The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/716367
SEPTEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 47 BY CHRIS BALAS A ny class that includes a tal- ent like do-everything Ja- brill Peppers likely won't be considered a disappoint- ment, but the 2014 group has not proven itself yet. Twelve of the 16 redshirted, and only a handful seem to be on the cusp of seeing significant playing time this fall. Peppers was granted a medical redshirt after suffering an injury three weeks into his rookie cam- paign, but he came back last year with a vengeance. Junior Mason Cole has started every game in his Michi- gan career and is making the move to center from left tackle — where he's been extremely solid — while defen- sive tackle Bryan Mone appeared in all 12 games defensively with one start as a frosh before missing last season with an injury. Many of the others, however, start the season in backup roles. THE TOP FOUR CONTRIBUTORS SO FAR 1. Jabrill Peppers, LB/DB: Peppers earned Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America honors, 2015 All-America second- team laurels (SI, Sporting News, CBS Sports), and All-Big Ten accolades on defense after starting 12 games in 2015 while notching 45 total stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and 10 passes bro- ken up. He also averaged 27.9 yards on kick returns, 11.4 on punt returns and contributed 151 yards and two touchdowns on offense. He's a once- in-a-decade talent. 2. Mason Cole, OL: Only five true freshmen started on a Michigan of- 2014 CLASS REVIEW Plenty To Prove The 2014 Class Has A Few Stars, But Several Others Look To Make Their Mark Do-it-all redshirt sophomore Jabrill Peppers was ranked as the No. 11 player in all of college football — and the best in the Big Ten — heading into the season by FoxSports.com. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN