The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 13 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS 1 Program that the men's and women's track and field teams have been combined into now. Michigan made the announcement Aug. 31, on the horizon of its state-of-the-art facility set to open this winter. Women's head coach James Henry and men's leader Jerry Clayton will serve as co-head coaches, and according to a press release the programs will share "expertise and resources … further strengthen- ing the family culture fostered by the two programs." 4 Former U-M players made the final roster for the Seattle Seahawks, which tops the Cowboys, Patriots and Jaguars (each with three) for the most Wolverines on one squad in the NFL. Third-year defensive end Frank Clark, third-year running back Thomas Rawls and third-round rook- ies Amara Darboh, a wideout, and Delano Hill, a safety, represent the M a i ze a n d B l u e o n one of the NFC favorites. Eight of the 32 NFL teams boast multiple Wolverines on their week one rosters when including prac- tice squad players. 5.0 Was the overnight rating for the season opener between Michigan and Florida, making it the highest-rated non-prime-time kickoff game ever. The contest, which started at 3:30 p.m. and was broadcast by ABC, also drew a streaming audience of 182,000 viewers in the average minute, giving it record streaming numbers for a non-prime-time tilt. ESPN reported UM-UF was the second-most watched game of kickoff weekend, drawing a live audience of 7,805,000. 9 Was where fifth-year senior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. checked in on ESPN expert Todd McShay's ranking of the top overall 2018 NFL Draft prospects Aug. 24. Hurst was the second-highest rated defensive lineman and No. 1 among interior defenders. "Hurst is a quick and powerful one-gap penetrator who is highly disruptive against the run," McShay wrote. "He has a powerful upper body and disengages quickly. He projects as a future NFL starter and top-40 pick." 26.6 Percent of more than the 100 college coaches who partici- pated in CBSSports.com's 'Candid Coaches' survey voted for Michigan's JOHN BEILEIN when asked, "Who is the high-major coach you genuinely believe does everything by the book and oper- ates completely within the NCAA's rulebook?" Eight coaches received at least five votes, but Beilein more than doubled runner-up Mike Brey of Notre Dame (10.5 percent). 35 Former Michigan players made opening day rosters in the NFL, ac- cording to an NCAA.com study, which included active rosters, injury reserved lists, practice squads and the commissioner's exempt list. That total ranked 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten, behind only Ohio State (42). The number would grow to 38 — which would tie for eighth in the land — if it included Rawls, Los Angeles Rams safety Blake Countess and Baltimore Ravens quar- terback Ryan Mallett, who finished their college careers at other schools but started at U-M. By The NUMBERS PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN