The Wolverine

March 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Wolverines Add Big Help At Wideout Spot Hecklinski said. "When Amara walks into a room, you say, 'Wow, that's what a Michigan wide receiver should look like.' Big, thick, big hands, thoroughbred-looking." Chesson, on the other hand, pos- "Amara is extremely physical," sesses track skills as well. He's a little taller than Darboh, and will be look- ing to develop his lanky frame into someone who can go up and take throws away from the pack at the collegiate level. "Jehu is a track kid," Hecklinski said. "He had the 11th-fastest time in the 300 high hurdles in the country last year. He's more lengthy, more of a long strider. When you see him play, he's really long. "Amara is more powerful. Amara is going to run through you, while Jehu is going to run around you. Both have the ability to get deep, and both have the physical ability to get deep. "You don't have to be fast. You look in the NFL. You don't have to be fast to get deep. You have to be physical, and you have to be able to go up and over people to catch the ball. Both those kids are, and can." Hecklinski waves off the notion Replacing the contributions of Sugar Bowl Most Outstanding Player Junior Hemingway will be one of the Wolverines' priorities for the upcoming season. M receiver position in the early days of 2012. First, the Wolverines lost the Sugar Bowl Most Outstand- ing Player, fifth-year senior Junior Hemingway. They knew that roster deficit was ichigan found itself hit with a double whammy at the wide on its way, even while Hemingway soared to make two key touchdown grabs in Michigan's win over Vir- ginia Tech. What U-M didn't know involved redshirting wideout Dar- ryl Stonum slipping up again in his struggles with the legal system, leav- ing him no longer a Wolverine. Suddenly, the tallest and most ob- vious replacement for Hemingway wasn't an option anymore. That puts a special emphasis on those still on the roster, as well as on a duo that joined Michigan football officially Feb. 1. Amara Darboh (6-2, 200) of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Jehu Chesson (6-3, 175) of St. Louis will certainly be 82 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN given a long look early in their time in Ann Arbor. Receivers historically enjoy an easier time breaking into the lineup as freshmen, and they'll both be arriving at Michigan with high hopes. "They're big, tough physical kids," noted Jeff Hecklinski, Michigan's wide receivers coach. "When we re- ally examined the past of Michigan receivers, and what we needed to get back to, that's what we were look- ing for. They're great kids, great aca- demic kids, great character kids. "They're kids who can go up and that the Wolverines are thin at wide receiver for next season, but does so with a smile. He realizes Michigan is short on proven performers, but he also realizes talent keeps emerging. "Who knows, in our room, who is going to win us football games?" he said. "Our job is to coach each and every one so that when that opportu- nity arises, they're able to be success- ful to help us win. "There is opportunity for every- body on our team to contribute. If you remember a year ago, nobody was talking about Drew Dileo. But 2012 Football Schedule Date Sept. 1 Sept. 8 catch the football. If you were going to talk about Michigan wide receiv- ers of 2011, you'd talk about physical blocking and the ability to catch the jump ball. Those are things we want to continue to do." Darboh might get down the field a bit more quickly, with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. But the Iowan is far from a speed and finesse type of receiver, Hecklinski cautioned. Opponent Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 vs. Alabama* Air Force Massachusetts at Notre Dame at Purdue Illinois Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 Michigan State at Nebraska at Minnesota Northwestern Iowa * at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas at Ohio State

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