The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482097
NOVEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 29 OFFENSIVE MVP: BLAKE CORUM The junior running back has taken his game to another level, having rushed for 901 yards and a nation-best 13 touchdowns. There are some "Heisman" whispers for him, and it's deserved. His footwork is now at another level. OFFENSIVE SURPRISE: LUKE SCHOONMAKER When senior Erick All went down with a back injury, "Schoony" had to step up — and he has. Though he didn't register a catch against a Penn State team that seemed intent on stopping him, he has shown up big in just about every other contest. He's the team's second-leading receiver, has continued to block well and is on pace for an All-Big Ten season. OFFENSIVE BREAKOUT PLAYER: J.J. MCCARTHY And it's not even close. The sophomore took the position and ran with it, starting against Hawaii and dominating in his coming-out game. He completed 11 of 12 passes for 229 yards with 3 touchdowns and hasn't looked back. McCarthy hasn't completed less than 69.2 percent of his passes in any of his games played and has a 35-yard-plus completion in 4 of his 7 games. He's still fine-tuning the deep ball, but he'll get there. BEST POSITION GROUP, OFFENSE: OFFENSIVE LINE We could give this to the running backs, too, especially after sophomore Donovan Edwards' 173-yard game against Penn State to eclipse Corum's big game. But the holes they ran through were absolutely huge, and that's been a consis- tent theme this year. These guys wrecked the Iowa and Penn State lines — con- sidered among the best in the Big Ten (at least) at the time — including a 418-yard rushing performance against the Nittany Lions. DEFENSIVE MVP: MIKE MORRIS Morris leads the team in tackles for loss (8) and sacks (5) and has become the Wolverines' most consistent defensive player, along with senior tackle Mazi Smith. Smith has elevated his play in the last few contests and will be an All-Big Ten selection at the end of the year, too, but Morris has been there week in, week out. He is just as strong at the end of games as he is early, too — a workhorse. DEFENSIVE SURPRISE: GEMON GREEN The grad student cornerback has improved every year since becoming a starter in 2020. He was always around the ball but sometimes had issues finding it. Not anymore. He's been the Wolverines' most consistent player in a very good secondary. DEFENSIVE BREAKOUT PLAYER: MASON GRAHAM The freshman defensive tackle earned the starting job at arguably the toughest position in football to do so, and he's been very good all year. He set the tone for the second half at Iowa with a huge sack and should be a difference-maker in the middle for years to come. He had 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks at the break. BEST MICHIGAN WIN Michigan 41, Penn State 17. The anticipated battle of top-10 teams wasn't a battle at all, but a beating. The Nittany Lions were only down 2 points at the half by the grace of the football gods. Had it not been for some bad bounces, this would have been a 55-3 type game. BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, OFFENSE Blake Corum's 243-yard game against Maryland. The junior back notched 33-yard and 47-yard touchdown runs, huge plays in a tougher-than-expected game that played into the fourth quarter. He's been a chain-mover this year, too, and was in that game, too —one of the big question marks entering the year. He is U-M's "five-tool" back who can do it all, according to Harbaugh. BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, DEFENSE Mike Morris at Iowa. He took over down the stretch to end the last Iowa threat with U-M clinging to a two-score lead. He and fellow edge Eyabi Okie dominated with 4 straight pressures, and Morris finished with 2 sacks and 2 quarterback pressures in the game, notching both sacks on that final drive. Michigan Football Midseason Awards Defensive tackle Mason Graham has been outstanding as a true freshman, tallying 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the first half of the season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN