The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2021 THE WOLVERINE 31 freshman Zak Zinter at left guard; freshman Reece Atteberry at center; redshirt junior Andrew Stueber at right guard and redshirt freshman Karsen Barnhart at right tackle. That's a lot of youth, and it begs some questions. Will sixth-year se- nior Andrew Vastardis and redshirt junior Chuck Filiaga get displaced from the center and left guard spots they manned, respectively, last year? Can massive (6-6, 343) Louisiana Tech transfer Willie Allen grab a tackle spot, allowing for a reshuffle? What about other developing younger players such as redshirt freshmen Trente Jones, Trevor Keegan and Nolan Rumler? Add in a new offensive line coach, moved over from tight ends, and the intrigue deepens. " S h e r ro n e M o o re h a s n e v e r coached it, but he played it," Karsch observed. "It's kind of an unknown. I don't think they're going to do any- thing tremendously different. It's just a matter of, can this coach get them to do what they ask them to do?" RUNNING BACKS Start with the fact that Karsch in- sists rookie tailback Donovan Ed- wards summons up visions of Tyrone Wheatley, and one can understand why he likes this group. "He's got a certain cut and giddy-up that's like Wheatley," Karsch said. "Ty- rone would square his shoulders and get going as good as anybody. Now, he might not be as big and he might not be as fast, but he looks like he's a carbon copy of that running style. "Imagine Wheatley a little smaller and not quite that fast. That's how good Wheatley was — you can be smaller and not as fast, and still be really good." Karsch noted Edwards' prep video jumped out, something new running backs coach Mike Hart has already noticed. "He was doing it against Belleville, with all of their defensive talent," Karsch said. "The last running back I saw on high school film where I was this excited was Mike Hart." That's not to take away from the backs already on the roster, he noted. "[Redshirt sophomore Hassan] Haskins runs tough," Karsch said. "Coaches used to say that, and I would be very dismissive of it, un- til I got on the field and saw how hard everybody hits on every single play, and how much some guys can squeeze an extra couple of yards on every carry, and how that adds up over the course of a game. "I now value that way more than I did before I got down on the field. "[Freshman Blake] Corum is next- level fast. He's one of those guys that you see other teams have, and you think, Michigan doesn't have a guy that fast. Well, now they do." Don't overlook early enrollee Tavi- erre Dunlap, either, Karsch cautioned. "If you immediately presume the highest-ranked back is going to play, you're making a big mistake," he said. "They earn it all now, and who's to say who is the best? Look, I love Edwards, but I've been around long enough to know other guys can be better than the one everybody thought was going to be the guy. I don't dismiss anybody anymore." WIDE RECEIVERS Michigan is awaiting big-time players to emerge and make people forget too many early departures. "That's one position that was re- ally hurt by defections," Karsch said. "A receiver that goes pro to become a sixth-round pick and one that sits out. Boy, they would have made a dif- ference for a young quarterback last year, huh? They seem to have really good young talent there, but it's un- proven. You've got to learn quickly." Michigan does feature a solid vet- eran in junior Ronnie Bell, a host of compact speedsters in sophomores Giles Jackson and Mike Sainristil along with freshman Roman Wilson, a bigger wideout in sophomore Cor- nelius Johnson, and a pair of early enrollees (Andrel Anthony and Cris- tian Dixon) worthy of attention. Again, it's all about how potential becomes production, from protect- ing the quarterback to delivering the ball to wideouts who are open and effective. "Cornelius Johnson — I'm no scout, but that was an impressive high school film," Karsch offered. "They're going to have to develop a deep threat. I wouldn't count out the freshmen. Throw them all into the mix and see what happens. "I really like Roman Wilson. You talk about guys who look like they run fast and just need to learn the offense, so they play fast along with their natural ability to run fast. Thinkers don't run as fast as guys who know the offense." TIGHT ENDS This position could go the way soph- omore Erick All's hands go on game day, Karsch suggested. The talented Wolverine hasn't experienced an ex- tensive case of dropping the football in practice, according to several people who have access to those workouts. But on game day, All struggled at times securing passes that could make a difference. His advancement in trans- lating skills into game-day production (there's a theme here) will write a big chapter in the tight ends story for 2021. There are others in the running. Red- shirt sophomore Luke Schoonmaker caught a couple of passes in 2019, and certainly has the length (6-5, 252) to present a big target. Freshman Mat- thew Hibner was waiting in the wings last year, and some are raving about incoming freshman Louis Hansen. Here, like it is throughout the offense, there's some proving to be done. It won't come easily, but Michigan com- mitted to changing things up, and did so. The offensive line, running backs, quarterbacks and tight ends all feature new coaches (although Jay Harbaugh previously coached U-M tight ends prior to taking the running backs). The Wolverines have gone from the brink of a Big Ten championship game appearance in 2016 to 2-4 in 2020, forcing an extreme coaching makeover. This one needs to work. ❏ According to Michigan radio sideline reporter Doug Karsch, freshman running back Blake Corum is "next-level fast," and will be compet- ing for carries in a strong running backs room. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL