The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 35 Phillip Paea DL/OL Redshirted his first year, bounced around the next three between offen- sive and defensive line, and played sparingly before transferring to Utah State this spring. Kwity Paye DE Played in nine games as a freshman and then became a key part of the defensive line the next three seasons, appearing in 38 games (20 starts). The two-time All-Big Ten honoree (honorable mention, 2018; second team, 2019) was U-M's co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2019 and went to the Indianapolis Colts with the 21st overall pick in this year 's first round. Donovan Peoples-Jones WR Michigan's 2017 Rookie of the Year notched a team-high 47 recep- tions for 612 yards and eight scores to earn Michigan's 2018 Offensive Skill Player of the Year honor. He was banged up his junior year but still played in 11 games, returning punts and notching 438 yards receiving with six scores. He's now with the NFL's Cleveland Browns after being the team's sixth-round selection last year. Brad Robbins P Started 10 games as a freshman and kicked 64 times, averaging 40.4 yards per punt and earning All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches. He hurt his back and missed all of 2018 and the first part of 2019. He returned to average 45.3 yards an attempt in five games last year and is expected to start this fall. Josh Ross LB Played in 13 games his first year, primarily on special teams. Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten hon- ors while notching 61 stops (fourth on the team) in 2018. Led U-M with 53 stops last year. He has appeared in 36 games with 10 starts and will be a stalwart in the middle this year. Cesar Ruiz OL Appeared in all 13 contests (starting the final five at right guard) as a fresh- man and took over the center duties as a sophomore, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. Ruiz opened all 13 games as a junior and garnered second-team all-con- ference honors. He's with the New Orleans Saints after being selected in the first round (24th overall) of the 2020 draft. O'maury Samuels RB Carried eight times for 13 yards as a freshman and 13 times for 66 yards as a sophomore, but was dismissed due to an off-the-field incident. Trans- ferred to New Mexico State and has yet to play. Drew Singleton LB Redshirted his first year and left af- ter playing in seven games his second season. Transferred to Rutgers and has appeared in 21 games with three starts, totaling 49 tackles. He is not expected to start this year. Aubrey Solomon DT Appeared in all 13 games as a fresh- man and showed signs of being starter material, opening four of the final six contests at nose tackle. Was slowed by an injury his second year, recording six tackles in five games played, and then transferred to Tennessee, where he's played in 22 games (15 starts) and made 45 tackles. Benjamin St-Juste CB Saw action in 12 games as a fresh- man and registered three tackles, but injuries cost him his sophomore cam- paign. He transferred to Minnesota, became a starter and honorable men- tion All-Big Ten performer, and was tabbed by the Washington Football Team in the third round of this year's draft. Andrew Stueber OL Redshirted as a freshman but worked his way into the two-deep at right tackle and started the final two tilts in 2018. He blew out his knee in 2019 training camp but returned to start all six games last year. He will start at either right guard or right tackle this season, depending on who wins the center spot. Kurt Taylor RB Redshirted as a freshman and did not play as a sophomore. Transferred to Iowa Central Junior College, rushed for 711 yards and three touchdowns, and then transferred to Tennessee Tech. Ambry Thomas CB Played in all 13 games as a freshman, recording seven tackles and returning kickoffs, and played 39 total games in three years (13 starts), notching 54 stops and four picks. He sat out the 2020 season and went to San Francisco in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Luiji Vilain DE Tore his ACL and redshirted as a freshman, then suffered another knee injury in his second season and finally returned to play in 12 games over the next two years. He transferred to Wake Forest after last season. J'Marick Woods S Notched nine tackles in 12 games (one start) as a freshman, and then tallied 13 stops in 11 contests as a sophomore. Appeared in 27 games in three years before transferring to Duke. Expected to vie for playing time this year. ❏ TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE DE Kwity Paye: Paye became one of the top defensive ends in the Big Ten and was a team leader in every way. He set the example with his play and became one of Jim Har- baugh's best at Michigan. It paid off when he went to Indianapolis in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. UNSUNG HERO S Brad Hawkins: The fifth-year senior isn't a flashy player, but he's steady and dependable. He's been one of the leaders in camp and is expected to have a big year. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL DT Donovan Jeter: It's now or never for the big tackle. The coaches have been talking about him for a few years, and he's had a good camp. They need him to shine on a defensive line that's a big question mark. REPORT CARD Players In Class: 30 Rivals.com Team Rank- ing: No. 4 Players Still At Michigan: 7 This group had some star power and has already produced seven NFL Draft picks, including two first- rounders and three more third- rounders, though two of those picks transferred and several others flamed out. In total, sixteen trans- ferred at some point in their careers. However, a handful are still making their mark at U-M. B-