The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/698673
12 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MICHIGAN FOOTBALL They Said It "Whether you like him or don't, you're going to notice — and probably remember — Jim Harbaugh. … In Jim Har- baugh's America, you're allowed to cross state lines. In Jim Harbaugh's America, you're allowed to love football. In Jim Harbaugh's America, you're allowed to leave an impression." — MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner on Harbaugh's series of summer satellite camps "How many college lineback- ers can say they won state titles in the 100- and 200-meter sprint events in high school, as Peppers did? He also returns kickoffs (27.9-yard average) and punts (11.4 average) for the Wolverines. His versatil- ity has led coach Jim Har- baugh to say Peppers could be the 'Willie Mays of col- lege football.'" — NFL.com on naming Jabrill Peppers its No. 6 most freakish athlete in college football "Here are the top five defenses from last season in overall PFF grade, in or- der: Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Ole Miss. Of those teams, only the Wolverines didn't have a defensive player taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. … No team is returning more production on defense than the Wolverines, and with their ability to both shut down the run and regularly get after the passer, teamed with a true shutdown corner in [Jourdan] Lewis and a potential star in Peppers, they could be the best defense in college football in 2016." — Pro Football Focus, which dubbed the Wolverines "a legitimate national title contender" "This is not about protecting the kids, this is about protecting your oil, your water, your resources; this is what governments do. And for the record, you should be worried about Jim Harbaugh. Jim Harbaugh didn't fail in the NFL, Saban did." — FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd on Alabama head coach Nick Saban's criti- cism of Harbaugh's satellite camps "Lewis could have factored into first- round talk had he jumped into the 2016 draft class, but he'll return and give Michigan two of the top NFL pros- pects in the country on one side of the ball." — ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who named Lewis No. 15 on his too-early big board for the 2017 Draft "As for Peppers' ceiling, think former Ohio State linebacker Dar- ron Lee, who the New York Jets just selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Peppers, how- ever, already has better cover skills and more versatility than his former rival, who also began his college ca- reer primarily playing safety. Already one of college football's biggest names, a potential Heisman has also been mentioned in connection to Peppers … Peppers has all the tools necessary to be considered a serious candidate." — Bleacher Reports' Ben Axelrod, who points out the last five Sam linebackers under Don Brown have averaged 78.4 tackles, 14.2 tackles for loss and 6.1 sacks per season at UConn and Boston College PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL "It's only a matter of time before Harbaugh delivers a Big Ten title — or more — to the folks in Ann Arbor." ATHLON SPORTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW JOHN BORTON NCAA Champion: Alabama Four Playoff Teams: Alabama, Michigan, Clemson and Oklahoma Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan vs. Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 11-1 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Michigan at Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Michigan Big Ten Team On The Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: John O'Korn Defensive Breakout Player: Channing Stribling Michigan MVP: Jabrill Peppers CHRIS BALAS NCAA Champion: LSU Four Playoff Teams: Michigan, Oklahoma, Florida State and LSU Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan vs. Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 11-1 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Michigan at Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Michigan Big Ten Team On The Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: Ty Isaac Defensive Breakout Player: Ben Gedeon Michigan MVP: Jabrill Peppers BRANDON BROWN NCAA Champion: Alabama Four Playoff Teams: Alabama, Michigan, USC and Clemson Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan vs. Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 12-0 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Michigan at Michigan State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Illinois Big Ten Team On The Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: John O'Korn Defensive Breakout Player: Bryan Mone Michigan MVP: Jabrill Peppers BRANDON JUSTICE NCAA Champion: Alabama Four Playoff Teams: Alabama, Clemson, Houston and Michigan Big Ten Championship Game: Michigan vs. Iowa Michigan Regular-Season Record: 12-0 Most Anticipated U-M Game: Michigan at Ohio State Big Ten Team On The Rise: Maryland Big Ten Team On The Decline: Penn State Offensive Breakout Player: Ahmir Mitchell Defensive Breakout Player: Channing Stribling Michigan MVP: Jabrill Peppers Staff Predictions