The Wolverine

September 2021

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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SEPTEMBER 2021 THE WOLVERINE 37 sparingly in 2019 but emerged as a starter last year. Had his ups and downs but generally exceeded ex- pectations, starting all six games at cornerback and notching 22 tackles with a team-high nine pass breakups. German Green S Gemon's twin redshirted his first year and still has work to do in or- der to see playing time in 2021. He's played in seven games, primarily on special teams. Vincent Gray CB Has played 21 games with seven starts, including six last year. Gray struggled at times in pass coverage and is in a battle with redshirt fresh- man D.J. Turner for the starting cor- ner spot opposite Gemon Green. He's notched 45 tackles and eight pass breakups the last two years. Hassan Haskins RB/LB Moved between running back and linebacker before settling back at running back and has become the "bell cow" in the backfield, per head coach Jim Harbaugh. He's started eight of the 18 games in which he's appeared at running back and was honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2019 after rushing 121 times for 622 yards and four scores. Averaged 6.1 yards per carry last year, starting two of six games. Ryan Hayes OL Redshirted in 2018, adding nearly 30 pounds, and is now the starting left tackle. Has appeared in 14 games with four starts, including two last year before getting hurt. Aidan Hutchinson DE/LB Arguably Michigan's top over- all player, Hutchinson is a projected high-round NFL Draft pick for 2022. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selec- tion in 2019 after notching 68 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, in 13 games, but was lost to a broken ankle in game three last year after making 15 stops. He's moved to an outside linebacker/ defensive end role this season and has lost weight for the part. Jalen Mayfield OL Redshirted his first season but still played in three games, then became a full-time starter in 2018. Started 13 games and became a projected high- round draft pick. He flirted with opt- ing out last season for the NFL Draft, but returned and played in two games in 2020 before getting hurt. He wound up being selected by the Atlanta Fal- cons in the third round. Cameron McGrone LB Redshirted in 2018 after playing in one game and broke out in 2019 with 66 tackles (9.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries to earn hon- orable mention All-Big Ten honors. Was hurt after five games in 2020 and declared for the NFL Draft, going No. 177 overall (fifth round) to the New England Patriots. Joe Milton QB Played in four games as a frosh but redshirted, waited his turn in 2019 and then started last season, com- pleting 80 of 141 pass attempts for 1,077 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He played in all six games, starting five, but lost his job to Cade McNamara and trans- ferred to Tennessee after the season. Mustapha Muhammad TE Redshirted his first season, played in two games in 2019 and then an- nounced his transfer. He was initially slated to go to Houston but ended up at New Mexico Highlands University. Luke Schoonmaker TE Has played in 17 games over the last two years, including all six last season, and is primed for a bigger role in 2021. Has caught two passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in his career. Myles Sims CB Redshirted his first season and then announced his transfer during spring ball in 2019. He went to Georgia Tech and has played in 18 games for the Yel- low Jackets, starting two. Christian Turner RB Redshirted his first year but played in 14 career games, rushing 64 times for 270 yards and a touchdown. He transferred to Wake Forest after the 2020 campaign. Taylor Upshaw DE Redshirted his first season and didn't see game action, but he's come on strong recently. He's started two of the 12 games in which he's appeared and notched 19 tackles, including three for loss, and figures to be a heavy part of the rotation in 2021. Ben VanSumeren RB/LB Moved between fullback and line- backer, playing in 15 games with two starts at linebacker (both in 2020). He transferred to Michigan State in the offseason. Julius Welschof DT Appeared in all six games last year after playing only one the previous two seasons and notched six tackles with a half-sack. He hopes to make a bigger impact as part of the interior line rotation this season. ❏ TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE DE Aidan Hutchinson: 'Hutch' is projected to go early in the upcom- ing NFL Draft, and he'll get a chance to prove his versatility by playing more of an outside linebacker role this year. He's lost some weight and is moving extremely well, ready for his best season in 2021. ESPN's Todd McShay lists him as the No. 40 overall draft prospect going into the season and noted: "Hutchinson was in the day two conversation last fall before fractur- ing his right leg in November and opting for another year at Michigan." UNSUNG HERO WR Ronnie Bell: The former Rivals. com two-star prospect has been Michigan's most consistent receiver for the last few years on a team boasting NFL talent at the position. He's had some trouble hanging on to the ball at times, but there's a rea- son he's targeted most on the team. His quarterbacks know he's going to bring it on every play. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL DE Taylor Upshaw: Upshaw was thrust into duty last year when Hutchinson got hurt, and he had his positive moments. He's had a solid camp, by all accounts, and is ready to step into a bigger role this year. REPORT CARD Players In Class: 19 Rivals.com Team Rank- ing: No. 24 Players Still At Michigan: 12 There have already been two NFL Draft picks from this class with more likely on the way in Hutchinson and potentially Hayes, Bell and Haskins. This has been a solid group that still has more to accomplish — as many as eight or even nine could be start- ers this fall. B-

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