The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 125 scored. It really stood out to me, just because if I can have those types of blocks against teams ranked so high, I should be able to do that every week. "I should be able to do that every play. That was a good team. To play well against a team like that really boosts your confidence and makes you believe you can be a great player. You can be a Michigan offensive lineman like you're supposed to be." That's a feeling he expects to permeate the offensive line this season. And no, there's no hesitation about venturing back up to East Lansing. "I love it," Magnuson said. "I love it. We didn't do what we wanted to do in East Lansing, so we get another opportunity. Not all teams get to do that two years in a row. We've got to embrace it. We've got to make the most of it. It's going to be a big opportunity for us to prove we're taking steps forward, and that we're not the team of 2013. We're the team of 2014. "We're not any team from the past. We're not what our history says. This is a new team, and this is us. That's a good game to prove we are who we are supposed to be." And to counterpunch. For someone that's no longer a rookie starter, Magnuson comes across like he's already winding up. ❏ Michigan's Biggest Contributors From California Michigan has produced more than a few significant contributors from the state of California. Here are the top 10 that ven- tured from the West Coast and into the annals of Michigan football. 1. Tom Brady, San Mateo — With Michi- gan's defense in 1997, he also might have guided the Wolverines to a national cham- pionship that year, like Brian Griese did. As it was, Brady took U-M to the Big Ten title in 1998, and a No. 5 final ranking in his senior year of 1999. He's also done reason- ably well since then. 2. Jim Harbaugh, Palo Alto — While many think of Harbaugh as a local k id from Ann Arbor Pioneer High, he originally came from the West Coast, winding up as Michigan's sixth-leading all-time passer (5,449 yards). He eventually took lessons from Bo Schembechler into the pros, both as a player and a coach. 3. Amani Toomer, Berkeley — Toomer gave the Wolverines a major boost in the pass- catching depar tment in the mid- 1990s, and he still stands fourth all time in career receiving yards (2,657) in a Michigan uniform. 4. Leon Hall, Vista — Hall made his mark at cornerback from 2003-06, winding up tied for fourth on Michigan's all-time in- terceptions list (12) and seventh in fumble recoveries (five). 5. Cur t Stephenson, La Jolla — Ste - phenson lived the walk-on dream, with Schembechler giving him a chance and the young player making the most of it in the 1970s. 6. Hayden Epstein, Cardiff — Epstein booted 26 field goals for the Wolverines, from 1998-2001. That's still good for No. 8 on the all-time list of Michigan placekickers. 7. Donovan Warren, Long Beach — Warren left Michigan for the NFL with a year of eligibility remaining, a decision many questioned. But he proved a solid cornerback for the Wolverines as a three- year starter, from 2007-09. 8. DeWayne Patmon, San Diego — Pat- mon was a true freshman contributor on Michigan's 1997 national championship team. He went on to make solid contribu- tions in the U-M secondary and to reach the NFL. 9. Tyler Ecker, El Dorado Hills — Ecker performed from 2003-06, and he remains tied for 11th in career receptions by a Michigan tight end, his 57 catches match- ing those of Doug Marsh. 10. Jonas Mouton, Los Angeles — Mou- ton became a solid starting linebacker for the Wolverines, playing from 2007-10 and contributing 264 tackles along the way, with four career interceptions. — John Borton Magnuson made seven starts last year as a redshirt freshman, four at right guard and three at left guard. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 122-125.Erik Magnuson.indd 125 6/19/14 2:55 PM