The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 29 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL (virtually), and revealed his "personal goals" for the 2021 calendar year, which most notably included win- ning the Big Ten and national titles, and to not be scared of being fired. Harbaugh's goals are as follows: "1. Raise all those with whom I come in contact. Put players and staff in posi- tion to be successful in life and football. "2. Create an atmosphere in the workplace that supports teamwork, friendship and winning (an atmo- sphere that brings joy each day we come to work). "3. Develop and administer a pro- cess (plan) that supports TEAM suc- cess and winning. "4. Be a member of the 2021 Big Ten and national champion Michigan football team. "5. Treat others as I would want to be treated and create personal re- lationships with all those I come in contact with. "6. Do not be scared of any man, mo- ment, circumstance or of being fired." According to the Ann Arbor News, Harbaugh explained during his speech that every decision he makes for the team will have the program's best interests in mind, not those of his own personal job security. This comes on the heels of the coach's four-year contract extension that included a de- creased buyout should he be fired or choose to leave Ann Arbor. While the Wolverines are com- ing off a 2-4 season — the worst under Harbaugh in his six seasons that have included 49 wins but zero conference titles or College Football Playoff appearances — the coach continues to aim high with the goal to win championships. — Clayton Sayfie FIVE WOLVERINES SET TO PLAY IN SENIOR BOWL Five now-former U-M football play- ers have accepted invites to the Reese's Senior Bowl, which will take place Jan. 30 in Mobile, Ala. Long snapper Camaron Cheeseman, wide receiver Nico Collins, running back Chris Ev- ans, fullback Ben Mason and corner- back Ambry Thomas are all slated to participate in the annual all-star game. Of the group, Mason and Evans were the only two who played in Michigan's 2020 football season, while Cheeseman, Collins and Thomas all opted out before the abridged season got underway. Mason started his U-M career at fullback, before also playing defen- sive tackle in 2019 and then tran- sitioning back to offense full-time in 2020 (at H-back/tight end). He posted 37 rushes for 97 yards and nine touchdowns in his career, and also made three catches for 32 yards and one score. Evans missed the 2019 season due to an academic issue but returned for his fifth-year senior season in 2020. He accumulated 1,795 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in his career, while also making 49 catches for 479 receiving yards and two scores. Perhaps the most productive player of the bunch while a Wol- verine, Collins caught 78 balls and racked up 13 touchdowns during his career in Ann Arbor, and was a two- time All-Big Ten honorable mention (by the coaches in 2018 ,and both the coaches and media in 2019). Thomas recorded 54 total tack- les, 3.5 stops for loss, four intercep- tions and nine passes defended in a winged helmet. Cheeseman was a steady force for the Maize and Blue's special teams unit, appearing in 38 career games as a long snapper on field goals and punts from 2017-19. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN FOOTBALL WELCOMES ITS EARLY ENROLLEES TO CAMPUS The Michigan football program welcomed its 11 early enrollees to campus Jan. 19, with the team's offi- cial Twitter account releasing a video of all the newcomers in action. In alphabetical order, the list in- cluded Detroit Cass Tech four-star center Raheem Anderson, East Lan- sing (Mich.) High three-star wide re- ceiver Andrel Anthony, Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall four- star offensive tackle Tristan Bounds, Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood four- star linebacker Junior Colson, Bra- denton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star offensive guard Greg Crippen, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star wide receiver Cristian Dixon, Del Valle (Texas) High three-star running back Tavierre Dunlap, West Bloomfield (Mich.) High four-star running back Donovan Edwards, Sterling Heights (Mich.) Stevenson four-star offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi and Braden- ton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The 10 aforementioned players are freshmen, with the 11th newcomer being Louisiana Tech graduate trans- fer offensive lineman Willie Allen, Former U-M wide receiver Nico Collins is among the former Wolverines that will participate in the annual Senior Bowl all-star game, which is scheduled to be played Jan. 30 in Mobile, Ala. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL