The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/178977
He's a crafty guy, a great route runner, strong, hard to press. He knows the tricks of the trade and has gained confidence." Even defensive coordinator Greg Mattison appreciates what Gallon brings to the table, from practices to the big stage at The Big House. Most of all, he mentioned Gallon's toughness because, just like in the Outback Bowl, the veteran finished the Notre Dame game banged up. "Aw, man," Mattison said. "He just goes and goes. I don't know what the injury was, but I know one thing — if I was a betting man, I'd bet there are way more than not that wouldn't have been out there. He's as tough as there is. "He just comes to work every day, does everything you ask, has a smile on his face. He's Michigan. I've got so much respect for him, it's unbelievable." Hecklinski echoes those sentiments. Gallon's ability to tough it out when physically uncomfortable made a difference in the biggest game on the non-conference slate. "As we got down to the end of the game, and he started to get a little beat up, he wasn't going to come out of the game," Hecklinski confirmed. "It wasn't, 'I've done enough.' It was, 'I'm going to go out there and help my team with whatever needs to be done.' "In those last couple of series, sometimes your presence means more than the actual plays that you make. At that point in time, defenses are aware of you, and they're trying to figure out where you are. When you're not in the game, they're like, 'Okay, he's not in. We don't have to worry about him.' Again, that speaks back to the mental toughness he plays with." Informed of Gallon's postgame comment about playing like he's 5-9, Hecklinski laughed. "He's a funny man," the receivers coach observed. "He's a great kid to be around. His toughness and his energy spreads through all the receivers. Now we've got to keep building upon it and help him out. "We need some other guys that rise to the occasion a little more. That will help him. The more depth we can build around him, the better off we're going to be as we go through the season." Supplementing A Standout Certainly, another relative mighty mite has given Gardner a second option, especially in the clutch. Senior Drew Dileo, at 5-10 and 180, has been coming up with big plays for a while now. He made a sensational move at the goal line against Notre Dame, getting open for a touchdown pass from a swarmed-under Gardner. That play provided the clincher in a 41-30 win, and enhanced Dileo's reputation as a big-moment performer, both on special teams and in the receiving corps. Dileo snared six catches for 74 yards and one touchdown during the non-conference season. He's a prime outlet for Gardner in scramble situations, making himself available out of a crowd.