2017 B1G Previews: Michigan Wolverines

Michigan Wolverines (East Division)

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Stadium: Michigan Stadium (109,901)

Coach: Jim Harbaugh (3rd year): 20-6 at Michigan/78-33 overall, 13-4 v B1G

2016 Michigan Wolverines (10-3)(7-2)                     2017 Michigan Wolverines

63        Hawaii                           3                                S2        Florida (Arlington, TX)

51        Central Florida             14                                S9        Cincinnati

45        Colorado                      28                                S16      Air Force

49        Penn State                    10                                S23      at Purdue

14        Wisconsin                      7                                S30      idle

78        at Rutgers                      0                                O7       Michigan State

41        Illinois                           8                                O14     at Indiana

32        at Michigan State         23                                O21     at Penn State

59        Maryland                      3                                 O28     Rutgers

13        at Iowa                        14                                N4        Minnesota

20        Indiana                        10                                N11      at Maryland

27        at Ohio State               30 (2OT)                      N18      at Wisconsin

32        Florida State                33                                N25      Ohio State

            (Orange Bowl)

Jim Harbaugh seems to have the Michigan football program on the right track after two consecutive 10-win seasons, which hadn’t been done since 2002-2003 under Lloyd Carr. 

Junior Wilton Speight will again be under center for the Michigan offense after finishing last year with 2538 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions and played through injury late in the season.  He’ll continue to develop under offensive coordinator Tim Drevno, but this year, he’ll have new receivers to work with.  Donovan Peoples-Jones, a five-star in state recruit, enrolled early and impressed enough in spring drills to be penciled in as the starter at one WR position.  Sophomore Eddie McDoom appears to have locked in the other WR spot after getting five receptions for 59 yards last year in limited action.  Freshman Tarik Black and senior Maurice Ways will also figure in the mix, with Ways snagging two catches for 24 yards in limited action a year ago.  Fortunately, the Wolverines return experience at TE with senior Ian Bunting garnering five catches for 46 yards in 2016 in a backup role.  Sophomore Tyrone Wheatley Jr also figures to see action from that spot.  Coach Harbaugh used a committee of sorts at running back a year ago and figures to do so again this year. Sophomore Chris Evans will be the lead back after rushing for 614 yards and four touchdowns.  Senior Ty Isaac and sophomore  Karan Higdon will rotate in.  Higdon ran for 425 yards and six scores while Isaac was just behind him, with 417 yards and five touchdowns.  Dependable fullbacks Khalid Hill and Henry Poggi, both seniors, are back to provide dependable blocking and receiving out of the backfield, with Hill scoring ten touchdowns in the goal line offense and catching 16 balls for three touchdowns.  Poggi had only one carry for six yards, but had six receptions for 45 yards as Hill’s backup.   Both will figure to have more balls thrown their way as the new receivers and a revamped offensive line take shape that will be built around senior LT Mason Cole.  Senior RT Juwann Bushell-Beatty is the only other lineman with experience and he figures to be joined by sophomore guards Michael Onwenu and Ben Bredeson.  Four-star freshman recruit Cesar Ruiz is the odds-on favorite to secure the starting position at center.

                                            QB Wilton Speight

Defensive coordinator Don Brown put together a unit that was second in the nation giving up 14.1 points per game with a high-pressure defense.  Despite heavy losses, this unit shouldn’t drop off too much.  The defensive line will be anchored by All-American candidates DE Rashan Gary and DT Maurice Hurst Jr.  Hurst Jr., a senior, accounted for 34 tackles and is the leading returnee in tackles for loss with 11.5.  Gary did almost as well, with 27 tackles and five TFLs.  Seniors Bryan Mone and Chasde Winovich look at start at the other DT and DE respectively.  Five-star freshman recruit Aubrey Solomon will also be in the mix in the interior of that Wolverine defensive line.  Senior Mike McCray leads the linebacking unit and is the leading returning tackler with 76 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.  Junior Jordan Glasgow is also back after garnering 12 tackles in a reserve role, while sophomore Devin Bush Jr. will round out this unit.  Bush Jr. also had 12 tackles as a backup.  The secondary is completely revamped with not much experience, but senior Branden Watson hopes to step into a leadership role at CB after garnering 12 tackles and recovering a fumble a year ago.  Sophomore Lavert Hill and freshman Benjamin St. Juste are battling for the other CB spot.  Hill made two tackles in limited action last year.  Junior Tyree Kinnel and sophomore Josh Metellus should be the starters at safety.  Kinnell played in all 13 games and managed 17 tackles and a TFL while Metellus did well in the eight games he saw the field, with 17 tackles. 

The Wolverines will be breaking in new specialists, with junior Ryan Tice and freshman Brad Robbins figuring to take over the kicking and punting chores respectively.  

                                            LB Michael McCray

Michigan’s recruiting classes continue to get better and better with this year’s haul up to 5^th nationally and behind only Ohio State in the conference.  21 players in this class were four-star or better.

It won’t be easy for Michigan to get 10 wins; their schedule is not an easy one, facing the Florida Gators right off the bat.  They also have to face Penn State and Wisconsin on the road just before The Game in Ann Arbor against Ohio State.  But, if the young receivers and secondary can mature, it can be done.

PREDICTION: 9-3 (7-2) 3^rd in B1G East