The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL mates appreciate it? Kerridge: " The coaches and players will say things during film sessions, especially on Sun- days if we have a good game running and I do a pretty good job blocking. "The running backs will come up and be like, 'Hey, man, I ap- preciate what you're doing.' It's a nice thing. They care about us." The Wolverine: You've caught two passes the last two games. Are you becoming a weapon in the passing game? Kerridge: "One was 17 yards, the other was seven. We joke around in the fullback room we're averaging seven yards a catch. It's a good thing. It's a lot of fun to get the ball in your hands when we can." The Wolverine: Are there pass plays specifically designed for you, and do you know in advance when you're getting the ball? Kerridge: "I have a lot of pass routes, but most of the ones I catch I'm the primary target. It's a nice thing to have, and getting the ball in your hands is different than blocking; it makes it a bit more enjoyable. "You're always excited when you know the ball is coming your way. It's a change of pace to get the ball in our hands, do what we can. It's a fun thing. I played running back in high school, so I've always been able to catch the ball." The Wolverine: You could have been a scholarship player right off the bat somewhere else. What brought you to Michigan as a preferred walk-on? Kerridge: "I've always been a Wolverine — since I was a kid. My grandpa went here, my brother, my aunts, my cousins. Going through the recruiting process, they were always No. 1 on my board. "I ended up tearing my ACL my senior year of high school, so I never played my senior year, but I was in real close contact with the university. The coaches helped me through everything, went through the whole process with me and helped me get here. I was really thankful for that." — Chris Balas Kerridge takes pride in providing the blocks that might spring a teammate for a big gain. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN