The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1222671
APRIL 2020 THE WOLVERINE 35 BY THE NUMBERS 28 Percent of touch- down grabs by the Wolverines in 2019 were caught by U-M tight ends (7 of 25). 41 T h e n u m b e r o f c atc h e s fo r w h i c h Michigan tight ends combined in the first season of Gattis' new offense. 41 The longest gain on a reception by a tight end for the Wolverines last sea- son. McKeon pulled in the pass against Ohio State in the final game of the regular season. 48 The longest catch of Eubanks' career thus far, which came when he was a redshir t f r e s h m a n a g a i n s t Florida in 2017. 2020 FOOTBALL ANALYSIS.. TIGHT ENDS POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH This one has to be for the second tight end, should Michigan employ a for- mation that uses two. In that case, it's likely All or Schoonmaker gets the call. WHO'S GONE Sean McKeon McKeon battled some injury issues, but managed to finish out his career with a senior season featuring 13 catches for 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Over the course of four years at U-M, McKeon accu- mulated 60 catches for 668 yards, with six scores. As a sophomore, he led the Wolver- ines in catches (31), receiving yards (301) and touchdown grabs (three). Mustapha Muhammad The 6-4, 261-pound Texan spent a cou- ple of seasons getting whispered about as the next big thing among Michigan's tight ends. Instead, he'll be performing for Houston following a transfer back to his home state. WHO'S BACK Fifth-year senior Nick Eubanks Eubanks flourished under Gattis, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten after fin- ishing fifth on the team in receiving with 25 catches for 243 yards and four touch- downs. His scoring grabs included one in the home rout over Michigan State and an- other against Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. He should once again provide a big target in his final season in a winged helmet. Redshirt sophomore Luke Schoonmaker Schoonmaker demonstrated that his 6-6 frame could be used in the passing game as well, during the 11 games in played last season. He managed a pair of catches for 54 yards and a score. Sophomore Erick All All delivered an impressive breakthrough performance as a true freshman in 2019, even though he only wound up with a single catch for 10 yards. He stepped up as one of the more physical Michigan blockers among the potential pass catchers, drawing notice from head coach Jim Harbaugh and his team- mates. He's earned more opportunity for 2020. TOP NEWCOMER Freshman Matthew Hibner The 6-4, 230-pounder out of Burke, Va., wound up nearly cracking four digits in receiving yards as a senior at Lake Braddock High (940 yards, 12 touch- downs). He was rated as high as No. 7 among prep tight ends, and will jump into the mix for Michigan in the fall. BY JOHN BORTON "Josh Gattis said this is the most important position in his group, because they have to be really good in run blocking and they have to be really effective in the pass game. I like what each of these three guys brings in both of those areas." — Michigan All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE T ight end isn't ignored in Josh Gattis' "Speed In Space" offense, and opponents can ignore it at their peril. Last year, Gattis dem- onstrated he'll make people pay for not playing it straight against the big boys. In fact, rising fifth-year senior Nick Eubanks corralled more touch- down grabs (four) than all but two of the Wolverines' heralded assort- ment of wide receivers. He's back for a final year, and at 6-5, 256, will present a very different problem for defenders than U-M's compact speedsters. The Wolverines continue to bring in and develop tight ends as well, so those who wondered what would become of the position under Gattis aren't wondering any longer. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL NICK EUBANKS