The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Trace McSorley, R-Jr., QB —Threw for 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns in the final three games (versus Michigan State, Wisconsin, USC) … During PSU's nine-game winning streak from the week after the loss to U-M through his MVP performance in the Big Ten title game, McSorley completed 54.8 percent of his throws for 2,411 yards (267.9 per game) with 20 touch - downs and just two picks while also rushing for 320 yards and five scores. Defense: Marcus Allen, Sr., S — Although not related to the famous football player of the same name, he is the godson of former NFL star running back Curtis Mar - tin … Started seven games as a true freshman and has only missed one since … All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2015 and earned third-team honors from the coaches last fall … Named one of the Big Ten's five most indispensable players by ESPN.com in May. 132 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY RYAN TICE After Michigan drummed Penn State 49‑10 Sept. 24, the Nittany Lions went on a nine‑game winning streak that included a 38‑31 victory over Wisconsin for the Big Ten crown and did not end until the 52‑49 loss to USC in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions' offense returns argu‑ ably the best running back in the country, junior Saquon Barkley, and redshirt junior Trace McSorley, who came out of nowhere to establish himself as the Big Ten's second‑ best quarterback. Barkley ran for 1,496 yards and 18 touch‑ downs for his second‑straight 1,000‑yard campaign — plus he caught 28 passes for 402 yards and four scores — while McSor‑ ley averaged 16.1 yards per completion to lead the nation. McSorley completed 57.9 percent of his passes (224 of 387) for 3,614 yards with 29 touchdowns and just eight picks. He also rushed for a net of 365 yards and seven scores and continued to improve through the year — he ended the season with a trio of games with four touchdown passes (although he was picked off three times in the bowl). Additionally, four of the five starters re‑ turn to the offensive line (plus two more with starting experience), senior tight end Mike Gesicki is the top returning receiver (48 catches for 679 yards and five touchdowns) and an experienced crew of wide receivers rounds out the unit. Seniors DaeSean Hamilton and Saeed Blacknall have combined for 194 catches, 2,675 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions so far in their careers. They took a back seat to then‑senior Chris Godwin and Gesicki last year, but need to step up and perform like they have earlier in their careers. Redshirt junior DeAndre Thompkins snared 27 passes for 440 yards and a score last year to give the group an outstanding top trio out wide, and that doesn't include spring star Juwan Johnson, a redshirt sophomore who is 6‑4, 218. The offense should continue to produce at a high clip and could even surpass last year's effectiveness, when it ranked 21st nationally with an average of 37.6 points per game. Senior safety Marcus Allen, whose 110 tackles last year led the team and ranked third in the Big Ten, bypassed the NFL Draft and is back to lead the defense. Junior cor‑ nerback John Reid started all 14 games last year and paced the squad with 10 passes de‑ fended, but his availability is doubtful after he suffered a serious knee injury this spring. The linebackers are the best overall group on the unit — junior Manny Bowen and se‑ nior Jason Cabinda combined for 149 tack‑ les, 12.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last year. Cabinda ranked third on the squad with 88 stops despite playing in just nine games. Up front, fifth‑year senior defensive tack‑ les Parker Cothren and Curtis Cothran com‑ bined for 47 stops last year, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage. Returning ends Torrence Brown, a redshirt junior, and Shareef Miller, a redshirt sophomore, com‑ bined for 11.5 tackles for loss a year ago, but must fill the pass‑rusher void after totaling just 2.5 sacks. There will be endless motivation ploys on both sides for the Wolverines and Nittany Lions, who could both be ranked among the nation's top 10 when they meet Oct. 21. Michigan walloped Penn State by 39 last September (their other two losses were by three points each), but then lost to Ohio State by three in overtime and watched the Nittany Lions sneak away with the Big Ten title. A potential College Football Playoff bid could be on the line again this year — the Wolverines kick off a key three‑week stretch for the Nittany Lions: versus Michigan, at Ohio State and at Michigan State. Notes According to Phil Steele, Penn State's 16 returning starters on offense and defense are tied for first in the Big Ten (with Northwestern) and list ninth nationally … Athlon ranked PSU's quarterbacks (ninth), running backs (third) and wide receivers/tight ends (third) among the nation's top 10, while the defensive line (No. 19), linebackers (No. 20) and defen - sive backs (No. 23) all checked in among the top 25. ❏ Nittany Lions Have Target On Their Back After Winning Big Ten Title 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 2 Akron — Sept. 9 Pittsburgh L, 42-39 Sept. 16 Georgia State — Sept. 23 at Iowa W, 41-14 Sept. 30 Indiana W, 45-31 Oct. 7 at Northwestern — Oct. 21 Michigan L, 49-10 Oct. 28 at Ohio State W, 24-21 Nov. 4 at Michigan State W, 45-12 Nov. 11 Rutgers W, 39-0 Nov. 18 Nebraska — Nov. 25 at Maryland W, 38-14 Junior running back Saquon Barkley is one of the nation's top Heisman Trophy candidates after accounting for 1,898 total yards and 22 touchdowns (18 rushing) last year. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS GAME 7 • PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS • OCT. 21 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 13-7 First Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 13 (Oct. 16, 1993, at Happy Valley, Pa.) Last Meeting: U-M 49, PSU 10 (Sept. 24, 2016, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: James Franklin, 25-15 at PSU (4th year) and 49-30 overall (6th year) 2016 In Review: 11-3 overall, 8-1 Big Ten (t-1st East) Final 2016 Ranking: No. 7 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 18 (9 offense, 7 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2016 (Rose, vs. USC, L 52-49) Big Ten Championships (last): 4 (2016) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Trace McSorley (3,614 yards, 29 TD, 8 INT) Rushing: Saquon Barkley (1,496 yards, 18 TD) Receiving: Mike Gesicki (679 yards, 5 TD) Tackles: Marcus Allen (110) Sacks: Kevin Givens (4.5) Interceptions: Brandon Smith (2)