The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/888498
Sophomore James Foug's deep, high kickoffs were key to U-M's No. 2 standing in kick coverage (13.9 yards allowed per return), and he'd put 23 of 36 through the end zone. Punting and punt return, however, have been average, and kick return has been well below it. Freshman Brad Robbins has hit some big ones but has been inconsistent, even at a 41.3-yard net clip, and his kick to J'Shun Harris in the Indiana contest — returned 53 yards — let the Hoo- siers back in the game. The Wolverines have only had one decent kick return, a 30-yarder by freshman Ambry Thomas against Michigan State, and frosh Donovan Peoples-Jones' 79-yard punt return touchdown against Air Force was the exception, not the norm. Much of that is due to the blocking up front. There's youth all over the field on the return teams, however, so ex- pect that group to get better. Special teams coach Partridge said they were very close to breaking a kick return against the Spartans. TOP FIVE PLAYERS 1. DT MAURICE HURST JR. The 6-2, 280-pounder, a surefire first-round pick, was so dominant in the Oct. 7 Michigan State game that he was Pro Football Focus' (PFF) highest-graded player in the country for the week after living in the Spartans' back- field, scoring a 98 out of 100, and then followed up with a 97.4 against Indiana. His numbers are solid, but don't come close Fifth-year senior Maurice Hurst Jr. ranked seventh in the Big Ten with an average of 1.17 tackles for loss per game after the sea- son's first six contests. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL