The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL It's just carrying on that Michigan tradition. It's beautiful that I'm able to continue the legacy and the foundation, but I'm definitely very humbled." — Senior running back Donovan Edwards on being on the cover of the EA Sports College Football 25 video game 126th of 134 teams is where the Wolver- ines stand in ESPN.com's return- ing production metric at only 40 percent. Mic higan pre - pared us well for the whole pro- cess and the transition to the NFL. The way [former head] Coach [Jim] Har- baugh ran it like he was coaching a pro team. It's been a really smooth transition so far." — Offensive lineman Zak Zinter, a new member of the Cleveland Browns Everybody is going to have haters. Your haters are holding their breath for you to fail. Your job is to make their asses suffocate." — Head coach Sherrone Moore to high school players at the Wayne State National College Showcase I'm just happy because I'm at Michigan, and I love this place. I love the people, I love the alumni, I love the students and, most importantly, I love our players like they're my kids. I'm just happy that I can lead this program. … I'm just embracing every day, never taking a day for granted. I go into Schembechler Hall every single day, and it's the best day ever. That's my mindset. I'm just so stoked and happy to be a part of the program. Yeah, I'm leading it, but I'm a part of it. It's bigger than me. I'm just happy to be a part of this program." — U-M head coach SHERRONE MOORE I committed to the Uni- versity of Michigan. I didn't commit to be- ing a starter. I committed here to support the University of Michigan, try to give us the best chance to win and do whatever I can do to try to add value to the team. It's not a personal or selfish ideology when you come here at all." — Junior quarterback Alex Orji 1,004 Wins for Michigan since the program's inception in 1879, the most in college football his- tory. With a 31-24 win over Maryland last November, U-M became the first team at any level of football to reach 1,000 victories. 649 Receiving yards for j u n i o r CO L S TO N LOVELAND in 2023, the fourth-most by a U-M tight end in a single season behind Devin Funchess (748 in 2013), Jim Mandich (662 in 1969) and Jake Butt (654 in 2015). His 45 receptions rank sixth and 4 TD catches are tied for ninth in single- season program history. 19 Of Michigan's 40 sacks in 2023 were made by six defenders who are still on the roster: senior edge JOSAIAH STEWART (5.5), junior edge Derrick Moore (5), junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (3.5), junior defensive tackle Mason Graham (3), senior defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny (1) and senior edge TJ Guy (1). 4 Michigan football players have been featured on the cover of EA Sports' col- lege football video games — the most of any school — which came out annually from 1993-2014, before a hiatus and return this sum- mer. U-M senior running back Donovan Ed- wards appears on the cover of the 2025 version, alongside Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter. The other Michigan players to don the cover are corner- back Charles Woodson (1999), wide receiver Desmond Howard (2006) and quarterback De- nard Robinson (2014). THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 13 77.5 O ve ra l l Pro Fo o t b a l l Focus grade for new Michigan safety Wesley Walker, who played at Tennessee last season (he then transferred to Louisville and spent a semester there this spring). That mark was slated to be the highest among returning safeties in the SEC until he departed the conference. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CERITANO 382 Was the amount of points Michigan outscored opponents by in 2023, the second-highest figure in program history, with the 1902 season (632) leading the way.