The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 141 Top Six Players 1. RB Blake Corum Corum left U-M as one of the most pro- lific offensive players in school history. He ended the 2023 season with 1,245 rushing yards, making him the first Wolverine with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Denard Robinson in 2010 (1,702), 2011 (1,176) and 2012 (1,266). Corum ended his U-M career with 3,737 rushing yards, good for seventh all-time. His 28 total touchdowns and 27 rushing scores in the 2023 season and 58 career rushing touchdowns are all top marks in school history. Corum could have filled out the entire "top five performances" section of this recap on his own, turning in many iconic plays and moments throughout his career. Initially forming a tandem with Hassan Haskins in 2021, he broke out as a Heisman Trophy contender in 2022 before suffer- ing a season-ending knee injury the week before The Game. He ran it back in 2023, citing unfinished business in helping the team climb the mountaintop. Corum raised the bar, ran into the record books and was a driving force in changing the culture in Ann Arbor. 2. OL Zak Zinter The talented offensive guard was voted a team captain in 2023 in addition to earning unanimous first-team All-America honors in his final season. Zinter was the anchor for two Joe Moore Award- winning offensive lines and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, starting 42 of his 45 career appearances. Zinter was a mauler during his time, manning the interior trenches and serving as the face of the team's offensive line. He embodied the "Smash" mantra of his position coach and of- fensive coordinator Sherrone Moore. Zinter, like Corum, could have jumped to the NFL after the 2022 season but wanted to come back, be part of a team that set lofty goals and finish the job. Unfortunately, he broke his leg in the Ohio State game in 2023, missing the final three games of the season and having to watch the national championship from the sidelines. Even with his injury, he had a presence that impacted the of- fensive line's performance and mentality. 3. DL Kris Jenkins The 2023 captain was a second-team All- American that same year and also earned two-time All-Big Ten recognition. He started 32 games during his Michigan career, recording 133 total tackles with 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. Jenkins weighed in around 240 pounds in high school and steadily put on weight in order to make an impact on the Michigan defensive line. By the time he was a senior, he weighed in at over 300 pounds while maintaining his athleticism, earning him the nickname "The Mutant" within the program. Jenkins might not have the gaudy production of some of his defensive linemates over the years, but he did a lot of dirty work and set the table for everyone in addition to handling his own business consistently. 4. EDGE Jaylen Harrell Harrell saved his best for last in a Michigan uniform, starting 27 games over his last two seasons in Ann Arbor, including all 15 con- tests during the 2023 season. His play earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors twice. He finished his career with 10 total sacks, 3 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles, along with 78 total tackles and 20 tackles for loss. Harrell was a bit of an unsung hero on a de- fense loaded with stars, showing an ability to rush the quarterback, stop the run and drop back into coverage. That skill set was on display multiple times throughout his Michigan career. He took the baton from some of the outstanding edge defenders before him, like Aidan Hutchin- son, David Ojabo and Mike Morris. 5. WR Roman Wilson The Hawai'i native suited up in 46 games with 24 starts, grabbing All-Big Ten second-team honors during his senior season in 2023 with 48 catches for 789 yards and 12 touchdowns, matching the lofty expectations that come with wearing the No. 1 jersey at Michigan. He finished his career with 107 grabs for 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns. Wilson contributed right away with 9 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown during the CO- VID-shortened season, then caught 50 passes over the next two years, establishing himself as a speedy wideout that brought something differ- ent to the Michigan passing game. 6. DB Makari Paige The former West Bloomfield star spent five seasons in Ann Arbor with 53 appearances and 32 starts, capping his career off by leading all de- fensive backs with 45 tackles, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions and a blocked kick during the 2024 season. Paige was a steady and underrated contributor throughout his time at U-M, and the intercep- tions he had at Ohio State in both 2022 and 2024 were critical in helping the team secure wins and continue its domination over the Buckeyes. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins ended up as biggest diamond in the rough in the 2020 class. He was ranked as the No. 487 prospect overall but developed into a starter at U-M and the highest NFL Draft pick in this class (Cincinnati Bengals, second round, No. 49 overall in 2024). PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Big Ten Teams' Overall Winning Percentages from 2020-24 Rk. School Rec. Pct. 1. Ohio State Buckeyes 54-8 .871 2. Michigan Wolverines 50-12 .806 3. Oregon Ducks* 49-13 .790 4. Penn State Nittany Lions 45-19 .703 5. Iowa Hawkeyes 42-20 .677 6. Washington Huskies* 38-19 .667 7. USC Trojans* 36-23 .610 8. Minnesota Golden Gophers 35-24 .593 9. UCLA Bruins* 33-24 .579 10. Wisconsin Badgers 32-26 .552 11. Maryland Terrapins 29-27 .518 12. Illinois Fighting Illini 30-28 .517 13. Michigan State Spartans 27-29 .482 14. Indiana Hoosiers 26-31 .456 15. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 26-34 .433 16. Purdue Boilermakers 24-33 .421 17. Northwestern Wildcats 23-35 .397 18. Nebraska Cornhuskers 22-35 .386 * Completed first year in the Big Ten in 2024