The Wolverine

June July 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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JUNE/JULY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 15   INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Juwann Bushell-Beatty Brings Size And Experience By Brandon Brown Fifth-year senior tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty hasn't been dominant during his career at Michigan, but he has a lot of experience with 22 games played and eight starts. Seven of those starts came at right tackle last season, giv- ing him recent experience playing with some of the same guys that will be on the field this fall. He hasn't started at left tackle since the Rutgers game in 2016, but he has more time at the position than any other lineman on Michigan's roster. Throw in the fact that he's one of the biggest Wolverine linemen at 6-6, 315 pounds and you have the best cur- rent solution for a starting left tackle. He's got exceptionally long arms and he's big enough to make life difficult for pass rushers trying to get the edge. He's limited athletically, but he makes up for that with experi- ence and sheer size. That's why, heading into fall camp, Bushell- Beatty is the best choice for the left tackle position. Michigan Needs Consistency On The Left Side By Chris Balas One complaint about the offensive line the last few years is that the Wolverines were essentially playing with five interior linemen across the line without any "true" tackles. Mason Cole, for example, played the part well, but he's more of a center/guard prospect (which is where he'll play in the NFL). He was forced to man the left tackle spot out of necessity. That's probably going to be the case again this year, though redshirt junior Jon Runyan Jr.'s emergence at right tackle seems to have solidified one of the spots. While we believe the reports about Bush- ell-Beatty's improvement at left tackle, that's an extremely important position on the line. There's no margin for error when it comes to protecting the quarterback's blind side, so the fifth-year senior will have to be much, much improved if that's going to be a position of strength. Redshirt freshman James Hudson has continued to improve, and he could be an option there. He doesn't have the ex- perience at this point, however. Junior left guard Ben Bredeson, meanwhile, is more interior lineman than tackle, but he might end up being the best option there when it's all said and done. POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT WHO WILL START AT LEFT TACKLE — JUWANN BUSHELL-BEATTY OR THE FIELD? Nobody on the U-M women's tennis roster has traveled a further distance to be a part of the squad than sopho- more Lera Patiuk. She journeyed 5,985 miles from her hometown of Tel Aviv, Israel, and has made the most of her time in Ann Arbor so far. Patiuk compiled a 7-2 record in doubles action during the 2017 fall season, before helping the Wolverines claim the Big Ten Tournament title this past April. Here are a few interesting facts about the Israeli native: Nickname: "My coach calls me Pati- ukski. I don't know why — it's my last name with a 'ski' on the end." Favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor: "Avalon Café and Kitchen." Best meal she can cook by herself: "Scrambled eggs." Sports she plays besides tennis: "I used to play volleyball in high school, and I was pretty good. I don't play any- more, though." Hobbies: "I don't really have time for hobbies, but I'll say watching Netflix." Favorite TV show: "'Gossip Girl.'" Favorite movie: "'M r. and M rs. Smith.'" Dream vacation: "To travel to Asia and the Philippines for a few months — no cell phone or anything while I'm there." Favorite venue she's been to: "The Australian Open in Melbourne." Favorite professional athlete: "Roger Federer." Role model: "It's not anyone famous, but my previous coach." Why she chose Michigan: "I was looking for a place with great academ- ics and an elite tennis program, and most of the schools in the U.S. offer one or the other — Michigan had a combination of both." What she hopes to do after tennis: "I want to travel once I'm done with school. I'd like explore a bit before I find a job and a husband, and start a new life." Her overall experience at Michi- gan: "It's been great. We don't have coaches in Israel, so I didn't know what to expect before I got here. Coming to Michigan has been one of the best decisions of my life." — Austin Fox Getting To Know Women's Tennis Sophomore Lera Patiuk Patiuk — a native of Tel Aviv, Israel — helped Michigan win the Big Ten Tour nament title in April. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Bushell-Beatty's size (6-6, 315 pounds) and experi- ence (eight career starts) could give him an edge in the competition for the starting job at left tackle. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN

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