The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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36 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2018 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. TIGHT ENDS BY THE NUMBERS 2 Tight ends among Michigan's top three in receiving yards for 2017, with redshirt junior Zach Gen- try second (303) and junior Sean McKeon third (301). 5 Michigan tight ends who made at least one catch during the 2017 season. The only one not back is Ian Bunting (one catch for six years), who will take a graduate transfer for his fifth year of eligibility. 17.8 Was Gentry's yards per catch av- erage last fall, the highest of any- one on the Michigan roster with more than two receptions (redshirt sophomore tight end Nick Eubanks averaged 30.5 yards on two grabs). WHO'S GONE IAN BUNTING Appeared sparingly in all 13 games before announcing he'll seek a graduate transfer. WHO'S BACK JUNIOR SEAN MCKEON McKeon led the Wolverines with 31 catches and three TD grabs in 2017, while he finished third with 301 yards through the air. He'll be looking for even more next fall. REDSHIRT JUNIOR ZACH GENTRY The former quarterback emerged as a threat in the passing game in 2017, with 17 grabs for 303 yards. His two touchdown catches made him the only player on the squad besides McKeon with multiple scoring receptions. He trailed wideout Grant Perry by just four receiv- ing yards for the team lead. REDSHIRT JUNIOR TYRONE WHEATLEY JR. The 6-6, 265-pounder continued his de- velopment as a blocker while making three catches for 26 yards on the 2017 season. REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE NICK EUBANKS An injury at Purdue limited Eubanks to four games last season, but he's another talented young player expected to step into a bigger role in 2018. He made two catches in the 2017 opener against Florida, which gained 61 yards. TOP NEWCOMERS FRESHMAN MUSTAPHA MUHAMMAD At 6-4, 244, Muhammad is a big target who is also a very athletic pass-catching threat. He has trained extensively, with a mindset of competing for a job from day one. FRESHMAN LUKE SCHOONMAKER Schoonmaker stands a healthy 6-6, 229 pounds and is a Rivals.com three-star only because Hamden (Conn.) Hall Country Day School coach Joe Linta insists he kept the talented prospect under the radar. He's got a chance to get on it now. POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Michigan uses plenty of tight ends, so there's not a particular concern for a performing tight end getting action. The question becomes which ones can break through as primary targets, like Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry did last season. There's no question that Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Nick Eubanks carry plenty of ability into spring practice. Eubanks can show he's healthy and fully ready to go after last season's setback, while Wheatley can take the next step into becoming more of an every-down player. BY JOHN BORTON I t's not a secret that Jim Harbaugh loves good tight end play. He's got a roster jammed with big bodies who can run, catch and continue improving in the blocking game. There's no question, on the other hand, that Michigan's offense needs to take steps forward from where it was last fall. If the Wolverines tweak things on that side of the football (as expected), what does it mean for the tight ends? U-M certainly isn't going away from the position, but until Michigan rolls out its 2018 look (which fans aren't likely to see this spring, even in the spring game) there's a guessing game. Either way, like with the wide receivers, Michigan tight ends should and must make further strong progress at their position. They emerged as some of the best targets for the Wolverines' quarterbacks last season, and can solidify that status — and grow it — as fall approaches. "We've got athletic tight ends. We've got guys like Zach Gentry. What is he, 6-6, 6-7? I used to walk about the offensive line, and your tackle was 6-6 and you'd have guys 6-5. Now all of a sudden, you've got a tight end like him. "His ability to catch the ball and do something afterward is fantastic. I really think he's a difference maker, especially when you get into the red zone." —U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE ZACH GENTRY PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL