The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/279958
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL EXPERIENCED YOUTH Though Michigan will once again be one of the Big Ten's youngest teams, featuring a roster of only 12 seniors (three walk-ons) and 20 juniors (five walk-ons), it is not a young and inex- perienced team. Its 27 sophomores (redshirt or true) include nine players with at least one career start and 15 total players that earned significant reps for U-M during the 2013 season. "I'm excited about this group. I looked out one day in winter condi- tioning and saw sophomore, sopho- more, sophomore that had all played last year," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. "These are some good looking kids. I didn't always say that. "To see these guys grow, getting big- ger and stronger — in a lot of ways we have very good athletes and also guys who have played that have three more years left. That's very, very positive." STAYING PUT Junior Devin Funchess may have been named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year and a first-team a l l - co n fe re n ce t i g ht end, but he finished the season playing re- ceiver and will remain a receiver this season, head coach Brady Hoke said. However, offensive coordinator Doug Nuss- meier will always look for ways to use Funchess, 6-5, 230, to his advantage. "Devin has an ability to be an ex- ceptional, exceptional football player," Nussmeier said. "He's a very talented guy — big, fast, can make some phenomenal catches. Like any other player, he's got to work on the things he needs to work on to master his craft. "With the new system, he's learning adjustments and routes. We will use him outside, and we may also need to use him inside at times, too." After moving to receiver in week five, Funchess caught 41 balls for 603 yards and five touchdowns in the next nine games. He's willing to do what- ever his team needs from him this fall. "I don't really care where I play. I'm just tr ying to do as much as possible for the team," he said. "I'm a ball player. I like do- ing what I've got to do to get the 'W' on Satur- days. That's what I look forward to." ON THE MEND When Michigan an- nounced that sopho- more tight end Jake Butt would be out in- definitely with a torn ACL in early Febru- ar y, many star ted a countdown for the day he would return, us- FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK Devin Funchess made 41 receptions for 603 yards and five touchdowns in nine games at the wide receiver spot last year. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN