The Wolverine

September 2022

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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SEPTEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 23 early summer — would have equal oppor- tunities, in a battle Harbaugh hopes will be "competitive, not combative." Early reports out of camp had both QBs playing well, which further energizes a healthy situation. The head coach can choose a returning starter who guided Michigan to wins at Penn State, against Ohio State, in the Big Ten Champion- ship Game versus Iowa and all the way to U-M's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. He can also call on a second-year player talented enough to bring into question whether or not someone who accom- plished all that might be displaced as the starter. "The separators will be who plays bet- ter, who plays the best," Harbaugh said. "They're both really good. Number one, it's how many times they go in and lead the team down for a touchdown, put points on the board. "That's the main criteria, which guy can do that. Cade did it over 50 percent of the time in games last year. I haven't done the numbers on J.J., but it seemed like a lot — almost every time he got in, practi- cally, he was leading a drive. They're both really good at not turning the ball over. That's the next biggest — taking care of the football. And playmaking ability." OFFENSIVE LINE Michigan features three returning starters — graduate student left tackle Ryan Hayes, senior left guard Trevor Keegan and junior right guard Zak Zinter — who helped muscle the Buckeyes right out of Michigan Stadium. Olu Oluwatimi, the 6-3, 307-pound graduate transfer out of Virginia who earned finalist status for the Rimington Trophy (best center in the nation) in 2021, plugs in masterfully at center. And 6-4, 311-pound senior Trente Jones appears the likely right tackle. Others, such as 6-5, 308-pound Karsen Barnhart, are pushing hard for major snaps, and this line could go 10 deep. "We're definitely further ahead than we were last year," Hayes said. "Because we were able to do more stuff this summer with the team. I think everybody knows the standard now. It's been set, we don't have to talk about it. "Everybody has the same motivation. It's building on last year. We want more than last year. Last year wasn't good enough in our minds. We're just going to keep building off that." Even those who started last year and enjoyed great success aren't standing pat, he stressed. "Trevor has made a big stride from spring ball," Hayes said. "It's just helped we've had a year playing together. He and I are working really well right now. We know what each other is thinking without saying. We're just good. "And Zak just keeps progressing. He's going to be a really good football player. He already is, but he's going to keep going up. He's a freak in the weight room and freak athletically, so he's going to be great for us." TIGHT ENDS When the head coach proclaims his top two tight ends to be the best in the na- tion, that's saying something. It's pre- cisely what Harbaugh did in Indianapolis at the Big Ten football meetings. "Erick All — I think his biggest com- petition for being the best tight end in the country will be Luke Schoonmaker," Harbaugh said of the 6-5, 255-pound and 6-6, 250-pound seniors, respectively. "Luke Schoonmaker's toughest compe- tition to be best tight end in America will be Erick All." All secured the game-winning catch and run at Penn State, and Schoonmaker has drawn offseason raves for his arm size and conditioning. A wealth of other tal- ent comes behind, including: graduate students Joel Honigford and Carter Selzer, junior Matthew Hibner and sophomore Louis Hansen. RUNNING BACKS Michigan doesn't feature the Thunder & Lightning combo of Hassan Haskins and junior Blake Corum this year. In- stead, it's "Lightning & Lightning," ac- cording to McNamara, referring to Co- rum and sophomore tailback Donovan Edwards. Either or both could rack up 1,000 yards behind this line, with Corum going for 952 last season and Edwards racking up 174 rushing (along with 265 receiving and 75 passing, on a single throw) as a rookie. Michigan Radio color analyst Jon Jansen opined that Edwards could be the best back in the nation this year. Harbaugh, giving huge credit to Corum as well, knows Edwards is unique. "Donovan Edwards is one of those out- liers," Harbaugh said. "Just keep doing you, Donovan. That's all I can say. Every- thing he does, the way he does it, the way he attacks things, his personality, just be- ing around him. You can't have any more favorite player than Donovan Edwards. "He's one of those who comes along every so often, every generation. He's su- per special." A third, bigger back could be junior two-way performer Kalel Mullings (6-2, 232) or sophomore Tavierre Dunlap (6-0, 217), while freshman back CJ Stokes has impressed Harbaugh with his skill and early savvy. WIDE RECEIVER There just might not be enough foot- balls to go around. Seniors Cornelius Johnson (39 catches for 620 yards) and Ronnie Bell (back from injury) lead a pack of wideouts that features speed, savvy, veterans and rookie playmakers. "I really believe our passing game is getting better, too," said Harbaugh, who named the resurgent Bell as Michigan's fall camp MVP. "It's got a chance to be really, really good. The quarterbacks are good, the tight ends are good, the receiv- ers are really good. I lean on that as well. "It's like a pitcher having a great fastball and a great curve. We have the potential for that." Harbaugh has raved about freshmen Darrius Clemons, Amorion Walker and Tyler Morris, but he's already got big contributors in two-way senior Mike Sainristil and juniors Roman Wilson and A.J. Henning, along with breakout-ready sophomore Andrel Anthony. The picture isn't crystal clear yet, on who all does how much — and that's across the board. But this much is obvi- ous. The Michigan offense has more than enough weapons to do serious damage. ❏ Graduate student left tackle Ryan Hayes "Everybody has the same motivation. It's building on last year. We want more than last year. Last year wasn't good enough in our minds. We're just going to keep building off that."

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