The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 47 1. Redshirt junior quarterback John O'Korn — It might be unfair to pin Michi- gan's championship hopes on one guy, but O'Korn appears to be the lone quar- terback on the roster with the ability to make all the throws consistently, which is necessary to maximize the offensive talent. The Houston transfer was, at times, the best signal-caller on the team last year, according to some close to the program, and he'll get his chance to pick up where graduate-transfer Jake Rudock left off. 2. Redshirt sophomore nose tackle Bryan Mone — The Utah native's 2015 season ended before it began due to a leg injury suffered in practice, but he was ready to make an impact. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Mone was one of the team's top three players coming out of spring last year, and the big guy is back and ready to make up for lost time as a double-team-commanding cog in the middle of the defense. 3. Senior safety Dymonte Thomas — Thomas showed signs of living up to his lofty potential at the end of last year, and he'll need to take one more step in order to solidify the back end of the defense. The 6-2, 195-pounder has all the physical tools to be a great Big Ten safety if he can put it all together. 4. Senior linebacker Ben Gedeon — Linebacker is thought to be the defense's weak link on experience alone, with the Wolverines losing their top three inside linebackers from last year, but Harbaugh called Gedeon a "stud" after his player's outstanding week of spring practice at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. Gedeon played with a physical edge and had clearly spent time in the film room, knowing where to go and what to do once he got there. 5. Redshirt junior running back Ty Isaac — It wasn't long ago that USC coaches were sing - ing Isaac's praises as a potential future Heisman Trophy winner. After sitting out one season and then going through an adjustment year, the transfer is in outstanding shape and eager to prove he's the difference-maker many expected him to be as a five-star back out of Joliet Catholic near Chicago. Senior Jourdan Lewis, who broke up 20 passes en route to earning first-team All-America honors from USA Today in 2015, headlines an impressive group of cornerbacks. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 1. Defensive Line — The D-line secures the top spot for the second straight year even after losing lineman Wil- lie Henry as an early NFL entrant. Fifth-year senior Ryan Glasgow and redshirt sophomore Bryan Mone can both be dominant at the nose, and fifth-year senior end Chris Worm- ley and senior Taco Charlton provide U-M's best defensive end combo in years. There's depth here, too, with fifth-year senior Matt Godin, redshirt junior Maurice Hurst and freshman Rashan Gary, among others. There should be enough talent on the field at all times that teams can't double team one guy, or oppo- nents will be forced to max protect with running backs and tight ends staying in to block on passing downs. 2. Cornerback — Senior Jourdan Lewis is Michigan's best cover corner since Leon Hall (2006), and it wasn't him but another corner in senior Channing Stribling that was voted MVP during U-M's spring practice week at IMG Academy in Florida. Together, Lewis and Stribling have a chance to be the best corner duo since Charles Woodson and Andre Weathers in 1997 — and that's if Stribling beats out returning starter Jeremy Clark, a fifth-year whom defensive coordinator Don Brown called the most improved defender in spring ball. 3. Wide Receiver — Fifth-year senior Jehu Chesson emerged as the team's MVP and a first-team All-Big Ten se - lection last year after catching 50 passes for 764 yards with nine touchdowns, yet head coach Jim Harbaugh (perhaps lighting a fire) said he thought fellow fifth-year senior Amara Darboh had passed him up during the spring. The pair combine with some really solid depth that includes s o p h o m o r e G r a n t P e r r y , r e d s h i r t sophomores Drake Harris and Maurice Ways, and a talented group of freshmen. 4. Tight End —Last year 's Big Ten Tight End of the Year, Jake Butt, plus anybody else would make this group formidable … and the "anybody else" on this team includes some really good foot - ball players. Redshirt sophomore Ian Bunting showed flashes last year in catching five passes for 72 yards, while redshirt freshman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is a man-child at the posi- tion, standing 6-6, 280. Converted quarterback and redshirt freshman Zach Gentry could be really good down the road. 5. Running back — Senior De'Veon Smith showed off his best vision of the year in running for 109 yards and two scores in the Citrus Bowl win over Florida, and he finished with 753 yards for the season. Fifth-year senior Drake Johnson has proven he's explosive when healthy, and redshirt junior Ty Isaac is the wildcard. He might just be the best of the bunch if his heart is in it, like it appears to be. Senior running back Ty Isaac carried the ball eight times for 115 yards and a touchdown versus UNLV last September, but ran for just 90 yards on 22 attempts while seeing action in only six of the 12 other contests in 2015. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Top Five Players To Watch Top Five Strongest Position Groups