The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/698673
THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 17 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 2 Wolverines appeared on the too-early big board of the best prospects eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft done by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. — linebacker Jabrill Peppers (No. 9, which was second among Big Ten players) and cornerback Jourdan Lewis (No. 15, third). LSU and Alabama were the only other schools with two or more players in the top 15. Peppers also appeared at No. 23 in ESPN colleague Todd McShay's too-early 2017 mock draft. 3 Of Michigan's 2016 opponents finished in the top 10 of last year's final Associated Press poll — No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan State and No. 9 Iowa. Michigan was 12th. 3 Michigan players were named preseason first-team All-Americans by ESPN — tight end Jake Butt, linebacker Jabrill Peppers and cornerback Jourdan Lewis. That tied for the national lead with Alabama, Florida State and USC. 4 Of the Big Ten's six position units were listed with Michigan having the league's best group — wide receivers/tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and defensive backs, according to Athlon Sports. No other team had more than one. 7-1 Michigan's odds to win the national title in early June, according to Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, which trails only Alabama (5-1) and is tied for second-best nationally with Oklahoma and Clemson. 15 Combined offensive and defensive starters return for rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. Michigan boasts 14 such returnees. 23 The overall pick that Pro Football Focus, a football analytics website, tabbed defensive tackle Maurice Hurst in their too-early 2017 mock draft. Peppers and Lewis are popular mock draftees, but this one featured a trio of first-round Wolverines. 36.7 Completion percentage allowed last year on 90 targets by Lewis. According to Pro Football Focus' numbers, Lewis broke up 15 of those passes and intercepted two while allowing just one touchdown. No college player graded as high on the website's pass coverage grading system as Lewis. 38 Of Michigan's 50 touchdowns (76 percent) scored last year return to Ann Arbor in 2016, led by fifth-year senior wideout Jehu Chesson's 12. 3,216 Yards from scrimmage and 27 total touchdowns were accounted for last year by return- ing wide receivers Jehu Chesson and AMARA DARBOH, tight end Jake Butt and run- ning back De'Veon Smith — the quartet nearly combined to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground (912), while they totaled more than 2,000 yards through the air last fall. By The NUMBERS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL