The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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28 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2023 Like ECU, opponents have focused on taking the run away. As a result, there haven't been as many big runs this year. "Just watching a lot of games — ev- erybody's made the run game more of an emphasis," Harbaugh said. "You can even see it in the pro game — the attention to the run game, defending the run. Teams are defending the run better; their teams are running the ball better. "… Getting 50-yard-plus runs, as many as we had last year, that's an anom- aly in football. You start to think that's the expectation. It's not in real football. I think Blake's adjusted to that. Donovan, too — like, 'it will happen when it hap- pens.' They're great running backs. And now Kalel, I put him in that category that it will be there. Just take the ground that's yours, and then you'll see it when the big one presents itself." The goal for the last five games and beyond — get Edwards going. He aver- aged only 3.3 yards on 60 carries in his first seven games. Frosh Ben Hall, though, looked sharp against Indiana, rushing 9 times for a team-leading 58 yards. WIDE RECEIVERS — B+ This was the position on offense with the most to prove coming into the season, and many have stepped up. Senior Roman Wilson has been the big one, a touch- down machine through seven games with 9 scores on 25 grabs for 396 yards, with a long of 47. He'd become McCar- thy's favorite target and was being put in positions to succeed — and making the most of them. An early highlight was an acrobatic touchdown grab at Nebraska that became the No. 2 play of the day on ESPN's "SportsCenter." "Obviously, you see the production," receivers coach Ron Bellamy said in late September. "Having Roman out there gives us a different look on our offense, a guy that can [excel in the] intermedi- ary game or obviously can stretch the de- fense. You guys know he's an explosive receiver. He's shown that throughout his career. I'm proud … just keep stacking days up for Roman." Grad Cornelius Johnson chipped in with 357 yards through seven games, av- eraging 18.8 yards per reception, while the young receivers were also contributing. Sophomore Tyler Morris put up 99 yards, and freshman Semaj Morgan had 89 and 2 touchdowns in showing his potential. Freshman Fredrick Moore was showing flashes, too, and classmate Karmello Eng- lish scored a touchdown on his first catch of the season against Indiana. "I'm just trying to keep on stacking days and improving those [numbers] even more," Johnson said. "Finishing the season strong. It's good to check in at the halfway point with all the stats and all the tape, but I'm trying to have this sec- ond half of the season be my best half of my career, and better than the first half. That's really where my mindset's at." TIGHT ENDS — A This group had a subpar opener against ECU in the blocking department but has since picked it up to dominate. Junior Max Bredeson has been outstanding in that area, and Indiana transfer AJ Barner has been right behind him. He's also caught 9 passes for 93 yards through seven games and has become a dominant force in the run game and on special teams. "Really terrific," Harbaugh said of the tight end blocking. "As a group, it's been great. AJ Barner is really doing it at an elite level right now. He's been a great addition to the team." But sophomore Colston Loveland is the guy who puts this group over the top. He's playing at an All-Big Ten level, having hauled in 19 receptions for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns through seven games despite drawing double teams on several occa- sions. That included a 54-yard TD against Indiana in which he outran a safety. "From the first time I saw him, it was like, 'This guy's ridiculous,'" assistant Jay Harbaugh, instrumental in Loveland's re- cruitment, said. "If he didn't live where he happened to live [Gooding, Idaho], just from an exposure standpoint, I don't think he would surprise anyone at all. But the reality is, he was out there in a really small town off the beaten path. "And then you go actually see him in person. That's when it's like, 'Oh my gosh — he really is probably the best, or one of the very best, prospects at that position in the country.' He really is one of the best high school prospects that I've ever seen." And now living up to that billing in only his second season. DEFENSIVE LINE — A This group's play through seven games is proof that stats don't tell the whole story of a unit's success. The defense had managed 18 sacks, but there had been significant pressure from the front four with little blitzing, and they were domi- nant against the run. There had been 48 Sophomore tight end Colston Loveland was tied for second on the team with 19 receptions for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns through seven contests. He had a career-long, 54-yard TD reception against Indiana Oct. 14. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL