The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 THE WOLVERINE JUNE / JULY 2022 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL respect the game, respect the facilities, the equipment. I think people that are capable of doing that, they respect the people that are here, and they want to be part of it, they want to contribute to it. "That's what gets me out of bed every day. Hey, I've got to be good, I've got to bring my 'A' game today. I've gotta bring my 'A' game to my team, and I've got to bring my 'A' game to my team at home — my family. You can't afford to ever do anything less than your 'A' game for those two vital teams — the team at work and the team at home." A team of individuals doing the same thing, "pulling in the same direction," can be successful, something Michigan has shown. — Clayton Sayfie WOLVERINES MAKING TOP-5 PUSH IN LATEST PRESEASON RANKINGS Michigan comes into the 2022 season looking to defend its Big Ten champion- ship. The schedule sets up nicely, but the rivals will be gunning for the Wol- verines, and a new year comes with new challenges. Despite that, Michigan is considered one of the best teams in college football coming out of the spring. CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd put out an updated rank- ing May 4 with the Wolverines sitting at No. 6 in the nation. "Only Jim Harbaugh could interview for an NFL job on National Signing Day, not get the job, retain the [recruiting] class and get an extension with a raise a few days later," Dodd wrote this week. "That's an introduction to Year 8 of the Harbaugh regime. Despite the loss of edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Da- vid Ojabo, the Wolverines are going to be a hiccup behind Ohio State and pos- sibly a playoff team." Michigan's 12-2 season in 2021 was headlined by a Big Ten champion- ship and a trip to the College Football Playoff. However, it was a 42-27 win over Ohio State that sent shockwaves through the country and changed the narrative in Ann Arbor. Dodd is pre- dicting a bounce-back for the Buckeyes, who he ranked No. 2. "The Rose Bowl might have provided us with the top two Heisman contend- ers: QB C.J. Stroud (573 yards passing, six touchdowns) and WR Jaxon Smith- Njigba (15 catches, 347 yards)," Dodd wrote. "It certainly provided optimism for 2022. The biggest, huge, mega ques- tion is defense. Ryan Day addressed the growing concern by stealing Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State as de- fensive coordinator. That will be the difference between a Big Ten title and a playoff run." The Wolverines also will look to avenge their only regular-season loss — a 37-33 decision at Michigan State — during the 2022 campaign. CBS ranked the Spartans 16th heading into the year. "Mel Tucker reset the market with that monster new contract," Dodd said. "That's what 11 wins, beating Michigan and winning a New Year's Six bowl game will get you. (Actually the $95 million, 10-year deal was signed in late November before that 11th win.) Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger and Colorado transfer Jarek Broussard will try to replace Kenneth Walker III in the backfield." — Anthony Broome HASSAN HASKINS SAYS OHIO STATE WAS 'ALREADY DEFEATED' BEFORE 2021 GAME Running back Hassan Haskins was the boogeyman to the Ohio State Buck- eyes for his role in a 42-27 win on Nov. 27. He ran 28 times for 169 yards and five touchdowns in the team's first win over its hated rival since 2011. That, in part, helped him pave the way to the Tennes- see Titans, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft April 30. Haskins spoke on ESPN 102.5 The Game's "Darren, Daunic and Chase" in Nashville on May 6 and relived the mem- ory. He said the Buckeyes had the game lost the moment they stepped on the field. "I've never experienced anything like that," Haskins said. "That was a moment that I'll never forget, and I'm glad we got it done. Me and my teammates, we were prepared. I feel like we were the more prepared team, and it showed. Actually, I could tell by the coin toss. It was a little cold out there, but in my mind I couldn't feel the cold. But I had seen in their eyes, they were already defeated. We just went out there and showed that we can get it done." Haskins started all 14 games and had 270 carries for 1,327 yards and a program- record 20 touchdowns during the 2021 season. The rusher also dished on the fit with his new NFL team and feels it's a perfect match. "First off, they like to run the ball," Haskins said. "I love that about the team. They love running the ball. They've got a bigger back like Derrick Henry, and I feel like I'm a bigger-type back. I just feel like they love their running backs, they love to run it and they love that physicality — and I feel like I've got all of it. So, I'm just ready to work, get down there and have some fun." — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN LANDS CAM GOODE, FORMER UCF STANDOUT Michigan football added its second transfer ahead of the 2022 campaign, with Central Florida graduate defen- sive tackle Cam Goode joining the fold. Graduate offensive center Olusegun Olu- watimi, who committed in December Goode, a 6-2, 315-pound transfer from Central Florida, notched 23 tackles, 4 tack- les for loss, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles (12th in the nation) and an interception in 13 games during the 2021 season. PHOTO COURTESY UCF ATHLETICS