The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1490206
FEBRUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 39 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL styles of tears are candidates for it. It's best to repair the tissue if you can. "It was good news that they were able to repair it. I'm glad that he opted for re- pair rather than a quick recovery. With the trimming procedure, the recovery is about five to six months after an injury like this. Early on athletes are not really allowed to bear weight very much. They really protect the knee. They start to work on the range of motion on a bike with very low resistance, just to make sure that the knee doesn't get too stiff. And then they progress what he's able to do, obviously very slowly, over the next few months." Assuming the rehab process goes well for Corum, Flynn thinks the workload concerns could be minimal as long as he does not experience additional pain post-recovery. But it might be wise for Michigan to make it a true tandem backfield with Donovan Edwards. "As long as the knee looks healthy and he's able to make a full recovery, this is an athlete who obviously wants to take his game to the NFL," Flynn said. "He was about to be in a really, really tough running back class and a really talented running back class. So, it's going to be hard to hold him back, quite frankly. But, [I wouldn't be] running him into the ground if he's having pain in that knee or having trouble working back in. I do think that limiting him somewhat and not just being run-heavy specifi- cally with him every game for a whole season might be smart for his future." — Anthony Broome Michigan had many standout players from the 2022 sea- son, but we've ranked the top five, factoring in positional value, impact, production and other measurables. 1. Junior running back Blake Corum Corum was named Michigan's Most Valuable Player, unsur- prisingly, after rushing for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games (though he missed most of the second half against Illinois and played only five snaps at Ohio State). The unanimous All-American rushed for more than 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in 11 straight games. Corum finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting and could have potentially won the award had he stayed healthy. 2. Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy McCarthy didn't put up the gaudy numbers like some Heisman-contending quarterbacks around the country, but he didn't have to while leading an offense with a potent rushing attack. He did, however, raise the bar for the Wolver- ines offensively, with U-M averaging 40.4 points per game, its most prolific scoring surge since 1904 (56.7). The second- team All-Big Ten selection by the media (third, coaches) completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. His 8.4 yards per attempt ranked third in the Big Ten. He added 306 rushing yards and 5 scores. The 19-year-old also impacted games by extending passing plays with his feet, oftentimes avoiding the rush and still delivering on target. 3. Graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi Oluwatimi's 79.9 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) rating checked in tied for eighth nationally among centers, and he was the leading voice on the Wolverines' Joe Moore Award- winning offensive line. The Virginia transfer fit in seamlessly and was named an alternate captain just several months after arriving on campus. The consensus All-American was awarded both the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Tro- phy, honoring him as the nation's top center and interior lineman on either side of the ball, respectively. 4. Senior edge Mike Morris Morris is another who was affected by injury late in the year, forcing him to miss two games, but he still led the team and ranked tied for second in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks. His 11.0 percent pass-rushing pressure rate (accounting for sacks, hits and hurries) slotted sixth among Big Ten edge rushers, according to PFF. He also made 11 of his 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and added 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked kick. 5. Sophomore safety Rod Moore The honorable mention All-Big Ten selection was one of the most underrated players on the Wolverines in 2022. He ranked third on the team with 71 tackles, led the team with 4 interceptions and posted 3 pass breakups. The ballhawk's 4 interceptions are the most by a Michigan defender in a season since cornerback Channing Stribling posted an iden- tical number in 2016. His 81.4 PFF coverage grade ranked sixth among Big Ten safeties, and he was one of only six safeties in the nation with 4 or more picks. His instincts and preparation level are off the charts and allowed him to make plays all over the field. — Clayton Sayfie The Wolverine's Top Five Players Of 2022 Season Mike Morris ranked tied for second in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks, and his 11.0 percent pressure rate slotted sixth among Big Ten edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER