The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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15. Drake Johnson 5th-Sr. RB Johnson can provide a significant boost to the offense, like when he rushed 13 times for 71 yards at Maryland, with a 31- yard touchdown grab. He also snagged a TD catch to go with 58 yards rushing on six carries in the Citrus Bowl and proved that no forklift could stop him in the off- season. 16. Kenny Allen 5th-Sr. PK One of the top questions in fall camp involves whether or not Allen becomes a triple-threat performer on special teams. His 18-of-22 effort on field goals a year ago clearly established him as the squad's top placekicker. He can punt as well, booming a 57-yarder when called upon in the Citrus Bowl. He also has the leg for kickoffs. 17. Erik Magnuson 5th-Sr. OT Magnuson finds himself among a host of veteran offensive linemen, the fifth- year senior now firmly entrenched at right tackle. A third-team All-Big Ten per- former a year ago, Magnuson has now started 24 games for the Wolverines. 18. Dymonte Thomas Sr. S Time has gone quickly for this senior, who should become a full-time starter in his final season in a winged helmet. He enjoyed good moments last season, start- ing four games and breaking up seven passes, the third-best swat-away total on the team. This year, he's expecting more. 19. Bryan Mone R-So. DT A broken ankle in fall camp 2015 tor- pedoed Mone's season before it ever got underway. He was feeling good and itching to play by the time the bowl game rolled around, but Michigan opted to save his year of eligibility and get him fully ready for 2016. He'll be counted on to be one of Michigan's im- movable objects in the middle. 20. Rashan Gary Fr. DL Here's a wild card, given that Gary — Ri- vals.com's No. 1 recruit in the nation last February — has yet to touch the banner in Michigan Stadium on game day. Yet reports on him continue to be glowing, to the point that some expect him to start in the opener against Hawai'i. 21. Grant Newsome So. OT Newsome figures to get the call at left tackle, making him immediately a key part of the Michigan offense. He's only a sophomore, but his true freshman ac- tion demonstrated the aggression and savvy necessary. 22. Ben Braden 5th-Sr. OG Braden figures to fill the space be- tween Newsome and Cole while doing much more than that at left guard. A fifth-year senior, Braden is another old hand on the offensive line, one with 25 starts under his belt. 23. Ben Gedeon Sr. LB Gedeon will play middle linebacker, and he's no rookie on the field. He's started just one game in his career, but has been on the field for 37 in a backup linebacker role. His two most prolific tackling games of 2015 were the final pair. Gedeon made seven stops (0.5 for loss) against Ohio State, and then notched a tackles for loss among four stops versus Florida. 24. Wilton Speight R-So. QB Speight's real ranking is to be deter- mined since he entered fall camp bat- tling for the starting quarterback job. He worked throughout the summer, driven by high hopes of becoming the triggerman for the Michigan offense. He shouldn't lack confidence after com- ing off the bench to lead the Wolverines on a game-winning touchdown drive at Minnesota last year. 25. Ty Isaac R-Jr. RB Isaac acknowledges he had some seri- ous learning to do last season. He ab- sorbed Harbaugh's message and came out in the spring a strong contributor in Michigan's offensive backfield. Now it's time to do so when the lights go on. Senior tight end Jake Butt was recently named the second-best pass catcher in all of college football by NFL.com, who wrote: "Butt has all of the tools to thrive as a TE1 on any level." PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN SEPTEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 29