The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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164 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Tackles that linebacker DAVID HARRIS made in his career. The former New York Jets (2007-16) and Patriots (2017) defender announced his retirement in February at the age of 34, after a productive 11-year career. Harris concluded his professional tenure with 36.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, six interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Some of his career highlights included being named to the All-Pro second team in 2009 and the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2007. From 2009-16, he missed only one game, starting the other 127. 1,109 BY THE NUMBERS 8 Touchdown catches for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, which tied for the fifth most in the NFC. It also shattered his previous career high of five, which he set in 2015. 35 Ex-Wolverines who appeared on opening-day NFL rosters in 2017. This total was the second most of any Big Ten school (trailing only Ohio State's 42), and ranked 10th among all college programs. LSU led the way with 51. 37 Combined starts for Michigan rookies throughout the 2017 NFL season. Seven different former Maize and Blue first-year players started at least one game last year — Cleveland Browns safety Jabrill Peppers led the way with 13 starts, while Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon checked in next with nine. 63 Percent of the votes in The Athletic's survey of the greatest NFL players of all time were cast for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. No other quar- terback in the history of the game even came close to garnering as many votes as Brady — longtime San Francisco 49ers (1979-92) and Kansas City Chiefs (1993-94) signal-caller Joe Montana was second, with 27 percent. In fact, the next-highest player on the list — at any position — was former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown (1957-65), with 44 percent of the votes. 505 Passing yards for Brady in the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, the most ever by a quarterback in the championship game. Not only were they a new Super Bowl re- cord, but it also marked the highest total any quarterback has ever thrown for in a postseason game. Taylor Lewan OT 4 Tennessee Titans Started all 16 games for the second straight season and was named to his second Pro Bowl. Jourdan Lewis CB 1 Dallas Cowboys Competed in 15 contests (seven starts), and recorded 54 tackles, 10 passes defended and an interception, which he returned for 25 yards. Pro Football Focus graded the rookie as the No. 49 corner in the league (79.6 grade). Erik Magnuson OT 1 San Francisco 49ers The undrafted rookie started two of the four games he saw action in, but was placed on injured reserve Nov. 29. Ryan Mallett^ QB 7 Free Agent Took part in two contests with Baltimore and completed 9 of 16 passes for 56 yards with two scores and no picks. Became a free agent after the season and remained unsigned in early June. Patrick Omameh G 5 New York Giants Started all 13 regular-season contests he played in with the AFC South champion Jaguars, and he also opened all three playoff games. Signed a three-year, $15-million deal with the Giants March 14. Jabrill Peppers S 1 Cleveland Browns Saw time in 13 games (all starts) and racked up 57 tackles, an interception and three passes defended. Also returned 30 punts for 180 yards (6.0 average) and 14 kickoffs for 318 yards (22.7). Thomas Rawls^ RB 3 New York Jets Rushed for 157 yards on 58 carries in 12 games (three starts) for Seattle while chipping in nine catches for 94 yards. Signed by the Jets March 30. PHOTO COURTESY NEW YORK JETS