The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/716367
SEPTEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 51 his best game for last — a five-catch, 51-yard game in the Citrus Bowl win over Florida in which he scored his only touchdown of the year. He'll have to continue to work to fight off the talented freshmen com- ing in behind him. 2. Grant Newsome, OL: Newsome saw the field as a true freshman start- ing with an Oct. 31 game at Min- nesota and played well in his four games, including one start. He's now expected to take the left tackle job as a sophomore, and his solid spring showed he might be up to the chal- lenge. He checks in at 6-7, 318 pounds after a solid summer in the weight room. 3. Karan Higdon, RB: The 5-10, 189-pounder played in three games and managed only 19 yards on 11 carries and one catch out of the back- field for three yards, but the coaches like his potential. He has very good feet and great burst through the hole. 4. Tyree Kinnel, S: Kinnel was the only other player to see time as a true freshman last year and that was on special teams. The Wolverines will need him for depth this year, and he came on at the end of spring, show- ing signs that he might be able to contribute. He didn't notch a tackle in eight special teams appearances a year ago. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL Tyrone Wheatley Jr., TE: The 6-6, 276-pounder proved to be a great third-down option in the spring — one coach likened it to a basketball power forward boxing out for a re- bound in that no defenders could get around his huge frame to knock passes away. He'll also serve as an additional tackle at times and should be a force in the run game when the Wolverines go heavy. Zach Gentry, TE: The former quar- terback has the potential to be a star tight end, according to his coaches, and he showed flashes this spring. He still needs to add some weight and work on his blocking, but he's up to 6-7, 244 pounds and runs ex- tremely well. He's a strong addition to the posi- tion and will play. Keith Washington, DB: Redshirt sophomore Brandon Watson is cur- rently the Wolverines' fourth corner, but Washington showed flashes this spring that he could compete for the job. He's still learning the position after playing quarterback in high school, but he's athletic and fluid and has the ability to play corner. Jon Runyan Jr., OL: Now 6-4, 304 pounds, Runyan probably won't start, but he has a chance to make the two-deep and continues to im- prove. He made impressive strides in the spring and has some of his All-American father's characteristics — big and nasty. Redshirt freshman Tyrone Wheatley Jr.'s 6-6, 276-pound frame provides the coaches with a lot of different ways to use him — he'll make an impact as a receiver and a blocker this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN