INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS
Defenseman Zach Werenski
Returns For Sophomore Year
There was no grand announcement. Just a subtle nod on Twitter, but the
news was still critical — defenseman Zach Werenski will return for his sopho-
more season, opting to play at least one more year at U-M after the Columbus
Blue Jackets selected him in the first round of the NHL Draft this June.
The 6-2, 214-pounder was an All-Big Ten first-team selection after leading the
conference's blue liners with nine goals and ranking second amongst Big Ten
defenders with 25 points.
Michigan's blue line also returns juniors Michael Downing (a second-team
All-Big Ten performer in 2015), Kevin Lohan and Michael De Jong, plus rising
sophomore Cutler Martin and a pair of NHL Draft picks in rookies Joseph Cec-
coni (fifth round) and Nick Boka (sixth round), but Werenski is critically impor-
tant to the Wolverines' potential this upcoming season.
"He's such a smart player and such a strong two-way player, he's the kind of
guy that not only makes the defenseman he's playing with better, but he makes
all five other guys on the ice better," assistant coach Brian Wiseman said.
53
Home games for U-M's nine fall sports teams this season: men's and women's
golf, men's and women's soccer, football, field hockey, volleyball, and men's and
women's cross country, including a school-high 16 for volleyball.
No. 69
Jabrill Peppers' rank among the top 100 players in college football this season,
according to an ESPN.com countdown.
100-1
Odds of Michigan football winning the national title this season according to
Vegas bookmakers. Despite the unlikelihood, U-M is the fifth-most bet on team
to win it all, according to ESPN.com, behind Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and
Notre Dame.
$222.99
Average ticket price on the secondary market for Michigan's seven home
football games, according to TiqIQBlog, an uptick of 97.99 percent over last
year per the ticket-tracking site.
