The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1265378
• Tabbed as a MaxPreps All-American and was named to The Detroit News All-State Dream Team in 2015 and 2016. • Listed by Rivals as a three-star recruit, the No. 10 player in Michigan and the No. 20 offensive guard in the country. KWITY PAYE • DE Sr. • Providence, R.I. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 277 • Started all 12 of his appearances in 2019, and compiled 50 stops, a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery. • Tabbed as second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third-team by the media, and shared the Rich- ard Katcher Award as the team's best defensive lineman with Aidan Hutchinson. • Recorded 29 total stops, 5.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble over 13 appearances in 2018. • Named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media. • Played in nine contests as a freshman, and reg- istered five tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and a sack. • Named the 2016 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year for the state. • Rated by Rivals as a three-star recruit and the No. 35 weakside defensive end in the country. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2019 12/12 50 12.5 6.5 2018 13/4 29 5.5 2.0 2017 9/0 5 1.5 1.0 Totals 34/16 84 19.5 9.5 MAZI SMITH · DT R-Fr. · Grand Rapids, Mich. Ht.: 6-3 · Wt.: 305 • Appeared in two games during his debut season in 2019, after he enrolled early. • Recorded 81 tackles, 18 stops for loss and three forced fumbles in his senior season at East Kentwood. • Selected to the USA Today All-State first team in 2018 and named to The Detroit News Dream Team in 2018. • Participated in the Under Armour All-American Game and recorded a tackle. • Regarded by Rivals as a four-star talent, and the No. 9 defensive tackle and No. 142 overall player in the country. JESS SPEIGHT · DT R-Jr. · Richmond, Va. Ht.: 6-5 · Wt.: 288 • Appeared in seven games with one start and made seven tack- les during the 2019 campaign. • Earned a scholarship at the start of the 2019 season after beginning his ca- reer as a walk-on. • Played in one game during the 2018 season (after not appearing in 2017) and was recognized as the team's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year before he transitioned to defense. • Selected to USA Today's All-State second team in 2016. • Was a two-star recruit in the class of 2017. TAYLOR UPSHAW · DE R-So. · Bradenton, Fla. Ht.: 6-4 · Wt.: 240 • Appeared in six games during the 2019 season (four on the defensive line), notching two tackles. • Did not see game action in 2018. • Tallied 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one interception his final season at Braden River. • Regarded by Rivals as a three-star prospect, the No. 75 overall player in Florida and the No. 25 strongside defensive end in the land. LUIJI VILAIN • DE R-Jr. • Ottawa, Ontario Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 244 • Played in seven games during the 2019 season, and recorded seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble. • Did not see game action in his first two years at Michigan. • Compiled 45 tackles and eight sacks, plus recov- ered one fumble in the end zone for a touch- down, as a senior at Episcopal en route to first- team All-State honors from USA Today. • Rated as a four-star recruit, and the No. 5 weak- side defensive end and No. 74 overall prospect nationally by Rivals. JULIUS WELSCHOF · DE R-So. · Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany Ht.: 6-6 · Wt.: 278 • Appeared in one game in 2019, the victory over Notre Dame. • Redshirted his first season at Michigan. • Played defensive end and tight end for the Munich Cowboys in Germany. • Rated by Rivals as a three-star prospect. NEWCOMERS JAYLEN HARRELL · DE Fr. · Tampa, Fla. Ht.: 6-4 · Wt.: 235 • Was a candidate for the 2019 High School Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top high school linebacker. • Named second-team Class 3A All-State by Flori- daHSFootball.com as a junior. • Tabbed by Rivals as a three-star recruit, the No. 70 player in Florida and the nation's No. 31 out- side linebacker. KRIS JENKINS · DL Fr. · Olney, Md. Ht.: 6-4 · Wt.: 239 • Named Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. • Tabbed as first-team All-Met by The Washington Post as a senior; earned an honorable mention nod as a junior. • Ranked as a three-star recruit, the No. 16 player in Maryland and the No. 19 strongside defensive end by Rivals. AARON LEWIS · DL Fr. · Williamstown, N.J. Ht.: 6-5 · Wt.: 235 • Enrolled early in January 2020. • The Philadelphia Inquirer dubbed him the South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. • Was named first-team All-State as a junior and senior by USA Today, The South Jersey Times and NJ.com. • Rated a three-star recruit, No. 17 player in New Jersey and the No. 35 strongside defensive end nationally by Rivals. BRAIDEN MCGREGOR · DE Fr. · Port Huron, Mich. Ht.: 6-5 · Wt.: 248 • Enrolled early in January 2020. • Was a Detroit News Division 1-2 first-team All- State selection in 2018 and 2019; was named to the Division 2 first team by The Detroit Free Press in 2018. • Listed as a four-star recruit, the No. 11 player in Michigan and the No. 17 strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals. THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 97 DEFENSIVE LINE Redshirt freshman tackle Mazi Smith was ranked as a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 142 overall prospect by Rivals.com com- ing out of Kentwood (Mich.) East Kentwood High. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN