The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2017 THE WOLVERINE 37 2017 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. LINEBACKERS BY THE NUMBERS 1 Career start by return- ing M ichigan line - backers other than McCray, who started 13 games last season, and it belonged to Josh Metellus, who opened the Orange Bowl in Jabrill Pep- pers' place as a fresh- man. 254 The number of tack- les accumulated by Michigan's star ting trio of linebackers last season; they were U- M's top three tacklers. POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH This one's all about the Viper, and who can provide some season- ing with Peppers gone. Sophomore Josh Metellus started there and made six tackles when Peppers couldn't play in the Orange Bowl, and Metellus will continue making his bid in the spring. But he'll get a challenge from the latest Glasgow, redshirt sopho- more Jordan, whom defensive coordinator Don Brown openly speculated about at the spot before the bowl game. There's also sophomore safety Khaleke Hudson, who like Glasgow was a special teams stalwart in 2016, and maybe a surprise contestant or two. WHO'S GONE JABRILL PEPPERS The consensus All-American and Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation's most versatile player, Peppers delivered 72 tackles last season for the Wolverines. He also produced four sacks among 16 tackles for loss, with a forced fumble, an interception and numerous big-play-saving stops thrown in for good measure. BEN GEDEON Gedeon became a stalwart starter as Michigan's man in the middle and the Roger Zatkoff Award winner as the Wolverines' best linebacker, with 106 stops, 15.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. WHO'S BACK FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR MIKE MCCRAY McCray should anchor the middle and provide an experienced presence for this defense follow- ing a 2016 season featuring his 76 tackles, 12.5 stops for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, seven passes broken up and a pair of interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown to rally Michigan in the Orange Bowl. SOPHOMORE DEVIN BUSH JR. Bush features the speed to make a major impact at linebacker after backing up the starters last season and playing on special teams, producing 12 tackles. REDSHIRT JUNIOR NOAH FURBUSH At 6-5 and 238 pounds, Furbush played the out- side linebacker position against more run-heavy attacks and will again supplement the "Viper" hybrid performer after recording a tackle for loss among 11 stops last season. TOP NEWCOMERS FRESHMAN DREW SINGLETON Singleton sat out all but one game of his senior season at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic with a knee injury, but the uber-talented rookie is looking to return to his junior/sophomore form, where he recorded a combined 121 stops, seven tackles for loss, five interceptions, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. FRESHMAN JORDAN ANTHONY A Rivals.com five star out of IMG Academy in Florida, Anthony posted 79 tackles, five stops for loss and three passes broken up as a senior, and will look to make an early impact. FRESHMAN JOSH ROSS The younger brother of former U-M linebacker James Ross piled up some big numbers as a prep senior, notching 136 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception. Two-thirds of Michigan's linebacking corps is gone from last year, including one player who wound up among the five finalists in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The scramble is on to find someone to fill Jabrill Peppers' role, as well as bolster the other spots. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN "Devin Bush is the guy that I'm looking at to make a huge impact this year. I think McCray played well last year. I think moving back to the middle will be much better for him. "With the Viper, I don't know. … The Glasgows have been a huge part of this team for years now; why not a Glasgow?" — U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE I t's the ongoing story for Michigan spring football — big talent losses with lots of young and relatively inexperienced performers compet- ing fiercely. Having McCray in the middle will provide a strong point for this group, and Bush could be very special in the way he pursues and hits. Those two should hold up very well, while Michigan takes a hard look at who ought to be stepping in behind them, whether a player with a year or two on the roster or one of the standout rookies. But again, what happens with the Viper can prove to either bite Michigan or the opponents. Brown & Co. will figure it out as best possible, but Peppers is long gone. — John Borton MIKE MCCRAY