UMGOBLUE.COM Michigan Wolverine Football & Basketball
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Incoming freshman Jabrill Peppers will make a major impact this season, but it might not be on defense. As Michigan fights to claw back into Big Ten title contention, Peppers’ talents my take him in the footsteps of the Wolverine he most hopes to emulate—Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.
Quarterback Devin Gardner is Michigan’s best hope for a berth in the Big Ten championship game. It’s been ten years since the Wolverines won the Big Ten, and the pressure is mounting on Brady Hoke to lead his “Michigan Men” back to national prominence.
Last season’s disappointing 7-6 record forced Brady Hoke to make big offseason changes to get Michigan back on track. Gone is offensive coordinator Al Borges, replaced with great fanfare by Doug Nussmeier, formerly of Alabama. He also shuffled the responsibilities of his defensive coaches in hopes of solidifying a defense that surrendered late leads to Penn State and Iowa besides giving up over a hundred combined points to Indiana (63) and Ohio State (42).
After last season’s 7-6 finish, Brady Hoke needs a solid season to quiet the rumblings of discontent in Ann Arbor. But the path to the Big Ten title game is harder than ever now that both Ohio State and Michigan State are in Michigan’s division.
With the season quickly approaching, it’s time to rank Michigan’s position groups.
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Since 1969, Michigan has dominated its in-state nemesis Michigan State by a margin of two-to-one. But in recent seasons Michigan State has turned the tide. Now with the Wolverines slated to face the Spartans in East Lansing for the second consecutive season, Brady Hoke’s squad will need a victory to compete for the Big Ten title and stop a six-year slide that began under previous coach Rich Rodriguez.