The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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that we play, nobody can play 50 or 60 snaps. Not the way they have to block and not the way they have to run. "We run full speed for 60 minutes on the perimeter. There are two guys that split those reps. From that stand- point, if you take Jeremy's catches and Roy's catches, and add those together, now you see the production proba- bly hasn't dropped as much as what people think. There are just two guys getting those reps." Hecklinski and Borges both appre- ciate the results. "These guys, they play hard," Hecklinski said. "Do they do every- thing perfect? No. Nobody does. But they play hard for 60 minutes. I think if you were to talk to other teams that play against us, they're going to tell you, it's going to be a 60-minute game, because they're going to hit you physically, and they're going to come after you for 60 minutes. "In order to do that, you need a bunch of guys to play. We rotate a lot of defensive linemen, we rotate a lot of backs, we rotate a lot of lineback- ers, a lot of secondary guys, because we ask our guys to play at a different level. In order to do that, and get them to the fourth quarter, where they're in a position to win, you're got to have a lot of bodies, a lot of guys that are willing to play that way." ONE MORE GAME The Wolverines lose two seniors — Hemingway and Odoms. Heming- way stepped up as a leader this sea- son, not only statistically but also in preparation, meetings, etc. "He doesn't understand how good he can be," Hecklinski said. "He's still Michigan still has a game to play in completing the 2011 season, but some are already taking a peek at 2012. Any such look doesn't leave close observers fearful for the U-M receiv- ing corps. Fifth-year senior Junior Hemingway and senior Martavious Odoms (seven catches, 131 yards, three touchdowns) are gone, taking with them a combined 39 catches for 767 yards. U-M is hard at work recruiting, anticipating that a freshman wideout or two will be part of the 2012 puzzle. But even be- fore they sign on the dotted line, the Wolverines' cupboard isn't filled with cobwebs. Michigan returns three of its top four producers at wide receiver, beyond Hemingway. Redshirt sophomore Jeremy Gallon caught 30 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns, redshirt junior Roy Roundtree hauled in 18 passes for 345 yards and two scores, and sophomore Drew Dileo made nine grabs for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dileo has carved out a nice role for himself beyond the re- ceiver spot. He's seen spot duty returning punts, and serves as Michigan's holder on field goals and extra points, providing a crucial fake field goal run for a first down to set up a touch- down against Nebraska. U-M wideouts coach Jeff Hecklinski looks forward to seeing continued progress among those in his room. "Heck, yeah," he said. "Look at it. Jeremy Gallon is a sopho- more. Roy's a junior. Drew Dileo's only a sophomore. Jeremy Jackson's only a sophomore. Jerald Robinson is a [redshirt] freshman who has gotten some spot action, especially on special teams, and he's getting his feet wet. "He's been in front of The Big House crowd, and it's not go- ing to be a shock to him. You've got [redshirt junior] Terrence Robinson back for another year." Hecklinski knows how far the group came this season, and figures to see another big jump in the offseason. "There is going to be a lot of offseason work that needs to be done, a lot of summer work that needs to be done, in order to get ready for where we need to be, week in and week out, with the expectations of what Michigan is supposed to be," Redshirt junior Roy Roundtree led the Wolverines in receiving with 72 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns last year, but has notched only 18 grabs for 345 yards and two scores in 2011. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Hecklinski said. "But encouraging? Oh, yeah. Exciting? Very exciting. "But Michigan's different. The expectations are different. These kids are starting to understand it, embrace it, and are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the future." He'll also have a secret (or momentarily forgotten) weapon at his disposal. Darryl Stonum sat out the year for disciplinary reasons, but finished second on the team in 2010 with 49 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns, and he figures to be back in the lineup as a fifth-year senior in 2012. Hecklinski deferred to head coach Brady Hoke with regard to commenting about Stonum, but he head coach has con- sistently said Stonum has done everything asked. It stands to reason that in 2012, he'll be asked to do a lot more. — John Borton DECEMBER 2011 THE WOLVERINE 39 growing. Our biggest regret out of the whole deal is that this is Junior's last year. He's a great kid, a great person- ality. He is exactly what you want a senior leader to be. He's done every- thing he's been asked to do, and we couldn't be happier." Meanwhile, Odoms — who led the Wolverines in receptions as a true freshman — overcame injury to pro- vide a huge lift down the stretch this year, including clutch touchdown catches in wins over Nebraska and Ohio State. But if this season has proven any- thing, it's that Borges, Hecklinski, etc., are not going to overemphasize any one individual. Michigan will hit the field in 2012 with a cast of characters expected to do a whole lot more than catch the football, or worry about who is catching it the most often. ❑ U-M Looking Solid At Receiver Next Year