The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 17 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL offense and using RPO [run-pass option] concepts." While the publication understands that Michigan still "needs to put together an of- fensive line capable of protecting the quarter- back," it actually thinks the key to the season's success will depend on something else. "It all comes down to whether the Wolver- ines can beat top teams on the road," the maga- zine revealed. "If they can, a much-coveted Big Ten title could await." Street & Smith's Street & Smith's doesn't project a final re- cord for Michigan in 2018, but has it at No. 9 in the country and second in the Big Ten East behind No. 3 Ohio State. The end result is a landing spot in the Fiesta Bowl, which — though a New Year's Six bowl — is still just short of the College Football Playoff. The outlet doesn't include any U-M offen- sive players on its All-Big Ten first team, but places three Wolverines on the first-team de- fense in Hill, Gary and Bush. In fact, it also tabs Bush as a first-team All-American and Gary as a second-teamer, noting the lineman will be part of the fourth-best defensive line unit in the entire country. "Coordinator Don Brown's defense will get even better up front," Street & Smith's de- clared. "Chase Winovich's decision to return to school and play another year with bookend Rashan Gary means that tandem should com- bine for even more than the 14 sacks they did in 2017. "[Sophomore] Aubrey Solomon figures to enjoy a breakout season, and [fifth-year senior] Bryan Mone adds depth inside." Their praise for Brown didn't end there, though, with the outlet tabbing him as the con- ference's "coordinator to watch." "The Wolverines' defense has been crafted in Brown's image, which should lead to good things in 2018," the magazine stated. "Brown has said this could be his fastest collection of players, a scary proposition for a team that ranked third in the FBS in yards allowed last season." As expected, Street & Smith's thinks the key to the season will rest on the offense's shoulders, noting that redshirt freshman receiver Tarik Black's return from a broken foot will give the unit a "much-needed boost." "If Michigan solves its quar- terback woes, there is reason to believe it can challenge to win the Big Ten for the first time since 2004, and perhaps even beat that pesky team from Columbus," the publication stated. "Season No. 4 for Harbaugh will be a critical one no matter what. "Michigan spent big on its coaching staff and has a fan base that is itching for the pro- gram to return to national contention once again. Whether the Wolverines get there this season will say a lot about the Harbaugh Era at Michigan." — Austin Fox Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. WR 9 D. Peoples-Jones 6-2 199 So. 4 Nico Collins 6-4 206 So. LT 76 J. Bushell-Beatty 6-6 315 5th-Sr. or 55 James Hudson 6-5 302 R-Fr. LG 74 Ben Bredeson 6-5 308 Jr. 71 Andrew Stueber 6-7 314 R-Fr. or 66 Chuck Filiaga 6-6 345 R-Fr. C 51 Cesar Ruiz 6-4 316 So. 72 Stephen Spanellis 6-5 307 R-So. RG 50 Michael Onwenu 6-3 350 Jr. 72 Stephen Spanellis 6-5 307 R-So. RT 75 Jon Runyan Jr. 6-4 298 R-Jr. 70 Nolan Ulizio 6-5 295 R-Jr. TE 83 Zach Gentry 6-7 248 R-Jr. or 84 Sean McKeon 6-5 248 Jr. 17 Tyrone Wheatley Jr. 6-6 265 R-Jr. WR 7 Tarik Black 6-3 206 R-Fr. 88 Grant Perry 6-0 191 Sr. or 2 Oliver Martin 6-1 198 R-Fr. QB 2 Shea Patterson 6-2 203 Jr. 18 Brandon Peters 6-5 220 R-So. or 10 Dylan McCaffrey 6-5 199 R-Fr. FB 42 Ben Mason 6-3 251 So. 5 Jared Wangler 6-2 240 5th-Sr. RB 22 Karan Higdon 5-10 190 Sr. or 12 Chris Evans 5-11 206 Jr. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. DE 15 Chase Winovich 6-3 253 5th-Sr. 19 Kwity Paye 6-4 241 So. DT 50 Michael Dwumfour 6-2 290 R-So. or 90 Bryan Mone 6-4 325 5th-Sr. DT 5 Aubrey Solomon 6-3 297 So. 93 Lawrence Marshall 6-4 285 5th-Sr. DE 3 Rashan Gary 6-5 281 Jr. 2 Carlo Kemp 6-3 264 Jr. OLB 7 Khaleke Hudson 6-0 205 Jr. 59 Noah Furbush 6-5 240 5th-Sr. ILB 12 Josh Ross 6-2 229 So. or 36 Devin Gil 6-2 220 R-So. ILB 10 Devin Bush Jr. 5-11 222 Jr. 8 Josh Uche 6-3 226 Jr. FS 23 Tyree Kinnel 5-11 201 Sr. — Casey Hughes 6-0 185 5th-Sr. or 16 Jaylen Kelly-Powell 6-0 173 So. SS 14 Josh Metellus 6-0 199 Jr. 26 J'Marick Woods 6-3 203 So. CB 24 Lavert Hill 5-11 177 Jr. 1 Ambry Thomas 6-0 179 So. CB 22 David Long 5-11 187 Jr. 28 Brandon Watson 5-11 200 5th-Sr. THE WOLVERINE'S PROJECTED DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PK 3 Quinn Nordin 6-1 195 R-So. P 3 Brad Robbins 6-2 181 So. or 17 Will Hart 6-3 196 R-So. KO 3 Quinn Nordin 6-1 195 R-So. — Adam Culp 6-3 180 Fr. H 3 Brad Robbins 6-2 181 So. or 17 Will Hart 6-3 196 R-So. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. LS 33 C. Cheeseman 6-4 239 R-So. 50 Andrew Robinson 6-0 221 5th-Sr. KR 1 Ambry Thomas 6-0 179 So. 12 Brad Hawkins 6-2 204 So. PR 9 D. Peoples-Jones 6-2 199 So. 2 Oliver Martin 6-1 198 R-Fr. Special Teams Street & Smith's believes that redshirt fresh- man wide receiver Tarik Black's return from a broken foot will give the Michigan offense a "much-needed boost." PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Michigan's 2018 Opponents In 1-130 Rankings Opponent Athlon Lindy's Street & Smith's* Avg.^ Ohio State 4 3 3 3.3 Wisconsin 9 5 6 6.7 Michigan 5 18 9 1 0 . 7 Penn State 11 11 10 10.7 Michigan State 12 10 11 11.0 Notre Dame 15 12 14 13.7 Northwestern 46 40 — 43.0 Nebraska 62 47 — 54.5 Maryland 51 60 — 55.5 Indiana 63 64 — 63.5 Rutgers 87 72 — 79.5 W. Michigan 93 79 — 86.0 SMU 91 87 — 89.0 * Street & Smith's does not do a 1-130 ranking, just a top 25 ^ This is the average of the rankings provided