The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
David Bowens' 20 in 2003-04 and 1995-96, respectively. When healthy, Ryan is one of the Big Ten's top defenders. 2. Devin Gardner — Gardner's first two seasons have been a prelude to what is expected out of the redshirt junior quarterback in 2013, but his career hasn't been without a few highlights already. Gardner has thrown 13 touchdown passes and run for another nine, setting the U-M single-month record when he was responsible for 15 scores (eight passing and seven rushing) in November last year. This year, Gardner is expected to challenge 3,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. 3. Courtney Avery — A jack-of-all trades defensive back, similar to Brandon Harrison (2005-08), Avery has started eight career contests at cornerback and another five at nickel back, the latter a role that seemingly best fits the 5-11, 174-pounder. Avery is competing to start at corner this fall and is determined to win the coveted spot opposite Blake Countess. Either way, he'll help while he aims for 100 career tackles (he has 81) and 10 passes broken up (he has eight). 4. Will Hagerup — The 6-4, 227-pounder will not play this season — he has been suspended and will redshirt — and his inclusion here is a bit of an indictment of this class' overall performance, but when cleared Hagerup has been a fine contributor. The 2012 Big Ten Punter of the Year, Hagerup averaged a single-season school-record 45.0 yards last season, eclipsing the previous mark of 44.5 (Zoltan Mesko, 2009) while his 41.8- yard average on 95 career punts ranks him fourth all time in U-M annals. Ready To Make An Impact This Fall Jibreel Black — Originally recruited to play weakside defensive end, a role in which he recorded 1.5 sacks in 2011, Black bulked up and moved to defensive tackle in 2012 in an effort to better utilize his speed and quickness. The 6-2, 276-pounder needed time to adjust to his new position, but he seemed to find his rhythm late, notching three sacks in his final four games. It is that player — one no longer overwhelmed — Michigan expects to see week after week this season. Where Are They Now? Cullen Christian — The highestranked member of the class (No. 99 in the nation), Christian was supposed to be a savior in the defensive backfield, but he wasn't and would end up following some of Rodriguez's assistant coaches to Pittsburgh. He started the first two games of the 2012 season for the Panthers and then moved to a backup role, finishing with 16 tackles and one pass broken up. This fall, he again is expected to serve in a reserve role for Pittsburgh. Carvin Johnson — A safety out of New Orleans, Johnson started three games at linebacker/nickel back in 2010 and was competing for the starting safety job in Brady Hoke's first season in 2011 when he bolted, unwilling to battle for time when edged out by Thomas Gordon. He eventu-