The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/998636
110 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS 110 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW LINEBACKERS PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Al Washington is beginning his first season as the linebackers coach for the Wolverines. Washington comes to U-M after a stint as the defen- sive line coach at the University of Cincinnati in 2017. Before that, he worked with current Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown at Boston College. He coached his alma mater for five seasons, serving as running backs coach and eventually defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. Washington helped the Eagles defense become one of the best in the country in 2016, ranking ninth in the nation and second in the ACC in total defense. While on offense, he mentored 2013 Heisman Tro- phy finalist Andre Williams, who became just the 16th player in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The team's rushing attack saw improve- ment each season under Washington. Before working at BC, Washington completed time at Elon and Slippery Rock. He also worked as a graduate assistant at North Carolina State in 2008, one year after beginning his coaching career as a defensive line coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institution. In his collegiate career, Washington was a three- year starter at defensive tackle for Boston College. He earned the team's 2006 Paul Cavanaugh Award, given to the player whose accomplishments both on and off the field speak volumes of their commit- ment, outlook, volunteerism, ethics and work on the team as well as in the community. A native of Columbus, Ohio, he earned his bache- lor's degree from Boston College in 2006 and played one season with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats before beginning his coaching career. Don Brown enters his third year serving as Michigan's defensive coordinator and working with the team's linebackers. The 35-year coaching veteran has worked as a defensive coordinator for 22 sea- sons, with the 2015 campaign at Boston College being one of his best. He directed the Eagles' defense to the very top of the national rankings in eight categories that season: total defense, scoring defense, rushing de- fense, red-zone defense, first-down defense, third- down defense, fourth-down defense and tackles for loss. BC also finished second in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. In both of his first two seasons at Michigan, he directed a unit that led the nation in both pass- ing defense and opponent third-down conversion percentage. The Wolverines ranked in the top three in the country in five defensive categories in 2017. U-M also was first in the Big Ten in eight categories, as well as first or second in the NCAA in seven cat- egories in 2016. Eight opposing teams were held without a rush- ing touchdown in Brown's first year at the helm of the U-M defense. All 11 defensive starters in 2016 earned some form of All-Big Ten honors. Brown's aggressive, blitz-saturated style has been honed over many years in college coaching, includ- ing 12 seasons as a head coach. He produced a 94- 45 combined record as a head coach at Plymouth State (1993-95), Northeastern (2000-03) and Mas- sachusetts (2004-08). From UMass, he moved on to Maryland (2009-10) as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, then to Connecticut (2011-12) in those same roles, and then to Boston College as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He has coached at a number of venues in the East, beginning his college career as a Dartmouth assis- tant in 1982 and helping it to a co-championship in the Ivy League. Brown is helping coach the Wolverines' lineback- ers in addition to serving as the defensive coordina- tor. He was nominated for the Broyles Award as the best assistant in college football five straight years from 2013-17. He earned American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year honors for the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2015. RETURNING PLAYERS JORDAN ANTHONY • LB R-Fr. • Silver Spring, Md. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 236 Career Highlights: Did not play in 2017. Prep: Notched 79 tackles, five stops for loss, 0.5 sacks and three passes defended as a senior at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy … Was a 2016 USA Today All-USA Florida second-team pick … As a junior, carried the ball 43 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns, along with recording two catches for 23 yards and a blocked punt … Rivals.com tabbed him as a five- star recruit, the No. 6 player in Florida, and the No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 26 overall player in the country. Personal: Born July 6, 1998. DEVIN BUSH JR. • LB Jr. • Pembroke Pines, Fla. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 222 Career Highlights: Played in and started all 13 games in 2017 … Totaled 112 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as a sopho- more … Set career highs in single-game tackles (12) and solo stops (seven) in a win against Air Force … Received the Roger Zatkoff Award as Michigan's top linebacker … Named an All-Big Ten first-team selec- tion by the coaches and was a second-team pick by the media … Appeared in 13 games as a freshman on special teams and saw action at linebacker in seven tilts … Made 12 tackles his freshman year. Prep: Registered 67 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, and also hauled in an interception during his senior year at Flanagan High School … Helped lead his team to a Florida 8A (largest divi- sion) state title as a senior, the first championship in school history … As a junior, he recorded 67 tackles, 10 stops for loss and two sacks … Had 113 stops, 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two intercep- tions as a sophomore … Ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit, the No. 26 prospect in Florida, and the No. 7 inside linebacker and No. 182 overall player in the nation … Three-time Associated Press 8A All-State pick — he made the third team as a sophomore and first team as a junior and senior. Personal: Born July 18, 1998 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts … Prep teammates with fellow U-M defenders Devin Gil and Josh Metellus … The trio was coached by Bush's father, Devin Bush Sr., who played at Florida State and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams, and is now a U-M defensive analyst. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks INT 2016 13/0 12 0.5 0.0 0 2017 13/13 112 9.5 5.0 1 Totals 26/13 114 10.0 5.0 1 NOAH FURBUSH • LB 5th-Sr. • Kenton, Ohio Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 240 Career Highlights: Has played in 32 career games … Saw action in all 13 games with five starts in 2017 … Notched 30 total stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack … Also returned an interception for a touchdown in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina … Played in 10 contests in 2016 … Posted 11 tackles, including one for loss … Appeared in nine games on special teams in 2015 … Totaled four tackles on the season … Redshirted in 2014. Prep: Two-year starter at linebacker for Kenton High School … Tallied 124 tackles, 30 stops for loss, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble as a senior … Named the Ohio Division IV Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohio Division Jordan Anthony was the highest-ranked signee in the class of 2017, checking in at No. 26 overall nationally per Rivals.com. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL