The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/729750
OCTOBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 31 TRUE FRESHMEN WHO HAVE PLAYED THROUGH THREE GAMES RB: Chris Evans, Kingston Davis WR: Kekoa Crawford, Eddie McDoom, Nate Johnson, Nate Schoenle* TE: Devin Asiasi, Sean McKeon, Nick Eubanks OL: Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu (also plays DL) DL: Michael Dwumfour, Rashan Gary, Carlo Kemp, Carl Myers* LB: Devin Bush Jr., Josh Uche CB: Lavert Hill, David Long S: Khaleke Hudson * Walk-on "A great aspect of having freshmen play, or guys play early, is that they have experience, so that down the line — game eight, game nine — if we have guys hurt, those guys have game experience. … You never know when someone is going to go down." — Sophomore left tackle Grant Newsome, who played as a true freshman lineman "It shows there are really no favorites. Whoever is the best on the field will play. That's a great thing." — Sophomore wideout Grant Perry on so many rookies playing early in 2016 "A lot of guys just came in the fall, so they've only had a couple months with us. I think they will definitely be guys that will contribute more as the season goes along." — Redshirt junior defensive lineman Maurice Hurst on his freshman teammates "He had a great game against Colorado. He's a great player for a young guy. I expect him to get better each and every game. I can see it in practice … He goes hard in practice. You can see the improvement." — Redshirt junior linebacker Mike McCray on defensive end Rashan Gary "One time, he was cramping, and I took him out of practice and then, about six plays later, saw he was back in there. He's really good like that, a real football player. He's doing a great job." — Head coach Jim Harbaugh on Gary earlier this year (The Detroit Free Press) "Chase Winovich had a fine day two weeks ago against Central Florida, but wasn't great during the first quarter Saturday [against Colorado]. Michigan puts Gary in the game in the second quarter, and he instantly makes momentum-swinging plays. "On one series, with Michigan down 21-14, Gary nearly forces a three- and-out on his own. He dominates a zone read on first down, sets a strong edge on second down and then just abuses a left tackle on third- and-long. "Abuses. He's lighting quick off the ball. He's low. He rips right through a block and stretches out to force an incompletion with a QB hurry." — MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner MICHIGAN FRESHMEN BY THE NUMBERS 4 Was the Rivals.com national ranking of Michigan's class of 2016, showing the high level of talent that inked with the Wolverines. 8.3 Yards per carry that the rookie class has averaged as a group with 240 yards and two touchdowns on just 29 totes during the non- conference slate. Tailback Chris Evans has 21 rushes for 157 yards and two scores, while wideout Eddie McDoom has five attempts for 55 yards, run- ning back Kingston Davis has carried twice for 17 yards and wideout Kekoa Crawford has an 11-yard scamper. 13 Tackles were totaled by defensive end Rashan Gary in the first three games to rank sixth on the team, while his 3.5 tackles for loss rank fourth and one sack is tied for fifth. Classmate and fellow defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour also has a tackle behind the line of scrimmage among his two stops. 17 True freshmen played in the season opener, a school record. 18 Yards gained by CRAWFORD on his lone re- ception, meaning both times he has touched the ball have gone for at least 11 yards. 112 Yards were rushed for in the season opener by Evans, who became just the third Wolverine to ever rush for the century mark in his collegiate debut (Walter Cross, 104 yards, Sept. 12, 1998; Chris Perry, 103, Sept. 2, 2000). 162 Yards from scrim- mage for Evans after three games, which ranks fourth on the squad. PLAYER COMPARISON Through the first three games, Chris Evans' numbers aren't far off from what Mike Hart did in 2004 before finishing with a U-M rookie record of 1,455 yards and nine touchdowns. A side-by-side comparison of the two rookie rushers: Game Mike Hart, 2004 Chris Evans, 2016 1 3 rushes for 20 yards, 8 rushes for 112 yards, 2 TDs, long of 13 (6.7 average) long of 43 (14.0) 2 5 rushes for 17 yards, 9 rushes for 35 yards, long of 9 (3.4) long of 18 (3.9) 3 25 rushes for 121 yards, 4 rushes for 10 yards, long of 13 (4.8) long of 5 (2.5) Totals 158 yards, 0 TD (4.8) 157 yards, 2 TDs (7.5) WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MICHIGAN FRESHMEN PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL