The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 137 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Michigan defeated Rutgers 52-0 last Septem- ber in The Big House. One day later, Chris Ash was fired from his post as the Scarlet Knights' head coach. The team limped to a 2-10 record in a season that included zero Big Ten triumphs. Enter Greg Schiano. The new Rutgers head man, who held the same position for 11 seasons from 2001-11, knows what success in Pisca- taway looks like. He posted a 56-33 record over his final seven years with the Scarlet Knights, including a 11-2 mark and final No. 12 As- sociated Press national ranking in 2006. He also led Rutgers to six bowl games, winning the last five. Rebuilding the pro- gram again will be a difficult challenge for Schiano, given the Scarlet Knights are now in the Big Ten East — one of the country's most difficult divisions — and the current condition of the program. Rutgers finished next-to-last in the country in scoring and total offense a year ago, averag- ing 13.3 points and 273.1 yards per game. The Scarlet Knights were shut out four times. Ash being relieved of his duties wasn't the only changeup after the blowout loss at U-M. Quarterback Artur Sitkowski requested to sit out the rest of the season in order to preserve a redshirt so he could have one more year of eli- gibility. He was allowed to do so, meaning he'll have three more seasons left in college football. The redshirt sophomore completed 44 of 66 passes (64.7 percent) for 429 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions during his shortened 2019 season. Those are much im- proved numbers from his freshman campaign in which he completed 49.1 percent of his throws for 1,158 yards with four scores and 18 picks in 11 starts. Sitkowski and Nebraska graduate transfer Noah Vedral will battle for the job in camp and possibly into the season, but many expect Vedral to be the favorite to earn the primary duties. He started two games for Nebraska last season and threw for 418 yards while rushing for 106 yards. Junior running back Isaih Pacheco will be the focal point of the offense. The 5-11, 210-pounder churned out 729 yards and seven touchdowns on 169 rushes last season, lead- ing a run game that was the strength of the unit. Two other backs — sophomore Kay'Ron Adams (161 yards, 1 TD) and sophomore Aaron Young (153 yards) — ran for more than 150 yards last season, making the running back room a deep one. Senior wide receiver Bo Melton led the club in receptions (30), receiv- ing yards (427) and aerial touchdowns (2) last sea- son, adding to the conti- nuity the Scarlet Knights will have at the skill posi- tions. The offensive line con- tinues to be a work in progress, with returning starters at the two guard spots. Defensively, Rutgers should be improved from last season, with eight returning starters and a pair of transfers that should make an impact. Last season, the group finished last in the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing 36.7 points per game. The unit is deep at linebacker, returning senior Tyshon Fogg, who is the team and Big Ten's leading returning tackler. He notched 104 stops, 4.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as an outside backer. He's an outstanding gap filler and run stuffer, with a team-high 83 of his takedowns coming against ball carriers. The middle linebacker will be senior Olakunle Fatukasi, a 6-1, 229-pounder who was second on the team and 11th in the con- ference with 85 tackles last season, including 7.5 for loss. Third on the team in tackling a year ago was redshirt sophomore safety Christian Izien, who made 78 stops and broke up three passes. He and junior corner Avery Young (five passes broken up and one interception) headline the secondary, and will likely be joined by Ohio State transfer Brendon White, who is a favorite to claim the safety spot next to Izien. Providing a boost on the defensive front will be fifth-year senior defensive tackle Mi- chael Dwumfour, a U-M transfer. The Scotch Plains, N.J., native was banged up much of last season, which limited him to only nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in just 222 snaps. That gave him 36 stops, including 7.5 for loss and four sacks, in his Michigan career. His quick- ness as a 6-2, 282-pounder will be a plus for the Scarlet Knights on the interior. Notes Senior Brendon White, a safety transfer from Ohio State, totaled 65 tackles and one interception during his time in Columbus … Another transfer that could contribute on de- fense is former U-M linebacker and current redshirt junior Drew Singleton, who registered 34 tackles (2.5 for loss) last season in his debut campaign with the Scarlet Knights. ❑ Greg Schiano Faces An Even Bigger Task In His Second Stint With Scarlet Knights 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 5 Monmouth — Sept. 12 Syracuse — Sept. 19 at Temple — Sept. 26 at Ohio State L, 56-21 Oct. 3 Illinois L, 38-10 Oct. 10 at Purdue — Oct. 17 Indiana L, 35-0 Oct. 24 Nebraska — Oct. 31 at Maryland L, 48-7 Nov. 14 Michigan L, 52-0 Nov. 21 at Michigan State L, 27-0 Nov. 28 Penn State L, 27-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Isaih Pacheco, Jr., RB Has 1,280 career rushing yards with 10 touchdowns, and has averaged 4.6 yards per carry … He was one of 18 players nationally to rush for four touchdowns in a game during the regular season in 2019. Defense: Tyshon Fogg, Sr., LB Fogg was an honorable mention All- Big Ten performer last season with his 104 tackles ranking fourth in the confer- ence … He has 170 career tackles, with 8.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks. Junior cornerback Avery Young is Rut- gers' top returning coverage defender, after breaking up five passes in 2019. PHOTO COURTESY RUTGERS ATHLETICS RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS • NOV. 14 • GAME 10 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 5-1 First Meeting: Rutgers 26, U-M 24 (Oct. 4, 2014 at Piscataway, N.J.) Last Meeting: U-M 52, Rutgers 0 (Sept. 28 at Ann Ar - bor) Head Coach: Greg Schiano, 68-67 at Rutgers (1st year back, previously coached at the school from 2001-11) Final 2019 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 18 (7 offense, 8 defense, 3 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2014 (Quick Lane Bowl vs. North Carolina, W 40-21) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Johnny Langan (840 yards, 4 TD, 9 INT) Rushing: Isaih Pacheco (729 yards, 7 TD) Receiving: Bo Melton (427 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Tyshon Fogg (104) Sacks: Rashawn Battle (3) Interceptions: Tre Avery (2)