The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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8 THE WOLVERINE OCTOBER 2020 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS THREE FORMER WOLVERINES NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS IN THE NFL Out of the Wolverines' 33 former players on active rosters at the start of the NFL season, three have been named 2020 team captains. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham and New York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers were all given the distinction this year. A six-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Super Bowl MVP with the New England Patriots, Brady earned the trust of his new Tampa Bay teammates quickly. Brady was a cap- tain in 18 of his 20 seasons with the Patriots. A member of the Eagles since being selected with the 13th overall pick in 2010, Graham has been a vocal leader for Philadelphia for several years. He started all 16 games last season, logging 50 tackles, 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Graham was a key piece of the Eagles' victory in Super Bowl LII. Peppers is in his fourth year in the league and second sea- son with the Giants, after being traded by the Browns ahead of 2019. Though the former first-round pick is a starter at safety, the New Jersey native actually earned his captain spot on special teams as the team's punt returner. COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON TO TIP OFF NOV. 25 Michigan men's basketball was originally set to begin year two of the Juwan Howard Era Nov. 10 against Georgia State, but the NCAA announced that start of the college basketball season has been delayed until Nov. 25, with the reasoning being "to have contests begin when at least three-quarters of Division I schools will have concluded their fall terms or moved remaining instruction and exams online, creating a more controlled and less populated campus environ- ment that may reduce the risk of COVID-19 that can occur between student-athletes and the broader student body population." With games likely to be canceled or postponed, the NCAA set the guideline that teams must participate in at least 13 contests against Division I competition to be considered for selection into the NCAA Tournament, which is a 50 percent reduction of the current minimum. Programs can begin preseason practice Oct. 14 and will have 42 days to hold a maximum of 30 practices. During that period, players can work out up to 20 hours per week, four hours per day and must have one day off per week. From Sept. 21-Oct.13, teams may participate in up to 12 hours per week of strength and conditioning activities, sport-related meetings and skill instruction, with an eight- hour limit on skill instruction, and two off days per week. No exhibition games or closed scrimmages will be permit- ted before Nov. 25. FIVE MICHIGAN SWIMMERS NAMED TO 2020-21 U.S. NATIONAL TEAM Two current Michigan swimmers and three alums were named to the 2020-21 U.S. National Team, with freshman Jake Mitchell, senior Sierra Schmidt, and alums Gabby De- Loof (2015-18), Miles Smachlo (2017-20) and Charlie Swan- son (2017-20) all earning nods. Mitchell, a rookie out of out of Carmel, Ind., will participate in the 400- and 800-meter freestyles, after representing the United States at the 2019 FINA World Junior Championships and winning gold on the 4x200-meter freestyle relay while advancing to the finals in three other events. Schmidt will race in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyles. She won a gold medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and bronze in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2019 World University Games. The product of Erdenheim, Pa., is a four- time College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-American and three-time All-America honorable mention at U-M. DeLoof will race in the 200-meter freestyle, after taking home five gold medals from the 2019 World University Games and winning a silver medal at the 2019 FINA World Championships. The Grosse Pointe, Mich., native was a five- time Big Ten champion and five-time CSCAA All-American during her collegiate career. A six-time CSCAA All-American and three-time Big Ten champion during his days in Ann Arbor, Smachlo is on the U.S. National Team roster for the 200-meter butterfly. The Rexford, N.Y., product won the silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2019 Phillips 66 National Championships. Originally hailing from Richmond, Va., Swanson is set to compete in the 400-meter individual medley, after winning gold in the same event at the 2019 Pan American Games. Swanson was a five-time CSCAA All-American and five-time Big Ten champion at U-M. — Clayton Sayfie Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (above) is one of three former Wolverines named a captain for their respective NFL teams, along with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and New York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers. PHOTO COURTESY PHILADELPHIA EAGLES MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK