The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 25 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Wide ReceiveRs MVP JUNIOR GRANT PERRY Perry wasn't healthy for much of the year, some close to the pro- gram shared, and it showed. He was still the Wolverines' lead- ing receiver with 307 yards, but he only caught seven passes in the last seven games, none against Indiana, and he missed the Maryland game with an injury. He had racked up 18 receptions in his first five games, including four for 66 yards and a score in a win over Cincinnati. The usually sure- handed veteran also dropped a handful of passes this year, which was out of character for him. He did average 12.3 yards per recep- tion, however, and his 27.9 yards per game led receivers who played in more than three games. His 2.3 receptions per game were a career high. Unsung Hero FRESHMAN DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES Although he only caught 16 passes for 219 yards on the year, Peoples-Jones was actually Michigan's second-leading wideout this season behind Perry. The freshman got off to a slow start, tally- ing three catches for 60 yards through Michigan's first five games, but picked it up tremendously from that point on. Over the final seven contests — when Perry was slowed — he hauled in 13 catches for 159 yards, including an impressive four-catch, 64-yard per- formance against an elite Wisconsin secondary that finished No. 4 nationally with 160.6 yards allowed per game. He also finished with three rushes for 62 yards, including a 44-yarder on his first offensive touch. Regular-Season Grade This was always go- ing to be a rebuilding year for this group, but the passing game never did get on track. The Wolverines finished 11th in the conference with 168.6 passing yards per game and didn't have a difference maker at the receiver position. Losing freshman Tarik Black to a bro- ken foot proved to be a huge blow. He was leading the team in receptions (11) and yardage (149) and averaged 49.7 yards per game before going down in game three against Air Force. Peoples-Jones emerged as a threat late in the year, finishing with 219 yards, and he could have doubled that had his quarterbacks been on the mark. He was missed or overthrown on several pos- sible big gainers and has a bright future. Year Player Yards 2017 Grant Perry 307 2016 Amara Darboh 862 2015 Jehu Chesson 764 2014 Devin Funchess 733 2013 Jeremy Gallon 1,373 2012 Jeremy Gallon 829 2011 Junior Hemingway 699 2010 Roy Roundtree 935 2009 Roy Roundtree 434 2008 Martavious Odoms 443 status Of schOlaRship playeRs GRADUATED: None ELIGIBILITY REMAINING (YEARS): Tarik Black (3) Nico Collins (3) Kekoa Crawford (2) Oliver Martin (4) Eddie McDoom (2) Donovan Peoples-Jones (3) Grant Perry (1) TRANSFERS: Drake Harris Maurice Ways D NUMBERS TO KNOW Michigan's wideouts posted some of the lowest receiving totals in recent history in 2017. Junior Grant Perry led the team with 307 receiving yards, which was the lowest total for a team leader since 1973 (254 by Paul Seal). Excluding this year, U-M's leading receiver has averaged 785 yards since the 2008 season, 478 more yards than what Perry accumulated this season. Here's a closer look at each of Michigan's leading wideouts over the last decade, and the number of yards each of them racked up: Special teams/ linebackers coach Chris Partridge "[Freshman receiver] Donovan [Peoples- Jones] has just con- tinued to lock in and get better. Coach [Jim] Harbaugh and I both think he'll be an ex- plosive playmaker." Grant Perry