The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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16. BLAKE O'NEILL Fifth-Year Senior, P O'Neill became another graduate transfer that, like Rudock, proved a prime piece of the 2015 puzzle. He booted 53 punts on the season, aver- aging 41.3 yards per attempt, includ- ing an incredible long of 80 yards. No fewer than 23 of his punts were downed inside the opponents' 20- yard line, O'Neill showing an incred- ible knack of dropping short punts into a confined, covered area. Th e e n d o f t h e M i c h i g a n S t a te game will likely continue to sting, but O'Neill showed great resiliency in overcoming it during the season. He then only held on kicks in the Citrus Bowl due to injury, so his immediate future appears in doubt. 17. DELANO HILL Junior, S Hill took a huge step forward for the Wolverines, starting eight games for Harbaugh's crew. He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 46, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He also broke up two passes and recorded a quarter- back hurry. He should play a major role in Michi- gan's defense in 2016. Hill could be one of the Wolverines' starting safe- ties, and some have even speculated he could add a few pounds over the course of the offseason and step up to a linebacker role next season. 18. TACO CHARLTON Junior, DE The end factors in as another Michi- gan defender coming into his own this fall. He played in all 13 U-M g a m e s, re co rd i n g 3 0 t a c k l e s a n d showing a proclivity to cause some havoc, with 5.5 sacks among 8.5 tack- les for loss. Charlton also got credit for three quarterback hurries and a forced fum- ble. Another offseason and a spring ball in new defensive coordinator Don Brown's system could have him ready for a highly effective senior season for the Wolverines. 19. DRAKE JOHNSON Redshirt Junior, RB Johnson looked like he was still try- ing to regain his form over much of the 2015 campaign after returning from a second anterior cruciate liga- ment injury to his knee in the 2014 Ohio State game. He looked like a tailback with a point to prove in the Citrus Bowl, carrying six times for 58 yards (9.7 average) and a touchdown in the rout over Florida. Johnson also caught two passes for 10 yards and another TD. On the season, he wound up as M ichigan's second-leading rusher, with 54 carries for 271 yards (5.0 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 96 yards and two scores. Whereas at one point it looked like a fifth year for Johnson might be in doubt, his bowl perfor- mance will earn him strong consider- ation in that regard. 20. DESMOND MORGAN Fifth-Year Senior, LB Morgan wound up the Wolverines' second-leading tackler in 2015, making 71 stops overall. Those included a sack