The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1265378
DEFENSIVE LINE TACO CHARLTON (2013-16), MAURICE HURST (2013-17), MIKE MARTIN (2008-11) AND CHASE WINOVICH (2014-18) The two defensive ends, Charlton and Winovich, lived in opposing backfields and harassed quarterbacks during their careers in Ann Arbor. Earning a first-team All-Big Ten nod in 2016, Charlton made 27.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks (ninth in school history), before he was selected in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys. Winovich was the un- questioned leader of the 2018 squad, with his 45 tackles for loss tying him for seventh on Michigan's all-time list, while his 18 sacks are tied for 11th. The Jefferson Hills, Pa., native was an All-American as a fifth- year senior and was drafted by the New England Patriots (third round), where he is projected to be a starter in his second professional season. Hurst's size and quickness made him almost impossible to stop from the defensive tackle spot. A consensus All-American in 2017, his 33.5 career tackles for loss — an espe- cially impressive number for a tackle — are the 21st most in school history. He also added 12.5 sacks in a winged helmet before being drafted by the Oak- land Raiders in the fifth round. Martin, a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, was dominant at the nose tackle position, earn- ing Michigan's Richard Katcher Award for the team's top defensive linemen in three straight seasons to begin the decade (2010-12). His lon- All-Decade Team Defense And Special Teams LINEBACKERS DEVIN BUSH JR. (2016-18), JAKE RYAN (2010-14) AND JABRILL PEPPERS (2014-16) The two-time All-American (consensus pick as a junior in 2018) Bush stuffed gaps in the middle, but also flashed his top-shelf speed while making plays sideline to sideline. He led the Wolverines in tackles during each of his final two seasons in Ann Arbor and totaled 194 stops for his career, adding 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 17 passes defended (tied for 23rd). He was the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year and Defensive Player of the year as a junior in 2018 before departing early for the NFL Draft, where he was selected No. 10 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ryan was another versatile presence on Michigan's defense, starting his career at defensive end, before moving to outside linebacker and finally settling in at inside linebacker. He was an All-Big Ten standout as a sophomore and senior, sandwiched around a junior season in which he missed the first five games due to a torn ACL. His career marks rank near the top in program history in tackles for loss (45.5, sixth) and forced fumbles (seven, tied for second). He registered a whopping 30 tackles for loss in his final 40 collegiate contests. Arguably the best player Harbaugh has had during his time at Michigan, Peppers did a little bit of everything during his three years in Ann Arbor. He primarily played in Michigan's defensive backfield in 2015 before transitioning into first-year coordinator Don Brown's viper role in 2016, while also seeing time on offense and returning punts each of those two years. In 2016, Peppers finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, was a consensus All-American and took home the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. Honorable mention: Ben Gedeon (2013-16), Khaleke Hudson (2016-19) and Josh Uche (2016-19) Jabrill Peppers PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Maurice Hurst PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 38 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW