The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2017 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS and tweet at redshirt junior defensive lineman Maurice Hurst Jr. to return for a fifth year at Michigan. Harbaugh confirmed the Wolverines are seeking an extra season for senior cornerback Jeremy Clark, who suffered a season-ending injury this year. "Jeremy Clark was our starting cor- ner this year, played brilliantly, then tore his ACL," the coach said. "That was a tough one — a tough one for him. He is one of the finest [players and people] … character at the highest level, very popular with his teammates. Just a good, genuine, down-to-earth person. "We're making an appeal. Warde [Manuel, Michigan director of athlet- ics], your office — we need you to ap- peal to bring this man back next year." Harbaugh noted Michigan is also seeking a sixth year for tailback Drake Johnson, who has dealt with multiple leg injuries. The head coach is expect- ing redshirt junior fullback Khalid Hill — aka The Dancing Panda — to be back in the fold as well. "I'll put a plug in — I hope that Kha- lid will come back next year for a fifth year," Harbaugh said. "He does a great job on run blocking and carrying the ball. How many touchdowns did you score this year, Khalid? Twelve touch- downs! How about that? "We go to Michigan Stadium, and Khalid's always got the dance going. It loosens me up. I appreciate it. Please come back." Harbaugh also delighted in the fact that redshirt junior inside linebacker Mike McCray has confirmed he'll re- turn for a fifth year. "Mike had a tremendous, tremen- dous year," Harbaugh said. "He's one of the most athletic inside lineback- ers to ever play at the University of Michigan. I would also love to see Mike come back for a fifth year, and he told me he would come back for a fifth year … more football for Mike next year." Harbaugh also noted he expects na- tional holder of the year, redshirt junior Garrett Moores, back in the fold. He was not as definitive on veterans such as quarterbacks Shane Morris and John O'Korn, running back Wyatt Shallman, linebacker Jack Wangler, and offensive linemen David Dawson and Pat Ku- gler. Morris, he noted, could show his skills as a starter somewhere. "One of the finest guys on our team, Shane Morris," Harbaugh said. "He gave it everything he had this year in camp and throughout the year. He often times ran the scout team as the quarterback. He's got fifth-year eligi- bility. He may come back next year. He may go to another school and start. "I know there are plenty of places he could go and be a starting quarterback. He's as talented as they come." Harbaugh delivered the backstory on some who won't return, such as red- shirt junior cornerback Reon Dawson. "Reon's always been one of my per- sonal favorites," Harbaugh said. "He was a favorite of Jack Harbaugh, who always saw something in Reon as well. Unfortunately, due to injury, he could not continue playing. He will get his Michigan diploma. "He came back and worked for the team this year, in the recruiting depart- ment. He didn't want anything for free. He wanted to put in his 20 hours a week and then some. Sometimes we had to shoo him out of the building. He's going to do great things." The same applied to redshirt junior wideout Jaron Dukes, who suffered a variety of injuries, according to Har- baugh. "It was especially tough on Jaron," the coach said. "He comes from a great family. He came into the building and worked every week of the season. We had to shoo him out as well. He'll do great things." Offensive lineman Chris Fox was an- other from the class of 2013 who could never overcome multiple knee injuries, according to Harbaugh. "He's gone above and beyond," Harbaugh said. "Here's a guy who has been at every single practice, been the right-hand man of Phil [Bromley] in the filming and editing department. He's out there every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow, works an amazing amount. I really think he's got a career in football … whether it be film or coaching. "I never heard the man complain a word in the last two years. He just gets the job done." DAVE ABLAUF HONORED AT MICHIGAN FOOTBALL BUST The University of Michigan Club of Greater Detroit honored Michi- gan 's associate athletic director for football communi- cations, Dave Ab- lauf, with the Dis- tinguished Alumni Service Award at Michigan's Dec. 13 Football Bust. Ablauf has served in several capaci- ties for Michigan's media relations de- partment in his 21 years in Ann Arbor. He currently works with the media covering Michigan football, including the national broadcast networks. He joins a list of award recipients that includes former Michigan head coaches Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr, longtime assistant coach Jerry Hanlon and a host of other luminaries. Former Michigan media relations director Bruce Madej is on that list as well, and he introduced Ablauf. "There is a nice type of life you have when you're in this family," Madej said. "Dave Ablauf has been here for 21 years, working in PR … Dave's fo- cus has always been on the student- athlete. He's helped this club out im- mensely with this banquet, and he's helped out the athletic department immensely. "He has integrity, he has character, and he is truly a Michigan Man." Ablauf definitely took note of the club he's joining with the award. He thanked his mentors, including Madej, the late football media relations man Jim Schneider, in addition to Schem- bechler, Carr and former head coach Gary Moeller, along with several oth- ers. "Somebody came up to me tonight and said, 'You have a great job,'" Ab- lauf mentioned. "I said, 'You're darned right.'" Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh summed it up: "He is truly one of the best in the business." Redshirt junior fullback Khalid Hill's 12 touchdowns tied for sixth in the Big Ten. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN ABLAUF