The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
all 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 41.8yard 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 Cornerback Cullen Christian, the highest-rated member (Rivals.com's No. 99 overall player nationally) of U-M's 2010 recruiting haul, spent one season in Ann Arbor before transferring to Pitt. Photo by per kjeldsen 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 eventually found a home at Hampton, and in 2012 was fourth on the team with 57 tackles. Still a safety, Johnson has been named preseason All-MEAC honorable mention for this fall. Ricardo Miller — So dedicated was Miller to the cause that he moved from Florida to Ann Arbor for his senior year in high school. Unfortu-