The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2020 THE WOLVERINE 11 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS THEY SAID IT PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN "The biggest thing about Andrew is he is one of the hard- est workers on and off the field, especially on the field. Whatever happens during a play, he's going to make sure he finishes to the best of his ability — through the whistle, to the whistle — and that's not an understatement. It's every play consistently, no matter what. We like to think of Andrew as a Mack Truck. He just drives his Mack Truck to work every day and pours his concrete." — Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Carlo Kemp Oct. 20, referring to classmate and starting center ANDREW VASTARDIS, a former walk-on "I want all Michigan fans to do this. Take three deep breaths and have faith. Faith that every single coach, player, em- ployee in that building is doing everything they possibly can to be great. This great university demands excellence. … Know that every single person associated with the football program is striving for excellence. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. They will not reach that light if it is being clouded by darkness. Support is the only thing that they need right now. EVERY single one of you has the power to contribute to the GOAL. We are all in this together." — Four-star quarterback commit J.J. McCarthy in a series of tweets Nov. 15, the morning after the loss to Wisconsin MICHIGAN'S TOP PERFORMERS Women's basketball junior guard/forward Leigha Brown: On Nov. 1, the NCAA announced she would be able to play immediately in 2020-21 after transferring in from Ne- braska. Brown was named the Big Ten's 2020 Sixth Player of the Year with the Corn- huskers after she led the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game. The Auburn, Ind., native posted 10 or more points 23 times last year and poured in at least 20 on eight separate occasions. "She has been an amazing addition to our program these last few months, with both her skill set and her experience playing at the highest level," head coach Kim Barnes-Arico said upon the announcement. "I can't wait for her to step on the court in a Michigan jersey." Former U-M football and current Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jordan Glasgow: He was named the male winner of the 2020 Ernest T. Sigler Award Oct. 15, which has been given annually since 1977 to U-M's best male and female student-athlete from the Chicago area. Glasgow is the 30th player from the Wolverine football team ever to receive the award, and the first since run- ning back Ty Isaac in 2017. The Aurora, Ill., native was a four- time Academic All-Big Ten honoree during his five years in Ann Arbor (2015-19), and started all 13 games as a fifth-year senior last season. He wrapped up his U-M tenure with 140 tackles, 10 stops behind the line of scrimmage, seven sacks and three passes defended while appearing in 53 games. The sixth-round draft pick has played in each of the Colts' first eight games. Ice hockey freshman defenseman Owen Power: It was announced Oct. 31 he had been chosen to attend the Hockey Canada World Ju- nior Team Sport Check Selection Camp, which will run from Nov. 16-Dec. 13 in Red Deer, Alberta. A total of 47 icers received invitations, though Power was one of just four current collegiate hockey players to claim a spot. He will also be one of only 15 defensemen at the camp. Those in attendance will com- pete for the opportunity to represent Canada at the 2021 International Ice Hockey World Junior Championship from Dec. 25-Jan. 5 in Edmonton, Alberta. Men's basketball sophomore guard Franz Wagner: He was one of 20 candidates tabbed to the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award watch list Nov. 5, and one of only two players to make it from the Big Ten (Iowa junior guard Joe Wieskamp was the other). Wag- ner earned Big Ten All-Freshman recogni- tion last season, starting 27 games and averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per outing. His rebounding total was the second-best mark on the team, while his scoring numbers were tied for third. The winner of the accolade given to the nation's best at the position will be announced April 9. — Austin Fox 6 Signees in U-M basketball's 2021 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 1 in the country by Rivals.com and is the largest haul since the Wolverines signed six newcomers in 2014 — Muhammad-Ali Abdur- Rahkman, Kameron Chatman, Aubrey Dawkins, Ricky Doyle, Austin Hatch and D.J. Wilson. This year's class consists of five-star small forward Caleb Houstan, four-star power forward Moussa Diabate, four- star point guard Frankie Collins, four-star shooting guard Kobe Bufkin, four-star small forward Isaiah Barnes and three-star power forward Will Tschetter.