The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Five Best Players 1. Junior tight end Colston Loveland A Mackey Award contender, the Gooding, Idaho, native is having a stellar season despite Michigan's offense being one of the worst in the nation statistically. No Power Four tight end has been targeted more this season (79 times), and he has 53 catches for 560 yards and 4 touch- downs. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder hauled in 24 grabs for 299 yards with 2 touchdowns in the last four games. Both of Loveland's scores came in a 24-17 win over Michigan State Oct. 26, and he added a two-point conversion. He's now found the end zone 4 times in the last two meetings versus the Spartans, outscoring the in-state rival 26-17 by himself. 2. Junior defensive tackle Mason Graham A "game-wrecker" per head coach Sherrone Moore, Graham has been his consistently great self as of late, despite playing 47.9 defensive snaps per game. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder has already logged more snaps this season (479 in 10 games) than in 15 outings last year (442). Graham has had at least a half-tackle for loss in seven straight games, registering a combined 3 in the last four contests. He's also totaled 16 tackles and 15 quarterback pressures in that stretch. His 32 pressures for the season rank second nation- ally among interior defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus. 3. Senior edge Josaiah Stewart The Coastal Carolina transfer hasn't just stepped up as a leader, earning captainship dur- ing Michigan's first bye week, but he's been one of the best defensive players in America this season. The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder and second- year Wolverine had a half-sack against Illinois and a strip sack the next week, changing the game in stripping Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles before halftime. His 92.8 pass-rush grade from PFF ranks first nationally among those with 110-plus snaps, and he's recorded 10 of his 29 pressures in the last four clashes. 4. Junior kicker Dominic Zvada One of the most underrated transfer additions in recent Michigan history, the Arkansas State import is already the Wolverines' career record holder with 5 made field goals of 50-plus yards. He tied his career long with a 56-yarder — tied as the fourth-longest in program history — to put the Wolverines within one possession in a 20-15 loss at Indiana Nov. 9. Zvada had a kick blocked at Illinois but is a perfect 5-of-5 on field goals in the last three games. He's 13-of-14 for the sea- son and is U-M's scoring leader with 58 points through 10 games. 5. Junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder has taken his game up another rung recently, recording 10-plus tack- les in three of the last five games, including 11 versus MSU and 10 in a 38-17 setback to No. 1 Oregon Nov. 2. He had a tackle for loss against both Illinois and the Spartans. Hausmann has racked up a team-high 70 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 1 sack. Key Moment Michigan was getting dominated on the stat sheet early on but was down only 7-0 against Michigan State Oct. 26. The Wolverines had only 37 yards on their first three drives, before going up-tempo at the end of the first half and scoring a touchdown on a pass from senior quarterback Davis Warren to junior tight end Colston Loveland. After popping a 14-yard run with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, MSU got aggres- sive and asked quarterback Aidan Chiles to throw, but he was strip-sacked by senior edge Josaiah Stewart. Michigan got a field goal out of it to go up 9-7, before double-dipping by finding the end zone on the first drive of the second half. Whole new ball game. Just like that, Michigan led 16-7. Best Highlight When it comes to passing, senior running back Donovan Edwards isn't just good — he's perfect. He's 4-of-4 for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns in his career. Michigan called his number on a halfback pass against Michigan State — making him the fourth U-M player to attempt a throw this season — and he delivered with a strike to Loveland for a 23-yard touchdown. Edwards sold that he was going to run, before pulling up and finding his wide-open tight end. Bold Prediction Michigan rushed for 150-plus yards in four con- secutive tilts from Sept. 14 to Oct. 5 but hasn't done so since, in a stunning turn of events for a Wolverine team with high-level running backs. We predict Michigan will hit the 150 number in one of the final two regular-season games — versus Northwestern Nov. 23 or at Ohio State Nov. 30. Northwestern is allowing only 3.4 yards per carry, with run defense being one of its best traits, and the Buckeyes have held opponents to 2.9 yards per attempt. It'll be a challenge, but U-M will finish strong on the ground. — Clayton Sayfie Superlatives For Michigan's Four Games From Oct. 19 To Nov. 9 Arkansas State transfer kicker Dominic Zvada is already the Wolverines' career record holder with 5 made field goals of 50-plus yards and is the team's scoring leader this season with 58 points through 10 games. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL