The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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M Drew Dileo, Jareth Glanda Complement Placekickers It's an old football adage: the only time you hear the names of the long snapper and holder is after a mistake. And last year, senior wide receiver Drew Dileo, who holds on placekicks, and fifth-year senior long snapper Jareth Glanda were perfect on all their exchanges. The duo's contributions have helped the Michigan placekicking unit become one of the most reliable in the nation. The Wolverines hit an impressive 18 of 21 field goal attempts last season. Fifth-year senior placekicker Brendan Gibbons went 16 of 18 in 2012, converting on his last 13 attempts — the second-longest streak in Michigan history. Junior Matt Wile added 2 of 3 attempts, including a career-long 53-yarder in the Outback Bowl. "It's a lot of fun to kick field goals here," Wile said. "All the specialists, it's a group of great Glanda drew praise from guys." for his snapping ability. Wile, who handles the longer attempts, said that Glanda and Dileo are critical pieces to the puzzle. "Glanda is an awesome snapper," Wile said. "If he's snapping, the ball is going to be in the right place, and he's going to get the ball down." Dileo provides the perfect balance between speed, consistency and smoothness when taking the snap to the turf. And he's fearless, despite the fact that a powerful leg is swinging straight toward his hands. "Drew, he is literally the best holder ever," Wile said. "A lot of guys, when they catch the ball from the snapper, they're so worried about getting the ball down, they jerk it down. When you see that jerk motion, it might throw off your timing a little. "Drew, he catches it, and he just takes it down to the point so smoothly, spins it and, as soon as he spins it and his fingers are barely out of the way, the kick is through. He gets it there every time. He's on all the time. And he can adjust to a snap, if it's out of place. I feel so comfortable with him." Glanda and Dileo have also made headlines for their execution on fake field goals over the last two years. Dileo has converted on all four fake field goals that Hoke has called for in the last two years. On three of them, Dileo rushed for the first down. In 2011, Dileo dove for three yards on a fourth-and-three play against Michigan State, keeping the drive alive. On a fourth-and-one from the 5-yard line, he plunged four yards for a first down on a fake field goal against Nebraska in 2011. In last season's Outback Bowl, Dileo took the placekicker Matt Wile snap on a fourth-and-six and weaved through photo by lon horwedel the defense for seven yards and a first down. But the most famous fake field goal came in the 2012 Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech. Up 7-6 in the waning seconds of the first half, Dileo took the snap, stood up and weaved through the immediate Hokies pressure. Flushed out of the pocket, Dileo flung the ball just before getting pummeled by the Virginia Tech rush. The pass was tipped and caught — by Glanda for an 11-yard gain and a first down. Wile said that on some fake field goals, Hoke has mapped out the plan and has decided well in advance that a fake is coming. Other times, it's completely impulsive. "Sometimes, it's completely out of the blue when we're running in — and we just go out and do our jobs," he said. The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ■ 29