The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/859588
SEPTEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 45 Players In Class: 14 Rivals.com Team Ranking: No. 50 Players Still At Michigan: 12 Name Pos. Recruiting Stars Brian Cole WR/DB 4 Moved from wide receiver to safety after playing two games his freshman year. Released from the program and eventually ended up at Mississippi State. Andrew David PK 2 Transferred to TCU before the start of last season and sat out the year due to NCAA transfer rules. Zach Gentry TE 4 The former quarterback showed great flashes in the spring, scoring on a long touchdown pass during the public scrim- mage. He's a candidate for breakout player of the year. Karan Higdon RB 3 Ran for 425 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry while scor- ing six touchdowns last season. He's had a great offseason and will vie for the starting RB job. Reuben Jones LB/DE 3 Has moved between linebacker and end, and he's now back at defensive end. He'll be in the mix for playing time this year. Shelton Johnson DE 3 Has shown flashes, but needs to bear down both on and off the field if he hopes to contribute. Tyree Kinnel DB 4 Played in all 13 games at safety and on special teams while notching 17 tackles, including one for loss, and one forced fumble last year. He's likely to start at one of the safety spots after a good spring. Alex Malzone QB 3 Still waiting his turn behind a number of others and isn't ex- pected to compete for the starting job in the near future. Grant Newsome OT 4 Started the first several games of 2016 at left tackle and suf- fered a traumatic knee injury, sidelining him for most of last year and forcing a redshirt this season. Grant Perry WR 3 Caught 13 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown last year, but off-field trouble caused him to play more sparingly than he otherwise would have. He is expected to be a big contribu- tor this fall. Jon Runyan Jr. OL 3 One of the favorites to start at right tackle after a very good spring. He's starting to show the consistency needed for the position. Nolan Ulizio OL 2 Starting to make strides and will add depth to the line this year; he should be ready to compete for more time next season. Keith Washington CB 3 Had a very good spring game and is one of the Wolverines' more physical corners. He'll play this year after appearing in nine games on special teams last year. Tyrone Wheatley Jr. TE 4 Should play a key role this season with fellow tight end Devin Asiasi having transferred. Caught three passes for 35 yards and a score last year, and returns slimmer and faster. 2015 CLASS OVERVIEW Junior tackle Grant Newsome started once as a true freshman in 2015 and then opened last year as the starting left tackle before suffering a season- ending injury in game five against Wisconsin, which will keep him sidelined in 2017. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN