The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 13 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL They Said iT 72 Is the age of newly hired U-M analyst Fred Jackson, who was a longtime Wolverines assistant coach from 1992-2014 before serving as Ypsilanti (Mich.) High's dean of students from 2015-22. Having started his new job in early June, Jackson has now worked for five different Michigan head coaches — Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez, Brady Hoke and Jim Harbaugh. 18 18 Percent of Michigan's sacks and 27 percent of U-M's tackles for loss last season were made by players that still reside on the roster. The Wolverines return just 43 percent of their production on defense per ESPN.com — factoring in tackles, passes defended, tackles for loss and sacks — which ranks 124th out of 131 teams in the nation. Graduate student defensive end Taylor Upshaw is U-M's leading returner in tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (2.5). I'm excited. There's a lot of buzz about Michigan football on the recruiting trail. I think we'll start to see that come to fruition even more. I'm just excited to show where we're going, excited for the future. Everything's been good. Everything's been smooth." — Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach SHERRONE MOORE I just believe those conversations have to occur. I believe I need to have those conversations with my coaches, with my direct reports — not through an agent and not negotiat- ing with somebody else. It worked out because both of us knew we cared about each other. We cared about the department and wanted to make sure we did things the right way and balanced it out for everybody." — Athletics director Warde Manuel on Jim Harbaugh's contract extension I don't know how much or that I really have an opinion on that — right or wrong. Our philosophy is that coming to the University of Michigan is going to be a transformational experience rather than a transactional experience." — Jim Harbaugh on NIL I didn't give myself a choice. If I was going to dedicate nine months to just my body, I was going to make sure I came back better than what I was. That was my approach to it — I better be better than I was." — Graduate wide receiver RONNIE BELL, who is returning from an ACL injury It's super important. The level of football has always been high in the state of Michigan. I go back to when I played high school football in the state of Michi- gan, just the amount of how much better it's getting each year, it's really obvious and noticeable." JIM HARBAUGH ON IN-STATE RECRUITING 5 Of head coach Jim Harbaugh's eight recruiting classes have ranked in the top 10 in the country per the On3 Consensus, including the 2022 haul that checked in at No. 9 (the 2015 group was technically one of Harbaugh's classes, but he was hired less than two months before signing day). The Wolver- ines have been in the top 10 in recruiting three of the last four years and five of the last seven cycles. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL