The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/614487
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL quarterback Jake Rudock is expected to return for the Wolverines' finale against Florida Jan. 1 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. Rudock, a graduate transfer from Iowa, has already set career highs in completions (229), passing yards (2,739), completion percentage (64.0) and yards per attempt (7.5). With his recent strong play, it will be a relief for the offense to have their leader suit up for his final game. "He's a tough guy," junior tight end Jake Butt said. "I asked him after the game, and he said he would be ready to go [for the bowl]. I can't see him sitting out of this game." "He's been an MVP type of guy," senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson said. "He's selfless. He cares more about the team than himself." Though Rudock will be glad to return, he won't find easy sledding against a Florida defense that allows just 174.8 passing yards per game, good for 11th in the nation. The Ga- tors also rank 11th in passing effi- ciency defense, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 106.59 rating and allowing them to complete just 53.6 percent of their pass attempts. Rudock, however, is on quite a streak. In four November games, he completed 101 of 157 passing at- tempts (64.3 percent) for 1,340 yards with 11 touchdowns and three inter- ceptions for a 161.5 passing efficiency rating. Rudock's four-game finish ranks as the second-best passer rating to fin- ish a regular season over the past 30 years, trailing only his coach's 1985 effort in which Jim Harbaugh com- pleted 51 of 72 attempts for 847 yards with nine touchdowns while earning a 210.9 pass efficiency rating. ❏ Jake Rudock ended the 2015 campaign on fire, posting the best passing efficiency rat- ing for the final four regular-season games of a U-M season since head coach Jim Harbaugh in 1985. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN BEST FOUR-GAME PASSING EFFICIENCY RATING FINISH Year Quarterback Rating* 1985 Jim Harbaugh 210.9 2015 Jake Rudock 161.5 1993 Todd Collins 154.7 2003 John Navarre 148.1 2000 Drew Henson 142.3 1998 Tom Brady 135.8 2013 Devin Gardner 134.5 1997 Brian Griese 132.9 2005 Chad Henne 132.1 2004 Chad Henne 129.4 *Final four games of the regular season, 1985-2015