The Wolverine

January 2021

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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JANUARY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 9   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Sitting Down With Fifth-year Senior Forward Austin Davis Michigan fifth-year senior forward Austin Davis will miss several weeks with a foot injury suffered in the Dec. 9 win over Toledo. He talked about his plantar fascia setback and more in the days following. The Wolverine: What's been your history with your foot, and when do you anticipate you might return? Austin Davis: "I really never had any prior conditions with it that would have contributed to the in- jury. From that aspect, it was kind of a fluke thing. "We're taking it day by day; I'm definitely in the best hands pos- sible with the athletic training staff and the medical staff here, so we're working every day to get healthy and come back and contribute." The Wolverine: Freshman Hunter Dickinson stepped into the start- ing lineup for you and scored 20 points in his first start, a win over Penn State. What makes him so well equipped for this as a first-year guy? Davis: "He's got great confidence; he's really built for those moments. He's done tremendous so far. I'm really proud of him. I know he's going to continue to push and work and deliver for us in those [late] moments. He puts the work in and has done a tremendous job from the first day he's been on campus. "Hunter has really had a learning mindset from day one, and that's really helped him a lot. He's extremely coachable — both from Coach [Juwan] Howard and the assistants, and [walk-on center] Jaron [Faulds] and me. He really has an open mind. He accepts coaching and really puts it into effect." The Wolverine: How have you and Hunter hit it off, and how has that helped prepare both of you guys for the season? Davis: "We've had a great relationship, and he's gotten very comfortable in whatever situation he's put in. Hunter has delivered with whatever we've really asked him, whatever that may be." The Wolverine: What did you see from the bench in the team's first Big Ten game, the 62-58 win over PSU Dec. 13, especially defensively? Davis: "We've been working our tails off defensively from the first day of prac- tice. I think it all really came to fruition at some key moments, especially at the end of the game. [Freshman forward] Terrance [Williams] coming off the bench, being ready, coming in those last few possessions was tremendous. "That was a Big Ten basketball game. You're going to have a lot of ups and downs, a lot of adversity. The teams that are going to be successful have to find a way to push though it and come together through it." The Wolverine: Head coach Juwan Howard says you're really equipped to help out as almost an extra coach on the bench. What makes you qualified for that? Davis: "I don't really have a great answer for that. It's a tough question. I hon- estly just have to say I see the potential and how good Hunter is. "I know I focus on him a lot, but he's my guy. He's the future of the program. I just see what he has, and he can be, and it really inspires me to pour myself into him and pass on as much as I possibly can to him." — Chris Balas Before being sidelined with plantar fasci- itis, Davis started the first five games for the Wolverines, and averaged 6.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL SIGNEES J.J. MCCARTHY, JUNIOR COLSON NAMED MAXWELL POY AWARD SEMIFINALISTS Michigan football signees J.J. Mc- Carthy and Junior Colson are semi- finalists for the Maxwell Club's Na- tional High School Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively. The prestigious honors are handed out annually to the na- tion's best scholastic football player on each side of the ball. In total, there are 32 semifinalists. The nation's No. 4 pro-style quar- terback and No. 41 overall recruit per Rivals.com, McCarthy shined in his lone season at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, where he threw for 1,440 yards and 16 touchdowns with no interceptions in six games. The signal-caller helped lead his squad to a MaxPreps national championship and an undefeated record. The No. 5-ranked outside line- backer nationally and No. 94 overall prospect per Rivals, Colson accumu- lated 101 tackles and seven sacks in eight games while playing through a minor shoulder injury. His Brent- wood (Tenn.) Ravenwood team ad- vanced to the second round of the Tennessee state playoffs and finished with a 7-5 record. Finalists for the Maxwell Club's National High School Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards will be announced Jan. 4. — Clayton Sayfie U-M linebacker signee Junior Colson racked up 101 tackles and seven sacks this fall despite appearing in only eight games and playing through a minor shoulder injury. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND

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