The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FEBRUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 35 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL was the first time in CFP Championship Game history that a team produced a pair of 100-plus-yard rushers in one contest. They also both recorded a pair of touch- downs, which was the first time since Sept. 18, 2021, that multiple Wolverines scored at least 2 touchdowns each. Geor- gia had a pair of 2-touchdown scorers in last year's win over TCU in running back Branson Robinson and quarterback Stetson Bennett. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy improved to 27-1 as a starter in Ann Arbor, good for a winning percentage of .964, the best mark by any passer with a minimum of 20 starts since 1971 when Toledo's Chuck Ealey left school with a 35-0 record as a starter. Oklahoma's Jimmy Harris (25-0) is the only other FBS quarterback in his- tory with at least 20 starts and no losses. McCarthy finished his junior cam- paign with 2,991 passing yards, which was good for fourth most in a single season all-time at U-M and just 9 yards shy of becoming the team's fourth 3,000-yard passer in a season behind John Navarre (3,331 in 2003), Shea Pat- terson (3,061) and Jake Rudock (3,017). Additionally, McCarthy ranks sixth all-time with 6,226 passing yards in his career behind Chad Henne (9,715), Na- varre (9,254), Elvis Grbac (6,460), Devin Gardner (6,336) and Robinson (6,250). BLAKE CORUM'S CAREER RUSHING MILESTONES RUSHING YARDS Rank Player Yards Years 1. Mike Hart 5,040 2004-07 2. Denard Robinson 4,495 2009-12 3. Anthony Thomas 4,472 1997-00 4. Jamie Morris 4,392 1984-87 5. Tyrone Wheatley 4,178 1991-94 6. Butch Woolfolk 3,850 1978-81 7. Blake Corum 3,737 2020-23 8. Chris Perry 3,696 2000-03 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS Rank Player TDs Years 1. Blake Corum 58 2020-23 2. Anthony Thomas 55 1997-00 3. Tyrone Wheatley 47 1991-94 4. Denard Robinson 42 2009-12 5. Mike Hart 41 2004-07 KEEP AN EYE ON TWO BREAKOUT TIGHT ENDS IN 2024 Michigan frequently features its tight ends, and next season should be no exception. Colston Loveland will be back for his junior year, but there could be some open reps available with A.J. Barner heading to the NFL Draft. That means opportunities could be on the way for younger guys who have put in the work behind the scenes. One in particular is a name to watch heading into the offseason. "I've been really happy with how Marlin Klein has progressed through- out this year," tight ends coach Grant Newsome told The Wolverine at Rose Bowl media day. "And being still a young guy, that's kind of a crazy thing. I think sometimes, especially even in our building, you forget it's not normal to do what Colston [Loveland] did, which is come in and be ready to play as a true freshman pretty much from Day 1. "I think of a guy like Luke Schoon- maker who didn't start playing a ton and take on that role until his third year and then he ends up being a third-round pick and is playing for the Dallas Cow- boys now. I've been really happy with how he's progressed and I think he's a guy who's going to take a big step." Klein has 1 catch for 8 yards on his résumé through his first two seasons after entering U-M as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. He seems primed for a larger role depending on how the next several months go. Zack Marshall, a three-star recruit in 2023, is another who has impressed Newsome, who has stressed improve- ment as a blocker. But in terms of know- ing the playbook, he is already among the most well-read players inside the Michigan locker room. "He's been excellent," Newsome said. "It's his maturity and knowledge of the playbook. We're convinced he has a photographic memory. It's just how well he came in and pretty much im- mediately took to the playbook. Such a great positive outlook, and he's another guy who I think will contribute sooner rather than later in his career." For both Klein and Marshall, physical strides and the game slowing down for them are crit- ical in the next stages of their development. If they can im- prove in the weight room and from a blocking perspective, Michigan could see a big leap. "I think that's just, that's the challenge for me and them," Newsome said. "It's just to continue to improve and refine the finer parts of their games. "We're in a position where we are spoiled here. Right now, we're starting two tight ends who are going to be highly drafted guys. And a guy like Marlin right now is starting at 95 percent of schools in the country. I firmly believe that. So, the challenge for me and the challenge for him is to continue to refine those finer details and to make sure that when it is his time, there's no dropoff at all from the stan- dard that [was set by] the guys in front of him dating back to Schooney and with the guys now." ❏ Freshman Zack Marshall, who redshirted this season, is a promising younger player who could be in line to earn more reps at tight end in 2024. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN