The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 77 TIGHT ENDS "He had a great spring," Harbaugh noted. "Ian is a guy who has a very good habit of just doing everything right. He's a very hard worker, a joy to be around, and he's continued on the track of being a guy who has great potential to a guy who will be a regular contribu- tor. He'll be a consistent playmaker for us." A.J. Williams (12 catches for 129 yards) has graduated and redshirt junior Khalid Hill (four catches for 71 yards) moved to fullback. That clears the way for a youth movement that's big in potential — and just big, period. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. redshirted as a true freshman last season, and stands 6-6, 280. He made a spectacular grab on a touchdown pass during Michigan's practice at Ford Field this spring and could be heard from soon. "He's getting comfortable in our offense, learning the system and being reliable from a mental standpoint," Harbaugh said. "The of- fense we run is pretty dense. There's a lot of stuff. It's not the easiest thing for a young guy to adapt to quickly. He's certainly getting there. He's working his tail off. "In terms of projections, it's how much work he puts in the rest of the summer and fall camp. I feel great about him. He brings some- thing to the table that really none of our other guys do, in terms of just being able to physically bludgeon opponents. He has that dominant trait. Jake Butt Is Climbing U-M's All-Time Charts Jake Butt wasn't thinking about numbers in deciding to come back to Michigan, other than a win-loss record tilted heavily to the left-hand column. He's still in position to put his name atop the all-time elite in terms of Michigan tight ends. He's 820 receiving yards from the all-time career record of Jack Clancy, who performed for the Wolverines from 1963-66. That appears out of reach, but some claim Clancy was more receiver than tight end. Regardless, if Butt replicates the 654 receiving yards he managed a year ago, he'd wind up No. 2 on Michigan's all-time list. That's ahead of names like Jim Mandich and Jerame Tuman. Here's a look at the present top 10: Career Tight End Receiving Yards Player Yards Years 1. Jack Clancy 1,919 1963-66 2. Jim Mandich 1,508 1967-69 3. Jerame Tuman 1,279 1995-98 4. Lowell Perry 1,261 1950-52 5. Jake Butt 1,100 2013- 6. Dick Rifenberg 1,006 1946-48 7. Devin Funchess 982 2012-13 8. Sim Nelson 976 1982-84 9. Doug Marsh 947 1977-80 10. Ron Kramer 880 1954-56 The career receptions record by a tight end certainly seems within reach. Butt enters his final Michigan season having caught 92 passes over his first three years, including a near-record 51 a year ago. If he tops the 50-mark again, he'd blow by Clancy's career total of 132. Here is how the best tight ends to wear the winged helmet stack up heading into 2016: Career Tight End Catches Player Catches Years 1. Jack Clancy 132 1963-66 2. Jim Mandich 119 1967-69 3. Jerame Tuman 98 1995-98 4. Jake Butt 92 2013- 5. Bennie Joppru 85 1999-2002 6. Sim Nelson 84 1982-84 7. Jay Riemersma 74 1992-95 8. Lowell Perry 71 1950-52 9. Devin Funchess 64 2012-13 10. Kevin Koger 59 2008-11 Butt has made seven touchdown grabs in three seasons for the Wolverines. He'd have to more than double that total to reach the 15 Tuman hauled down between 1995 and 1998. It's not out of the question, but everyone else on the list is much more within reach. Here's a look: Career Tight End Receiving Touchdowns Player TD Years 1. Jerame Tuman 15 1995-98 2. Eric Kattus 10 1982-85 2. Doug Marsh 10 1977-79 4. Lowell Perry 9 1950-52 4. Kevin Koger 9 2008-11 6. Ron Kramer 8 1954-56 6. Bennie Joppru 8 1999-2002 6. Craig Dunaway 8 1980-82 9. Jake Butt 7 2013- 10. Paul Seal 6 1971-73 10. Sim Nelson 6 1982-84 Butt gets 12 games, guaranteed, to roll up some numbers while helping the Wolverines. The better they are, the more games become available. — John Borton Redshirt sophomore Ian Bunting, who made five catches for 72 yards a year ago, was touted by U-M coaches for having a strong spring. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN