The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/144506
"Their veteran wide receivers have to take big steps forward, guys like [Jeremy] Gallon and [Drew] Dileo. Then I'd like to see some young guys step it up on the defensive line. Can Taco Charlton, for instance, be an upgrade at the defensive end spot? … He showed some real potential in the spring. There is some buzz about him, and a guy like that could be a huge difference maker." The Wolverine: Other than Gardner, what players are crucial to the success of this team? Heininger: "I'm a D-line guy, so first of all I'm going to go with whoever — and I don't care what body it is — is plugging up the middle. They've got to be strong up the middle, all the way through. That's true of any good team. "The D-tackles, the middle linebacker, which looks like it could be a number of different guys at this point, and then the safety play — you've got to be strong up the middle. "As far as individual players, Gallon is going to be important. [Devin] Funchess is going to be a gamechanger. He's going to make the defense have to worry about a lot of different things that will open up guys like Jeremy. If they single-cover Gallon, it's a nightmare for anybody. "Jeremy, Funchess, and I'm going to go with Frank Clark, like everyone else. Willie Henry is a guy who could surprise. He may be a year away, but I think a ton of him. And then James Ross, who they're looking to step up and be that playmaker that Jake Ryan was, making some plays from an in- Fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon — U-M's active leader in career catches (84), receiving yards (1,331) and touchdown grabs (eight) — needs to lead the way at wide receiver. Photo by Lon Horwedel side position. "I'm really feeling good about our corners. I like Raymon a lot. I like Blake, and when he's healthy, he's as good as anyone. The ceiling is pretty high, if those guys come together." Karsch: "Gallon just has to be great. You think back to the bowl game, and he can be great. If he's great, that helps a lot. "I don't like to heap too much on a freshman, but it would be great to see a Dymonte Thomas, or a Jarrod Wilson just excel at the back end of the defense. Thomas Gordon has to be great, and be the leader back there that Jordan Kovacs was. "If guys like Gallon and Gordon can take that big leap forward, it can make up for some of the losses and