The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/495628
linebacker Michigan has ever had, but he has a nose for the ball and will be asked to step up his game in 2015 after notching 102 tackles last year. Backup: Junior Ben Gedeon Weakside Outside Linebacker: Fifth-year senior Desmond Morgan 6-1, 236 pounds Morgan missed last season with an injury, but registered an athletic pick in the spring game along with four tackles in proving he was back to health. He notched 81 and 79 tackles in his previous two seasons, and is usually in the right place to make plays. Backup: Redshirt sophomore Mike McCray Cornerback: Fifth-year senior Blake Countess 5-10, 185 pounds Countess looked as good this spring as he has since he suffered an ACL injury at the beginning of 2012. He can be a very good boundary corner, but needs to make more plays. He notched six interceptions in 2013, but none last season in an honorable mention All-Big Ten campaign. Stanford graduate transfer Wayne Lyons will also battle here. Backup: Junior Channing Stribling Cornerback: Junior Jourdan Lewis 5-10, 176 pounds Lewis is Michigan's best cover corner, and he's more than capable despite his smallish frame. He's got great hips and good speed — he picked off two passes and broke up six others last season. Backup: Redshirt freshman Brandon Watson Strong Safety: Redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers 6-1, 205 pounds Peppers has the potential to be Michigan's best safety since Marcus Ray in 1997, and he's already become one of the defense's leaders. He played in only three games last year due to injury and did receive a redshirt, so he'll have four more years if he chooses. He is one of the team's hardest workers and could — probably should — also factor into the return game. He's a difference maker. Backup: Junior Delano Hill Free Safety: Senior Jarrod Wilson 6-2, 210 pounds Wilson's the old man in the secondary, usually in the right position. Now he has to trust his instincts and make more plays as one of the leaders on defense. He's notched 50 tackles in each of the last two years. Backup: Junior Dymonte Thomas ❑