The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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100 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS "I'm very excited to work with Kalel Mullings, Cornell Wheeler and Nikhai Hill- Green," Brown said. "Those three guys have tremendous skill. "Obviously, we have two tremendous leaders at the forefront, and the talent is there. We've just got to get them up to speed and ready to go. Athletically, I feel very strongly about that position." Others will certainly be vying for time, in- cluding sophomore Anthony Solomon, who appeared in 11 games on special teams as a true freshman, and redshirt freshman Charles Thomas, who saw the field twice last season as a rookie. True freshmen at the position, in addition to those Brown mentioned, include hybrid de- fender Jaylen Harrell from Florida and Osman Savage, a four-star recruit from Maryland. The linebacker corps saw another addi- tion over the winter. Redshirt sophomore Ben VanSumeren spent his first two seasons in maize and blue on offense, playing fullback. He got on board with a move to linebacker in the offseason, and is prepping for action there. "We're excited," Brown said. "We had the one winter workout where the coaches are engaged. In the drill work that I put them through and Coach B.J. [linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary] put him through, I was kind of excited. He's a big guy now. He comes downhill in the 3-3 stuff. "I'm anxious to see how fast we can get him acclimated to being a pass rusher, all the things that are required of the linebackers — playing off blocks, tackling, all those things that are just so, so important. I love his en- thusiasm. We think he's a very talented guy. I think he'll be an excellent internal blitzer and a good run stopper. Cameron McGrone earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a red- shirt freshman for the Wolverines in 2019. He figures to rise above that label over the next couple of years in the middle of the Michigan defense. In fact, he is the most likely candidate to become the next first-team All-Big Ten linebacker for the Wolverines. He would be the third such under the Jim Harbaugh regime in Ann Arbor, at a spot which has seen too few over the past couple of decades, in comparison to other positions. Devin Bush Jr., of course, set the recent standard for Michigan linebacker play. Arguably the fastest linebacker the Wolverines have ever featured, Bush made no friends in East Lansing but tore up the Big Ten, becoming a first-team linebacker for the Wolverines in both 2017 and 2018. He has gone on to strong rookie success with the Pittsburgh Steelers, after leaving Michigan a year early to become a first-round draft choice. The Steelers didn't regret that investment. Bush produced 109 tackles, nine tackles for loss, a pair of interceptions, four passes broken up, a forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown in his first NFL season. Many are predict- ing he will improve on his numbers and become a true standout in the league with his 4.4 speed and aggression. Prior to Bush's heroics in a winged helmet, Jabrill Peppers earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a viper in 2015 and 2016. A Heisman Trophy finalist in 2016, Peppers went to the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Cleveland, and this past one with the New York Gi- ants. In three NFL seasons, he has recorded 213 tackles, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Before those two speedsters, Michigan has enjoyed only four first-team All- Big Ten linebackers since 2000. Jake Ryan became a fixture at the position for the Wolverines under head coach Brady Hoke, earning first-team all-league recognition in 2014. The fourth-round NFL Draft pick in 2015 spent three seasons as a starter for the Green Bay Packers before missing 2018 after tearing his ACL in training camp. He recently signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens. David Harris stood at the heart of Michigan's very strong defense in 2006, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a middle linebacker. He went on to enjoy a 10-year NFL career, all but one season with the New York Jets. Victor Hobson (2002) and Larry Foote (2000-01) are Michigan's other two linebackers since 2000 to be accorded first-team All-Big Ten honors. In other words, the Wolverines have produced half as many first-team All-Big Ten linebackers under Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown from 2015-19 as Michigan featured from 2000-14. McGrone could make it three under Harbaugh and Brown, as early as this season. — John Borton Cameron McGrone Should Be Michigan's Next All-League Linebacker Redshirt junior Josh Ross was named honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2018, but redshirted last season when he was limited to four games due to an injury. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY