The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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good quickness. That's one of the plus- ses he has as a center. He plays with pretty good leverage. I just like him." 8. Roy Roundtree, 5th-Sr., WR Roundtree's game-winning catch against Notre Dame in the first night contest ever at Michigan Stadium. But Roundtree's numbers didn't shout like they had in years past, with the veteran snagging only 19 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns. That figures to change this year, Preseason 2011: No. 7 Postseason 2011: No. 24 There wasn't anything quiet about with Roundtree moving to flanker and targeted by Michigan coaches as one of the Wolverines' best bets in the passing game. Receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski says he appreciated Roundtree's patience and attitude last year, and expects a huge final season out of the veteran. Arthroscopic knee surgery may or may not keep Roundtree out of the opener against Alabama, but he'll still be a crucial factor for the Wolverines this season, Hoke noted. "This is a team game, and he is a tremendous leader and a tremendous young man who has got a lot of that commitment level to his team that is important," Hoke said. 9. Patrick Omameh, 5th-Sr., OL spring practice, but he's yet another anchor on a veteran offensive line. He started all 13 games on a unit that allowed just 18 sacks on the season, and he'll provide plenty of battle- tested savvy between Barnum and Schofield. Funk will be pushing Omameh to Preseason 2011: No. 6 Postseason 2011: No. 18 Omameh struggled at times in Fifth-year senior right guard Patrick Omameh started all 13 games for the Wolverines last sea- son, and he has made 29 starts over the course of his U-M career. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL nence last season, from an unrated performer heading into the year to the cusp of the top 10. He captured the starting job at outside linebacker in fall camp, and then became a serial harasser of quarterbacks throughout the fall. Ryan wound up with 37 tackles on take it up a notch in his final year in the winged helmet. The affable veteran, meanwhile, has all the tools necessary to live up to a top-10 billing on this list. "Pat Omameh has played a lot of football," Hoke said. "He's bigger and stronger." 10. Jake Ryan, R-So., LB Preseason 2011: NR Postseason 2011: No. 11 Ryan represents another young Wolverine who leaped into promi- 22 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2012 the season, with three sacks among 11 tackles for loss. He's expected to take the next step in his develop- ment, meaning a more refined tech- nique translating his efforts to an even greater result. "He has some suddenness about 11. Craig Roh, Sr., DE the time he stepped onto the Ann Arbor campus. His latest relocation involves going from rush end to the strong side, where he'll be called upon for both powerful play and leadership in a revamped defensive front. He recorded 32 tackles in 2011, Preseason 2011: No. 17 Postseason 2011: No. 19 Roh has been on the move since him, has some burst, and you saw it in the bowl game when he set the bowl record for tackles for loss with four," Mattison observed. "Jake never looks like he's moving as fast as he's mov- ing until you see him chasing down a back or chasing a wide receiver — it's like he has another gear, and those are the kind of kids you need to make big plays because it comes naturally to them. And that's what we need for Jake to do — just turn himself loose." with four sacks among eight tackles for loss. He logged two quarterback hurries and forced one fumble under Mattison's insistent tutelage, and has one more shot at a Big Ten champion- ship ring. "He's been on the sled every day," Hoke said. "He takes pride in break- ing the sled. He has really done a nice job. Like any instrument, there are parts and pieces. They've broken some of the pieces. If we can keep [head equipment manager] Jon Falk fixing it, then we're okay."