The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2017 BY CHRIS BALAS S pecial teams are sometimes called the "forgotten phase" on a football team. Offense and defense usually steal the headlines — and that's where games are generally won and lost — but for teams challenged in one of those two areas, the other third of the game can provide a huge lift. Michigan's 2017 group is a prime example. Though freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones has shown great poten- tial, the Wolverines miss Jabrill Pep- pers in the punt return game and the hidden yardage his returns provided in helping switch field position. On the flip side, there hasn't been a much more sure thing than redshirt freshman Quinn Nordin at place- kicker this year. Nordin's field goals of 40 and 38 yards in U-M's 27-20 win at Indiana Oct. 14 gave him 10 straight makes and left him 14 of 16 for the season. Among them, two were from 50- plus in the season-opening 33-17 win over Florida, including a 55-yarder, and it's not out of the question he'll kick a longer one this season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh might give him a shot up to 60 yards, if the situation allowed for it. Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary said re- cently he's seen the redshirt frosh kick field goals from beyond 60 yards rou- tinely in practice, and special teams coach Chris Partridge concurred. "He's hit 66-, 67-yarders," Partridge said in October. "I think if he had a really good day and was nice and rested, he probably could go from 70." Nordin matched a school record in the 29-13 win over Air Force Sept. 16 by making five field goals, earning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this year. He earned co-honors after converting 4 of 6 field goals against the Gators Sept. 2 in becoming the only Michigan kicker to make two field goals of 50 yards or more in a game. "He's got a confidence about him," Partridge said "He's got a kind of swagger about him. He's very per- sonable. He's great to be around, and he's a great teammate." KICKOFFS ARE A STRENGTH, AND PUNTING IS IMPROVING The Wolverines' youth on special teams doesn't stop with Nordin. Red- shirt freshman Will Hart started the A Mixed Bag Michigan's Special Teams Have Had Their Ups And Downs Through the first six games of the season, redshirt freshman Quinn Nordin had made 14 of 16 field goal attempts, including the last 10 tries in a row, with a long of 55 yards. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL