The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1473191
THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 91 [ D E F E N S I V E L I N E ] GEORGE ROOKS • DE So. • Jersey City, N.J. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 270 • Played in three games on special teams and as a re- serve lineman. • Earned an invite to the Under Armour All-American Game. • A USA Today first-team All-State performer in 2020 and second-teamer in 2019, he totaled 30 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in his final two seasons of high school. • Rated as a four-star talent, and the No. 30 de- fensive lineman and No. 309 player in the na- tion by On3 Consensus. MAZI SMITH • DT Sr. • Grand Rapids, Mich. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 326 • Started all 14 games up front for U-M's line, making 37 tackles (2.5 for loss), 4 passes defended and 4 quarterback hurries. Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten nod from coaches and media. • Played in five games and made 3 tackles with one for loss during the 2020 season. • Appeared in two games during his debut sea- son in 2019, after he enrolled early. • Selected to the USA Today All-State first team in 2018 and named to The Detroit News Dream Team in 2018. • Participated in the Under Armour All-American Game and recorded a tackle. • Regarded by On3 Consensus as a four-star tal- ent, and the No. 14 defensive lineman and No. 96 overall player in the country. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2019 2/0 0 0 0 2020 5/0 3 1 0 2021 14/14 37 2.5 0 Totals 21/14 40 3.5 0 TAYLOR UPSHAW • DE Gr. • Bradenton, Fla. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 262 • Appeared in 12 contests last season with 8 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Also had 3 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. • Saw action in all six games with two starts along the defensive line in 2020, and registered 17 tackles with 3 for loss, 2 sacks and 1 quarter- back hurry. • Appeared in six games during the 2019 season (four on the defensive line), notching 2 tackles. • Did not see game action in 2018. • Tallied 33 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 1 interception in his final season at Braden River. • Regarded by On3 Consensus as a three-star prospect, the No. 85 player in Florida and the No. 36 edge in the land. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2018 DNP 2019 6/0 2 0 0 2020 6/2 17 3 2 2021 12/0 8 4.5 2.5 Totals 24/2 27 7.5 4.5 JULIUS WELSCHOF • DT Gr. • Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 288 • Suited up for all 14 games with one start, making 13 tackles and a shared tackle for loss, a shared sack (0.5) and 1 pass de- fended. • Participated in all six games on the defensive line during the 2020 campaign, and he totaled 6 tackles with a half-sack and 1 quarterback hurry. • Appeared in one game in 2019. • Redshirted his first season at Michigan. • Played defensive end and tight end for the Mu- nich Cowboys in Germany. • Rated by On3 Consensus as a three-star pros- pect. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2018 DNP 2019 1/0 0 0 0 2020 6/0 6 0 0.5 2021 14/1 13 0.5 0.5 Totals 21/1 19 0.5 1 NEWCOMERS CAM GOODE • DT Gr. • Washington, D.C. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 315 • Transfer from Central Florida. • Appeared in all 13 games last season with three starts at defensive tackle. Led team, tied for second in the AAC and 12th in the country with 4 forced fumbles, fourth-most in a single year at UCF. Finished with 24 tackles with 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended and 4 hurries. • Played in 10 games with two starts in 2020, totaling 19 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. • Suited up for 10 games in first season with UCF in 2019, recording 9 tackles (0.5 for loss) and 5 quarterback hurries. • Originally enrolled at Virginia Tech, but did not play in 2018 and transferred. • Three-star prospect, No. 61 defensive lineman and sixth-ranked player in D.C. in 2018 class. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2018 DNP (Virginia Tech) 2019 10/0 9 0.5 0 2020 10/2 19 7.5 3 2021 13/3 24 4 3 Total 33/5 42 12 6 MASON GRAHAM • DT Fr. • Anaheim, Calif. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 292 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2022. • Two-way player who re- corded 60 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior at Servite High School. Also a high school wrestler and two- time Trinity League heavyweight champion, helping the team win the league title as a ju- nior. • Had 9 tackles (2 for loss) and 2 sacks during shortened COVID season junior year. • Racked up 34 tackles (3 for loss) and 2 sacks as a sophomore. • Rated as a four-star prospect and No. 306 player nationally per On3 Consensus. KENNETH GRANT • DT Fr. • Merrillville, Ind. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 335 • Four-star year starter at Merrillville High who helped team to 40-9 career record. Had 38 tackles (14.5 for loss) 6.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries and 2 passes defended as a senior. Also forced 4 fumbles, recovering 2, and blocked 4 field goals, 2 punts and 2 extra points. Played on offense at guard. • Multiple-sport athlete who also lettered in track and field. State meet qualifier and top-10 shot put thrower in school history. • 2021 Duneland Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Member of the IFCA Top 50 team as a senior. • Rated a four-star recruit, the No. 102 player nationally and 14th-ranked defensive lineman in the country by On3.com. DERRICK MOORE • DE Fr. • Baltimore, Md. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 250 • Enrolled early at U-M in Janu- ary 2022. • Helped St. Frances Academy to an 8-1 record and No. 1 ranking in Maryland (MaxPreps), racking up 55 tackles (24 for loss) and 12 sacks. • Selected to the Under Armour All-American Game and earned MVP honors after 2 sacks in the showcase. • Also named 2021 MaxPreps Maryland High School Football Player of the Year. • On3 Consensus rated Moore the No. 37 pros- pect in the class, fifth-best edge and second- ranked player in Maryland.