The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL rush) and two scores. In the last 50 years, the Wolver- ines' leading returning rusher from the previous season amassed fewer yards than Green just twice. In 1967, the team's leading returning rusher was Ernie Sharpe, who ran for just 105 yards in 1966. In 1996, the team's leading returning rusher was Clar- ence Williams, who ran for just 227 yards in 1995. Smith had just seven carries in Michigan's first nine games of the season, all of which game in the season-opening 59-9 blowout win over Central Michigan. But he came on late, rushing eight times for 41 yards in a 27-19 triple-overtime win at Northwestern; seven times for a team-high 57 yards in a 42-41 loss versus Ohio State; and four times for seven yards in a 31-14 loss to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. WOLVERINES BUILDING DEPTH AT TIGHT END When tight end Jake Butt, who had a promising rookie season in 2013 with 20 catches for 235 yards (11.8 yards per reception) and two scores, went down with an ACL tear sus- tained in winter conditioning, the Wolverines needed someone to step up in his place. Redshirt junior Keith Heitzman may not have been the first name fans thought about to replace Butt. After just a few weeks at tight end, though, Heitzman has the coaches encouraged. Heitzman entered the program as a defensive end. He took a redshirt in 2011 and, over the last two sea- sons, played 23 games at strongside defensive end, with seven starts. He compiled 15 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Heitzman began the 2013 season as the Wolverines' starting strongside defensive end, but he settled into a rotational role after Brennen Beyer moved down to the defensive line from strongside outside linebacker once Jake Ryan returned to the lineup after an ACL injury. Although the move to tight end caught some fans by surprise, Heitzman is not a complete stranger to the spot. As a senior at Hilliard (Ohio) Davidson High School in 2010, Heitzman was a two-way starter, catching four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. "From the D-line to O-line, it has to be the same mentality of destroying the man opposite you," Heitzman said of the move. "As a defensive guy, when you make contact, you 2014 Football Schedule Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 Appalachian State TBA Sept. 6 at Notre Dame 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 Miami (Ohio) TBA Sept. 20 Utah TBA Sept. 27 Minnesota TBA Oct. 4 at Rutgers 7 p.m. Oct. 11 Penn State 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Michigan State TBA Nov. 1 Indiana TBA Nov. 8 at Northwestern TBA Nov. 22 Maryland TBA Nov. 29 at Ohio State TBA