The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL lon in the NFL, Funchess should be the main target in the Wolverines' passing attack with his ability to line up in-line and out wide. While still unpolished as a route runner and finisher, his football upside has cer- tainly attracted the attention of the NFL." Funchess averaged 15.3 yards per reception in his sophomore year and 15.6 yards per catch in his rookie campaign. He has reeled in 64 passes and has scored 11 touch- downs in his ca- reer, and this fall could equal or surpass his two- year numbers in one season if he emerges as Michi- gan's top target. He's not a fin- ished product, though, suffering through a spell of the drops late in the 2013 season, including an unof- ficial count of three against Iowa on a day he finished with a single grab for two yards. "While the natural traits are no question impressive, Funchess still has room to grow and develop," Bru- gler penned. "He needs to sharpen his routes and prove to be more of a finisher. He needs to improve his fo- cus to consistently look the ball into his hands before creating. Funchess doesn't always properly use his size to his advantage and needs to be- come more detailed." Scouts are also trying to figure out where they project Funchess on the next level. Though he has the build of a burgeoning tight end, the Farm- ington, Mich., native played only four games there in 2013 before frus- tration over his lack of blocking and production led to a move to receiver. In nine games split out wide, Funchess had 41 catches for 603 yards and five scores. " I n t o d a y ' s N F L , t h e r e ' s an increasingly blurred line be- tween where a w i d e r e c e i v e r becomes a tight end," Brugler re- marked. "Funch- ess is currently in that confused area where he has the size and athlet- icism to be called a tight end, but his athleticism and ability will probably lead him to be lined up as a receiver more often." Michigan fans are hopeful Funch- ess is a first-round pick in 2016 af- ter a four-year All-America career in Ann Arbor. Linebacker Jake Ryan and quarterback Devin Gardner, on the other hand, will exhaust their eli- gibility this fall and will be potential draft picks next May. "Ryan has a chance to get his name back in that first- or second-round area with a full season healthy, prov- 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 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Northwestern TBA Nov. 22 Maryland TBA Nov. 29 at Ohio State TBA