The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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NOVEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 17 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 376 Plays run by the Michigan defense through seven games, with none coming inside the Wolverines' 10-yard line. No opponent has had a first and goal versus Michigan. Accord- ing to The Athletic's stop rate metric — the percentage of a defense's drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs — U-M led the country after six weeks at 86.7 percent. The Wolverines also paced the country by allowing only 0.67 points per drive. What a dominant performance. That is the definition of liv- ing in the backfield. He was great. He didn't let the club slow him down. He might have actually used it to his advantage." — Michigan radio play-by-play commentator Doug Karsch on sophomore defensive tackle Mason Graham's performance in a 52-10 victory over Minnesota Oct. 7 (6 tackles, 2 stops for loss, 1 sack), playing with a significantly sized club on his left hand 9 Michigan football players landed on Pro Football Focus' top 150 big board for the 2024 NFL Draft — se- nior defensive tackle KRIS JENKINS (No. 22), junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy (No. 42), senior running back Blake Corum (No. 43), junior running back Donovan Edwards (No. 46), junior safety Rod Moore (No. 66), senior offensive lineman Zak Zinter (No. 75), senior wide receiver Roman Wilson (No. 101), ju- nior linebacker Junior Colson (No. 103) and graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil (No. 137). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 3 Passing touchdowns allowed for the Michigan defense through seven games, compared to 3 touchdowns scored on 9 interceptions. The U-M defense was outscoring teams on passes by the opposi- tion's quarterbacks through six games, and tied through seven. With 2 picks returned for touchdowns in a 52-10 win over Minne- sota Oct. 7, U-M amassed more intercep- tion return yardage (64) than the Gophers had passing yards (52). 11th Is where Michigan basketball slotted in the Big Ten pre- season media poll compiled by The Ath- letic and The Columbus Dispatch. Purdue topped the poll, earning 24 of 28 first-place votes, while Michigan State collected four first-place tallies. The media also selected a first- and second-team All-Big Ten team, on which no Michigan players appeared. 25 Former Michigan hockey play- ers appeared on opening day NHL rosters, spanning 18 teams. Typically, an NHL roster consists of 18 skaters. The Wolverines have 25 such players in the league, well more than a team's worth. Oh, no, never. Just having that mindset from being successful in the past, you just want to translate that wherever you go. Never being scared of who's in front of you. I always felt I could play at the high level, and that's why I'm here, and I'm bringing that same attitude." — Junior edge JOSAIAH STEWART, a Coastal Carolina transfer, on if he ever doubted that his game could translate to the Big Ten level