The Wolverine

March 2020 Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1212135

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 12 of 99

MARCH 2020 THE WOLVERINE 13   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS THEY SAID IT 21 Is where Pro Football Fo- cus (PFF) ranked rising senior AMBRY THOMAS among the top 30 return- ing defensive backs in col- lege football. "In his first year starting for the Wolverines, their s c h e m e h a d A m b r y Thomas pressing at the line of scrimmage on a heavy majority of his snaps — over 81 percent of them, in fact, which was the four th-highest rate in the FBS and over 50 per- centage points above the average," PFF noted. "He clearly held his own on these reps, allowing just eight catches on 30 targets of 10 or more yards with a couple of intercep- tions when pressing." 6 Former Wolverines that were included on opening day rosters for the second version of the XFL, which kicked off Feb. 8-9: offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty (Houston Roughnecks), guard William Campbell (Seattle Dragons), cornerback Jeremy Clark (Seattle Dragons), safety Tyree Kinnel (DC Defenders), running back De'Veon Smith (Tampa Bay Vipers) and cornerback Channing Stribling (Seattle Dragons). 4:31 How long it took sophomore wrestler Mason Par- ris to pin No. 1 Iowa's Tony Cassioppi in a Feb. 8 dual that featured the nation's No. 2- (Parris) and No. 3-ranked (Cassioppi) heavyweights. Through Feb. 12, Parris was ranked fifth in the NCAA's most dominant wrestling standings, averaging 4.41 team points (better than a major decision) per outing. Through Feb. 16, Parris is 25-0 with 10 pins, one technical fall and five major decisions. Hurst had flat-out the most disruptive college career of any college defensive tackle we've ever graded. He finished his career with a 95.0 run-defense grade and 91.0 pass-rush grade in 2017, but had been nearly unblockable for years before that. Hurst earned overall grades of 88.6 and 90.2 as a sophomore and junior for the Wolverines. His size and a heart condition dropped him to the fifth round, but he's been excellent in his two seasons for the Raiders." — Pro Football Focus (PFF) on naming former U-M star Maurice Hurst as the three-technique defensive tackle on its All-PFF Era NFL Prospect Team where it listed the outlet's top-graded college players at each posi- tion since it started grading every player on every play in every game in 2014 Do they play Joe Milton? Joe's the most talented one out of all of them. It's not even close" — A source familiar with Michigan's personnel to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg early last season, which the writer revealed Feb. 6 when previewing the top 10 quarterback battles to watch in 2020 It was predictable that Uche would be a standout in one- on-ones because of his explosive speed to un- dress blockers in space. But it was the way he progressed throughout the week dropping into coverage and playing the run that really left a lasting impression. Uche had a money-making week." — The Athletic's Dane Brugler, after he tabbed Michigan line- backer Josh Uche as one of the players who "made money" during his time in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - March 2020 Issue