The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1438965
4 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2022 On which Michigan football signee is their favorite and why … • I know it's like asking which of your children is your favorite, you love them all. But I'm really excited about 6-2, 292-pound Mason Graham. Something tells me he's going to kill it at Michigan! Saturday • Go watch Zeke Berry highlights and report back … josuff9 • Kenneth Grant — will be a huge plug in the middle of our D-line. mjmsearch1 • Mason Graham is the most Michi- gan-sounding name I've ever heard. To answer your question, though, I'm excited about all the talent we are get- ting in the secondary. Hookecho • Will Johnson, Keon Sabb and Berry all seem like significant early contribu- tors, but I think Darrius Clemons on offense is going to impact early too. His combination of size, speed and hands is unique in our WR room right now. Plus, he looks like he's really physical blocking and at 6-4, 215 that alone might be enough to get him on the field. WesternWolverine • Sabb and Johnson. Immediate im- pact and playmakers. MaizeNBlue1817 • Myles Pollard is the most competi- tive/aggressive guy in the class. TheBully • Pollard has the junkyard dog in him! RunTelDat • Zeke Berry. Talented player, and has the football player mentality that I think offers a high floor. My favorite since his commitment post quote that said "'I like the guys that like football, and the guys that like football, they all like me back.' — Jim Harbaugh" Kenneth Grant is No. 2 4thCoast • I loved Jimmy Rolder's highlights. J.J. McCarthy to Clemons could become special. TP • I just watched CJ Stokes' announce- ment speech and came away a big fan. TheMadWolverine From Our Website January 2022 • Vol. 33, No. 7 ISSN 1048-9940 Editor John Borton TheWolverine.com Editor Chris Balas Football Recruiting Editor EJ Holland Staff Writers Clayton Sayfie, Anthony Broome Drew Hallett, Tim Verghese Managing Editor Ryan Tice Contributing Editors Steve Downey Chris Riffer Matt Herb Layout And Design Jeanette Blankenship Chris Miller Contributing Photographers Lon Horwedel Per Kjeldsen Cover Photo Lon Horwedel Publisher Stu Coman Business Manager Linda Autry Circulation Manager Sarah Boone Advertising Sales Michelle DeLee-Hamilton 877-630-8768 Customer Service Cathy Jones, Laura Thornton 800-421-7751 The Wolverine is published monthly. A one- year (12 issues) subscription is $66.99. The Wolverine is printed at The Papers in Milford, Ind. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information, call 1-800-421-7751 or write The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. The Wolverine is a publication of Coman Publishing Company, 905 W. Main St, Suite 24F, Durham, NC 27701. E-Mail Address: thewolverine@comanpub.com Subscription questions: cjones@comanpub.com Website: www.thewolverine.com A MIND-BLOWING, AND SATISFYING, JOURNEY Dear The Wolverine, Upon completion of a 2021 Michi- gan football season unlike we have ever seen before, my thoughts drifted back to an earlier time, a much more uncertain time filled with great trepidation. Last August this year's team was picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten East at the annual Media Day. And look- ing over this group's preseason creden- tials there was good reason for that dire projection, as only a pair of cur- rent players — Aidan Hutchinson and punter Brad Robbins — had heretofore been mentioned in the postseason All- Big Ten team voting. You read that right. Hutchinson was third team in 2019 and Robbins honorable mention in 2017. That's it. No other returning player had even earned honorable mention. Consider this — there are roughly 350 eligible conference players for these annual accolades (14 teams multiplied by 25 position slots available). So, it is plain to see that the so-called experts saw little talent among these assembled Wolverines. But what do they know? Wasn't the 2021 Big Ten Coach of the Year awarded to Mel Tucker while Jim Harbaugh was voted the winner of the same honor on the national level? But I digress. To add to this supposed dearth of tal- ent, 11 players from the 2020 team left to join the professional ranks and another handful sought greener pastures via the transfer portal. What ensued was one incredible journey to beat the odds and prove the naysayers wrong. Simply put, this team's grand accom- plishments are nothing short of mind- blowing. They supported and believed in one another while possessing resil- ience, fortitude and, above all else, the will to win. One thing now reverber- ates loud and clear — Those Who Stay Will Be Champions! These were not just words for the 2021 Big Ten champions, but a way of life. And it sure feels good. Ed McArdle Saginaw, Mich. FROM OUR READERS