The Wolverine

2014 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/337607

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 118 of 275

THE WOLVERINE 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 117 TE PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Dan Ferrigno enters his fourth season as U-M's tight ends coach and special teams coor- dinator. Ferrigno possesses 34 years of coaching experience, including 21 years in the Pac-12 and two sea- sons under Brady Hoke at San Diego State (2009-10). He has made stops at California (1996-99, 2006-07), Oregon (2001-05), Southern California (2000) and Oregon State (1987-95). As a true freshman in 2012, tight end Devin Funchess flourished under Ferrigno's purview, catching 15 passes for 234 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. In 2011, Ferrigno coached senior Kevin Koger (now a graduate assistant with the team) to career bests in receptions (23), receiving yards (244) and scores (four). While at California, Ferrigno was the position coach of first-team All-Pac 10 selection and future NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was selected with the 13th pick of the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Ferrigno began his coaching career at Cleveland St. Ignatius High School in 1975, and also spent time as the offensive coordinator of Western Michigan (1982-86). RETURNING PLAYERS JAKE BUTT • TE So. • Pickerington, Ohio Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 250 Career Highlights: Suffered an ACL injury in spring practice and will miss 3-4 games at the beginning of the 2014 season … Named to the 2013 ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team … Appeared in all 13 games at tight end, making eight starts … Racked up 20 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns … Had a career day against Ohio State, catch- ing five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown … Caught his first career touchdown in overtime in the Wolverines' 27-19 win at Northwestern. Prep: Attended Pickerington North High School … Caught 96 passes for 1,361 yards and 20 touchdowns during his prep career … Posted career highs in catches (68), yards (907) and touchdowns (12) in 2012 … Named Associated Press Division I All-Ohio first team … Invited to U.S. Army All-American Game, but did not play due to injury … Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 5 tight end in the land and the No. 144 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Jake D. Butt on July 11, 1995. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2013 13/8 20 235 11.8 2 Totals 13/8 20 235 11.8 2 KEITH HEITZMAN · TE R-Jr. · Hilliard, Ohio Ht.: 6-3 · Wt.: 271 Career Highlights: Switched posi- tions from defensive end to tight end before spring practice this season … Appeared in 11 games, making seven starts, at defensive end in 2013 … Tal- lied eight tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss … Played in 12 games as a reserve defensive end and four on special teams in 2012 … Recorded seven total tackles, including one for loss … Notched first career tackles for loss against Minnesota … Redshirted in 2011. Prep: Attended Hilliard Davidson High School … Started 41 consecutive varsity games … Registered 13 sacks as a senior, and recorded 60 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior … A three-star prospect according to Rivals.com. Personal: Born Keith Heitzman on Sept. 1, 1992 … En- rolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. KHALID HILL • TE R-Fr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 255 Career Highlights: Redshirted in 2013. Prep: Attended Crockett H igh School … Caught 29 passes for 511 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012 … Played three games at offensive tackle due to an injury … Tallied 55 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and six sacks … Detroit Free Press All-City first team … Detroit News Blue Chip List honoree … Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 21 player in Michigan and the No. 32 tight end nationally by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Khalid Rashard Hill on June 4, 1995. MICHAEL JOCZ • TE R-So. • Novi, Mich. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 231 Ca re e r H i g h l i g ht s : Ap p e a re d in one game as a reserve tight end in 2013, making his career debut in Michigan's 59-9 win over Central Michigan … Did not see game action in 2012. Prep: Attended Novi High School … Earned all-confer- ence honors at wide receiver as a senior. Personal: Born Michael Steven Jocz on Jan. 9, 1994 … Enrolled in the College of Engineering, majoring in me- chanical engineering. A.J. WILLIAMS • TE Jr. • Cincinnati Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 263 Career Highlights: Appeared in 11 games, including six starts, in 2013, as a primarily blocking tight end … Scored a touchdown on his first career catch, a one-yard reception at Iowa … Appeared in all 13 games as a blocking tight end in 2012 … Did not record a catch. Prep: Attended Sycamore High School … His blocking led the way for a ground attack that averaged 297.8 yards per game in 2011 … Did not catch a pass his senior year … Listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 22 tight end in the nation by Rivals.com. Personal: Born A.J. Williams on March 23, 1994 … En- rolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. NEWCOMERS IAN BUNTING • TE Fr. • Hinsdale, Ill. Ht.: 6-7 • Wt.: 223 Prep: Attended Hinsdale Central … Made 10 catches for 165 yards (16.5 yards per catch) as a senior … Played wide receiver as a junior, hauling in 16 catches for 412 yards (25.8 yards per catch) and four touchdowns … Rated a four-star prospect, the No. 15 player in Illinois and the No. 9 tight end in the country by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Ian Alexander Bunting on Feb. 10, 1996 … Plans to major in business. In his first season at U-M, Jake Butt made 20 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns, earning ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors. PHOTO BY TIM NELSON ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year Elig. Hometown (High School) — Ian Bunting TE 6-7 223 Fr. Fr. Hinsdale, Ill. (Davidson) 88 Jake Butt TE 6-6 250 So. So. Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington North) 92 Keith Heitzman TE 6-3 271 Sr. Jr. Hilliard, Ohio (Davidson) 80 Khalid Hill TE 6-2 255 So. Fr. Detroit (Crockett) 95 Michael Jocz TE 6-4 231 Jr. So. Novi, Mich. (Novi) 84 A.J. Williams TE 6-6 263 Jr. Jr. Cincinnati (Sycamore) 113-117.TEs.indd 117 6/19/14 2:04 PM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of The Wolverine - 2014 Michigan Football Preview