The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1404875
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS I feel like [my legacy is] incom- plete. Obviously, you can make all the plays you want. You can make all the sacks, TFLs, but you don't have a ring? There's a feeling of unfulfill- ment there, in my mind at least, so that's one thing. And I want to beat Ohio State. Hands down, those are the two things that I care about the most. I think if I play well this season, and we beat Ohio State, and we win the Big Ten championship, that will fulfill my legacy." — Michigan junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson on the In The Trenches Podcast with Jon Jansen THEY SAID IT When we step in this gym, we're fighting for three championships — Big Ten, Big Ten Tournament and NCAA. Any of you don't be- lieve it, let me know now. I will find another school for you, and I will make up a story just to say, hey, you decided to transfer because you feel that this is not the place for you. But I'm going to let you know this, we're not for ev- eryone. I'm going to make you guys uncomfortable. Are you willing to be un- comfortable?" — JUWAN HOWARD to Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on the Knuckleheads podcast, revealing what he told his team before the 2020-21 season U-M AMONG THE BEST AT PRODUCING TALENT IN FOUR POSITION GROUPS ESPN.com's David M. Hale released his "Position U" rank- ings, which identify the schools that produce the most tal- ent at each position. It turns out, the Michigan Wolverines have been some of the best at churning out high-level players at offensive line, linebacker, tight end and wide receiver. The rankings were based on a combination of college success, draft stock and NFL success. The Wolverines checked in fifth for offensive linemen, seventh for linebackers, ninth for tight ends and 10th for wide receivers. Michigan hockey players were named to The Athletic NHL Draft analyst Scott Wheeler's ranking of the top 50 NHL prospects. Sophomore Owen Power — the No. 1 overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in this summer's draft — was the top defenseman and No. 3 prospect on the list, and was joined in the top 10 by sophomore forwards Kent Johnson (No. 6), who was picked No. 5 overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Matty Beniers (No. 8), the second overall pick to the Seattle Kraken. Incoming freshman defenseman Luke Hughes, the fourth overall pick in the draft to the New Jersey Devils, and former U-M standout Cam York, the 14th overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019 and reigning Big Ten Defenseman of the Year, checked in at No. 19 and No. 37, respectively. 29 First-round NBA Draft picks throughout his- t o r y fo r M i c h i g a n basketball, which is the sixth-most all time, trailing only Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA and Kansas. The Wol- verines' nine first-round selections since 2013 are the most out of any Big Ten team, with Indiana and Michigan State tied for second at five each. $19 Million $19 Million Over four years is the estimated total value of former Michigan wing and current Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner's contract, according to Spotrac.com, with $8.6 million of that being guaranteed money. 5 28th Out of 32 NFL teams is where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked in mer- chandise sales in 2019, before signing former Michigan quarterback TOM BRADY in free agency ahead of the 2020 campaign. With Brady, the Bucs rose to No. 1 in merchandise sales, a 1,200 percent increase from the prior year, according to RealHuddleUp.com's Joe Pompliano on Twitter, and "their valuation increased by [about] $650M, or 2x the NFL average," he wrote. "It's hard to argue TB12 doesn't de- serve more than his $25M salary," Pom- pliano concluded. SEPTEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 13 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO COURTESY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS