. Onwenu was selected as the best Wolverine at the East-West Shrine Bowl, meanwhile, earning a 74.8 grade from PFF after leading his East club with 50 snaps played. His 74.8 tally was also the third best among the East's offensive players. Run- yan's 46 snaps were second only to Onwenu on the East squad, with the Moorestown, N.J., native finishing with a 65.1 mark from PFF. Danna put on an impressive show- ing on the defensive side of the ball in St. Petersburg, racking up two tackles and a stop behind the line of scrimmage in 30 snaps. Hill, on the other hand, had an extremely rough day for the East defense, only posting one tackle in 15 plays. His 51.8 grade was also the lowest on the East's de- fense, which came away with a 31-27 victory over the West. Glasgow was the lone Wolverine who suited up for the West crew, en- joying a successful afternoon by com- piling five tackles (tied for the third most on the team's defense), one stop behind the line of scrimmage and a pass defended in 28 snaps. His 70.6 PFF mark finished as the fifth best among the West's defensive players. A total of 11 former Wolverines were invited to the 2020 NFL Combine, which takes place in Indianapolis Feb. 24-March 1. Nine of the all-star game participants (Bredeson, Hill, Hudson, McKeon, Metellus, Onwenu, Patterson, Runyan and Uche) made the cut, as well as a pair of early entrants in wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones and center Cesar Ruiz. ❑ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Ten Departing Wolverines Participate In Postseason Contests Linebacker Josh Uche was rated as the best overall player at the Senior Bowl by Pro Football Focus, earning a 90.5 grade. He and at least 10 other former Wolverines are preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23‑25 in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL