The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/337607
256 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 1. Denard Robinson: It isn't just the records. It's not only the way in which his home-run gallops, possible at any moment, always had the fans on the edge of their seats. It's not about the fourth-quarter comebacks either, though there were plenty. Robinson was the epitome of the type of student- athlete that makes Michigan truly the leaders and best. He was the consum- mate teammate, a true ambassador for the program on and off the field, a leader and an ultimate competitor, doing whatever was necessary no matter the physical or mental toll, to champion the Wolverines' cause. 2. Taylor Lewan: In 2013, Lewan became only the second Michigan athlete to garner the Big Ten Offen- sive Lineman of the Year honor twice (2012-13), joining Jake Long (2006-07). Lewan was a bully on the football field, the type of player teammates loved to play with and that opponents hated playing against. He was capable of being both a dominant run blocker and an ideal pass protector. 3. Jeremy Gallon: At 5-8, 184 pounds, Gallon didn't look like the typical No. 1 receiver at Michigan, but he played like one — his 2,202 yards receiving in 2012-13 marking the second-best two-year total in U-M history behind Braylon Ed- wards' 2,468 yards from 2003-04. His 138 receptions over that two-year span also rank as the third-highest two-season total behind Edwards' efforts in 2003-04 (182) and 2002-03 (152). Gallon defied conventional wisdom that said you had to be an imposing physical specimen to emerge as a top target, sliding past David Terrell, Anthony Carter and Jason Avant to finish his career third in the Maize and Blue annals for receptions with 173. 4. Michael Schofield: Adam Kraus played alongside Long, David Brandt alongside Steve Hutchinson, and on the list goes of superb offensive line- men that were overshadowed during their tenures. Add Schofield to that list. A three-year starter, Schofield never had Lewan's reputation, but he was consistent in every facet required of a run- and pass-blocking tackle. He may have had his best year playing out of position at guard in 2011 and could have an NFL future on the inside. 5. Craig Roh: Being whisked from one position to the next — he was a linebacker, then a defensive end, then a weakside end and finally a strongside end — never seemed to deter Roh. Regardless of where he played, he contributed, recording at least 5.5 tackles for loss and 30 total stops in each of his four seasons. Roh was a four-year starter, becoming the first U-M linebacker to start as a true freshman since David Bowens in 1995. He didn't put up overwhelming career numbers — 10.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss —but no one from the class could match him for snaps played. Top Five Players Tackle Taylor Lewan (77) became just the second Wolverine to be named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year twice, earning the honor in 2012 and 2013 en route to being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft (11th overall selection by Tennessee). PHOTO BY CYLE NUNEMAKER Big Ten Winning Percentages From 2009-13 Rk. School Rec. Pct. 1. Ohio State 53-11 .828 2. Wisconsin 49-18 .731 3. Michigan State 47-19 .712 4. Nebraska* 48-20 .706 5. Penn State 42-21 .667 6. Michigan 38-26 .594 Iowa 38-26 .594 8. Northwestern 36-28 .563 9. Minnesota 26-37 .412 10. Purdue 23-39 .371 Illinois 23-39 .371 12. Indiana 19-41 .317 * Spent 2009-10 in the Big 12 NFL Draft Picks Denard Robinson — Jacksonville Jaguars, fifth round, No. 135, 2013. Will Campbell — New York Jets, sev- enth round, No. 178, 2013. Taylor Lewan — Tennessee Titans, first round, No. 11, 2014. Michael Schofield — Denver Bron- cos, third round, No. 95, 2014. Jeremy Gallon — New England Pa- triots, seventh round, No. 244, 2014. 254-258.Class of 2009.indd 256 6/18/14 4:44 PM