The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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20 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW four starters, calling the front five the "big- gest question on the team." However, they think the Maize and Blue will still "be able to run the ball," which "should ease tension on other areas of the offense." Street & Smith's also likes several individ- ual players on Michigan's defense, calling sophomore Daxton Hill "a star at safety" and sophomore defensive tackle Chris Hinton "the type of foundational tackle who can change games up front." The publication singled out senior defen- sive end Kwity Paye as "one of the confer- ence's top defensive players," while noting the linebacking duo of redshirt sophomore Cam McGrone and redshirt junior Josh Ross should "help Michigan stay fast and multiple on defense." "The schedule, however, doesn't offer many favors," Street & Smith's noted, cit- ing the season opener at Washington; West division crossover matchups with Wisconsin, Minnesota and Purdue; and road trips to Michigan State and Ohio State. "The Wolverines will be good again, but they're in for more of the same — still a step away from the top of the Big Ten East," Street & Smith's concluded. The publication also had a few interest- ing depth chart predictions, and claimed Harbaugh was on the "hottest seat" in the Big Ten, placing him at No. 5 on their list of "coaches at big-time programs who are feel- ing pressure starting to mount." USC's Clay Helton, Texas' Tom Herman, Nebraska's Scott Frost and UCLA's Chip Kelly made up the first four spots on the list. On a brighter note, Street & Smith's chose three Wolverine players as all-conference performers, placing Paye, Hill and senior cornerback Ambry Thomas on their All-Big Ten preseason team. Their praise for Paye didn't end there, calling him U-M's top NFL prospect. "He's a disruptive defensive end with ath- leticism despite his 6-4, 277-pound frame," Street & Smith's explained. "Paye's 12.5 tackles for loss led the team as a junior, and he could be in the All-America conversation with a big senior season." ATHLON SPORTS Athlon also has Michigan finishing third in the Big Ten East behind Ohio State and Penn State. It projects the Maize and Blue to go 9-3 overall and 6-3 in league play, before squaring off with Tennessee in the Outback Bowl. "It's clear that the Wolverines will be go- ing through some changes on offense," Ath- lon noted. "In year two of [Josh] Gattis' offense, it's crucial that the Wolverines settle on the right quarterback. While no clear fa- vorite is apparent right now, both have the talent to take the position and make it their own. It's up to the coaching staff to make the right call, as very little can be discerned from existing game film and spring practice was wiped out." Athlon went on to say that the direction of Michigan's offense "rests squarely on the quarterback position," and that fans should expect to see "both quarterbacks featured heavily." The magazine likes what the Maize and Blue have at running back and called sopho- more Zach Charbonnet and redshirt sopho- more Hassan Haskins "an exciting pair," before singling out the significance of senior receiver Nico Collins' decision to come back for his senior year. "His return to the program was a major victory for the Wolverines this offseason," Athlon stated. They also stated that U-M's defense will be led by "stalwart" ends Paye and junior Aidan Hutchinson, and also noted the im- portance of fifth-year senior defensive tackle Carlo Kemp's return. The publication bills the returning safe- ties, senior Brad Hawkins and Hill, a "tal- ented duo," noting the latter "should take another big step this season." "[Defensive coordinator] Don Brown has a lot of pieces to work with, as many familiar faces return," Athlon said of U-M's defense. "Don't expect wholesale changes on de- fense this season, as many of the returners understand the defensive concepts and can be shuffled around as needed." The outlet pegged Paye, Thomas and red- shirt sophomore right tackle Jalen Mayfield as "Key Wolverines" heading into 2020, and singled out McGrone as their "Rising Star" of the team. "He made the most of his starting opportu- nity and never relinquished his role as one of the Wolverines' most dependable lineback- ers," Athlon noted. Athlon placed Paye, Hutchinson, Thomas and Hill on their first-team All-Big Ten squad; Mayfield and McGrone on the sec- ond-team unit; and Charbonnet, Collins, Kemp and sophomore Giles Jackson (as a kick returner) on their third-team crew. Hutchinson was the only Wolverine to make the outlet's All-America squad, land- ing on it as a third-teamer. The publication ranked the Wolverines' defensive line and running backs third among their position groups in the Big Ten. The linebackers and defensive backs were each selected fourth in the conference, the wide receiver/tight end unit fifth, the offen- sive line sixth and the quarterbacks seventh. Athlon singled out 12 contests involving Big Ten squads in their "Games To Watch" category, and chose a Michigan matchup in five of them — the season opener at Wash- ington Sept. 5, the home showdown with Wisconsin Sept. 26, the battle with Penn State at The Big House Oct. 3, the rivalry affair at Michigan State Oct. 10 and the regular-season finale at Ohio State Nov. 28. Just as Street & Smith's did, Athlon also provided an overview of the Harbaugh era at Michigan, calling it "More of the Same?" and selecting it as their No. 7 storyline in all of college football heading into the 2020 season. Athlon identified junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson as one of the most important Wolverines, and tabbed him as a first-team All-Big Ten performer and a third-team All- American. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Michigan's 2020 Preseason All-Americans SR. WR NICO COLLINS Second team — ESPN.com, PhilSteele.com and SportingNews.com R-SO. OT JALEN MAYFIELD First team — ESPN.com Honorable mention — CBSSports.com, ProFootballFocus.com and SportingNews.com JR. DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON Third team — Athlon