The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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on Saturdays, but we had already seen it before. "I asked him after he caught the ball, 'What did you think about that catch?' And he said, 'I thought it was just a regular catch, but everybody else thought it was different.' When you see him make plays like that, it feels like it's just natural for him." Blocking at the Big Ten level isn't natural for him, and that's one huge area of growth on the horizon. It's not that Funchess doesn't want to get the job done, but taking on 250- to 300-pound defenders is simply too much in certain situations for a 6-5, 229-pounder who still hasn't gone through winter conditioning and spring practice with the Wolverines. "Coming into the weight room this offseason, and into spring practice, he'll have some weight gain — he's got a good frame," Ferrigno said. "When we recruited him, he was 215 pounds. Now he's already 230, and you've got to think he'll get big enough. and hit a banner. I just went at it the same — get my one point, look at it, go hit it and get on with it. I was still nervous after I hit I —, until my number was called, and I made that first big catch." yards, causing a buzz to ripple through the 112,522 in the stadium that day. A 30-yard touchdown pass followed midway through the sec- ond quarter and a 100-yard receiving day — the first ever by a Michigan That first big catch covered 21 freshman tight end — ensued. That caused Michigan fans across the country to start talking about Funchess. Meanwhile, the rookie is talking about something else. "I just want to win the Big Ten championship for the seniors," he said. "I know they want to go to Pas- adena for the Rose Bowl. I'm going to do whatever I can. I know the rest of the people on the team are going to do whatever they can, too, to win for the seniors." u Tight End Spot Shored Up Nicely An early injury to fifth-year senior tight end Brandon Moore took any hint of game experience out of the position for Michigan, leaving some to wonder if the Wolverines might deemphasize the spot for a year. Thanks to multiple contribu- tors, that hasn't been the case. Freshman Devin Funchess has cer- tainly provided the most noticeable plays, gathering in 11 catches for 186 yards (16.9-yard average) and three touchdowns through eight games. But others have stepped in as well. Fifth-year senior walk-on Mike Kwiat- "He's a very willing blocker. He's just not big enough yet, to make all the blocks you need him to make to be in there every down. Someday, he'll be that guy." Funchess did pass one very big test early on, aside from catching the football with consistency and some- times-spectacular prowess. He made it past the M Go Blue banner in his Michigan Stadium debut without in- cident. Some haven't. They've stumbled, mistimed their jump to slap the time- honored touchstone of home games, or at least fretted all the way through the process. Funchess falls in the latter category. He played in a huge showdown with Birmingham Brother Rice his senior season, when 7,000 jammed into a high school stadium featuring cars parked well down the surrounding streets. Then he entered Michigan Stadium to warm up for the first time prior to the Air Force game. It wasn't nearly at capacity, but that soon followed. "I was real nervous," Funchess ac- knowledged. "I didn't know what to expect. I came out in warm-ups, and there weren't that many people there. When I came back out, there were a lot of people when the game was about to start. "In high school, we had to go out kowski has contributed three catches for 31 yards, including a nine-yard reception in the win over Michigan State. Meanwhile, freshman A.J. Wil- liams has been learning on the job while doing the dirty work. The 6-6, 283-pound rookie possesses the frame, but no previous framework of blocking at a Big Ten level. He's catching on, according to tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno, and should only get better. "When Brandon Moore got hurt, we were in a pickle," Ferrigno admitted. "He came in and has done a really good job for a freshman. There are times when his technique isn't where it needs to be yet. He shouldn't be playing, but he is. "He's holding his own against the Big Ten, so I'm very pleased with his effort. Fifth-year senior walk-on Mike Kwiatkowski contributed three catches for 31 yards dur- ing U-M's 5-3 start this year, and as a unit the tight ends have provided solid blocking. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN He's a very smart guy and another one that likes football a whole lot — he loves to play. Michigan's coaches will love it when Williams can combine huge with honed, something more time in the system will allow. "That big old body, we'll make it stronger, and we'll trim him down a little bit, " Ferrigno said. "He could be real big — you've got to watch him. But he's done a great job with that. Again, it's the offseason program and technique work that will make him a better player next year. For now, Williams contributes both as a learner and a teacher. He has blocked a whole lot more in his career than Funchess, and is putting in the time to make his classmate better. "Me and A.J. are real tight, playing the same position," Funchess offered. "He's " teaching me a lot with the blocking. He's got the blocking down pat. I'm teach- ing him how to catch more with his hands. We're teaching each other about the game. " — John Borton NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 31 "