The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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entirely new player in a Penguins sweater. … It's exciting to think about what he and his mates on [his] line might be able to do in a full season together next year." 7. RICH HILL, P, OAKLAND ATHLETICS (MLB) Nobody would have guessed Hill would even be a candidate for this list two years ago, but the Wolverines' former right-handed pitcher has re- vived a career that once seemed over. Once a promising Chicago Cubs up- and-comer, Hill has since been with the organizations in Baltimore, Cleve- land, Los Angeles (Angels), New York (Yankees) and Boston, where he resus- citated his career last year. Hill signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox on Aug. 14, 2015, and was brought up from Pawtucket Sept. 8. On Sept. 13, Hill started his first Major League Baseball game in six years, giving up one hit over seven innings while striking out 10 batters and walking one. He finished the sea- son with a 2-1 record and 1.55 ERA. As of July 10, the 36-year-old — who was sidelined by a groin injury during the month June — stood 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 13 starts. 8. THOMAS RAWLS, RB, SEATTLE SEAWHAKS (NFL) The former Wolverine got his de- gree from Michigan before playing his final year at Central Michigan, and now he's coming into his own. He subsituted for the injured Marshawn Lynch in a number of games last year and ran for 830 yards and four touch- downs while averaging 5.6 yards per carry in earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers' Association's All- Rookie team despite being undrafted. Rawls was lost for the season Dec. 13 when he suffered a fractured an- kle on the Seahawks' opening drive against the Baltimore Ravens, but with Lynch now retired, he'll have a great opportunity in Seattle. "He can run over guys, but he can run away from you too," head coach Pete Carroll told 710 Seattle Radio in 2015 of Rawls. "The potential for him to be a real big-timer looks like it might be there. So we're really excited about that." 9. BRANDON GRAHAM, DE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NFL) Graham came close to signing with the New York Giants last year, but chose to stay with the Eagles. He inked a four-year, $26-million contract with $14 million guaranteed to remain in Philadelphia. He started 10 of the 16 games in which he appeared and notched a career-best 51 tackles, 39 of them solo. He also registered a career- high 6.5 sacks, bringing his six-year total to 23.5, and forced three fumbles. Graham has had five defensive co- ordinators in his six years with the team, but the addition of new DC Jim Schwartz has him primed for what he believes will be his best season. "Oh, man, it is definitely very nice and a great feeling for me because now I can go out there and play the run and go get the quarterback and not worry about nothing else," Gra- ham told Philly.com. "I think in this defense, you don't have too many