2017 Record: 6-6 (4-4 MAC)
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78th in Total Offense (390ypg, 34.3ppg)
115th in Passing Offense (165ypg)
21st in Rushing Offense (225ypg)
T-79th in First Downs (250)
71st in 3rd Down Conversions (39.3%)
T-46th in Offensive Efficiency
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53rd in Total Defense (379ypg, 29.0ppg)
64th in Pass Defense (222ypg)
54th in Rush Defense (156ypg)
T-98th in Sacks (21)
T-67th in Interceptions (10)
121st in Defensive Efficiency
124th in Special Teams Efficiency
History vs. Michigan:
Michigan leads all-time series 6-0
Last meeting: 2011 at Michigan - 34-10 Michigan
This Season:
vs Syracuse - L 55-42
Quarterback: Jon Wassink 6'2" 205 lbs (RS Jr.)
Last season Wassink completed 124/193 (64.2%) of his passes with 1,391yds and 14 TDs to 4 INTs. He also rushed for 126yds on 41 attempts (3.1ypc) with 3 rushing TDs. Against Syracuse last week, he was 19/36 (52.8%) with 379yds, 3 TD and 2 INTs. In addition he had 14 yards rushing on 7 attempts with a rushing TD.
Running Back: Jamauri Bogan 5'7" 192 lbs (RS Sr.) and LeVante Bellamy 5'9" 185 lbs (RS Jr.)
Last year Bogan had 589yds rushing on 112 carries (5.3ypc) with 3 TDs and a long of 71yds. He only had 1 catch for -3yds. Bellamy had 49 carries for 394yds (8.0ypc) and 3 TDs with a long of 66 as well as 7 catches for 54yds last year. Last week, Bogan rushed for 68yds on 6 attempts (11.3ypc) with a long of 59yds while Bellamy led the team in carries with 11 and picked up 120yds (10.9ypc) with a long of 64yds and 2 TDs. He also had 3 catches for 6yds.
Wide Receivers: D'Wayne Eskridge 5'9" 190 lbs (Jr.), Jayden Reed 6'0" 170 lbs (Fr.) and Drake Harris 6'4'' 181 lbs (RS Sr.)
In 2017, Eskridge collected 30 catches for 506yds and 3 TDs with a long of 50. He also rushed 4 times for 13yds. Drake Harris doesn't need much history here and Reed is a true freshman. Against Syracuse Eskridge had 8 catches for 240yds with a long of 84 and 2 TDs. Reed tallied 7 catches for 121yd with a long of 37 and a TD in his debut and Drake Harris caught 1 pass for 12yds.
Tight End: Odell Miller 6'3" 270 lbs (RS Sr.)
Miller played on special teams throughout his career before this season. He did not record a stat in the season opener this season.
Left Tackle: Jaylon Moore 6'5" 300 lbs (RS So.)
1 career start in 6 career games.
Left Guard: Mike Caliendo 6'4" 300 lbs (RS So.)
11 career starts.
Center: John Keenoy 6'3" 305 lbs (Sr.)
38 career starts.
Right Guard: Luke Juriga 6'4" 295 lbs (RS Jr.)
27 career starts.
Right Tackle: Mark Brooks 6'6" 300 lbs (RS So.)
1 career start in 11 games played.
Defensive Tackles: Ralph Holley 6'2" 270 lbs (So.) and Wesley French 6'5'' 295 lbs (RS Jr.)
Holley played in 5 games his freshman year and made 3 tackles. French only played in 8 games the previous 3 years and recorded no stats. He had 3 tackles last week.
Defensive Ends: Tony Balabani 6'3" 235 lbs (RS Jr.) and Eric Assoua 6'2" 240 lbs (Sr.)
Balabani tallied 33 tackles with 7.5 tackles for a loss, 1 pass deflections, a forced fumble and 4 sacks in 2017 while Assoua had 18 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, 2 pass deflections and a forced fumble. Vs. Syracuse Balabani recorded 3 tackles with 1 TFL while Assoua didn't record a statistic.
Outside Linebackers: Treshaun Hayward 6'1" 220 lbs (So.) and Alex Grace 6'1" 216 lbs (RS Jr.)
In 2017, Hayward compiled 14 tackles with 1 for a loss and a fumble recovery while Grace had 32 tackles with 1 for a loss and 2 forced fumbles. In the opener, Hayward finished with 2 tackles while Grace had 13 tackles with 1 for a loss.
Middle Linebacker: Corvin Moment 6'1" 220 lbs (RS Fr.)
Moment was a redshirt freshman last year and in his first game this season had 5 tackles.
Cornerbacks: Stefan Claiborne 6'2" 190 lbs (Jr.) and Juwan Dowels 5'10" 182 lbs (RS Sr.)
Claiborne is a 2nd year starter and last fall collected 64 tackles with 1.5 for a loss, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 3 fumble recoveries. 9 tackles and a pass deflection was his final stat line against Syracuse. Dowels is a grad transfer from Syracuse who in 2017 had 25 tackles with 1 for a loss, 2 pass deflections and an INT. He did not record a stat in week 1.
Free Safety: A.J. Thomas 6'3" 170 lbs (So.)
A true freshman last year, Thomas had 8 tackles with a fumble recovery that he returned 23yds for a TD. Against the Orange he ended with 13 tackles and 2 pass deflections.
Strong Safety: Justin Tranquill 5'11" 195 lbs (RS Jr.)
After a good 2016 season, Thomas suffered a season ending injury early in the year last season, He ended with 13 tackles in 3 games. He had 8 tackles a week ago.
Punter and Kicker: Nick Mihalic 5'11" 170 lbs (Fr.) and Josh Grant 6'0" 185 lbs (So.)
Mihalic, a true freshman debuted with 5 punts with an average of 36.6yds and a long 54 with 1 fair catch and 1 downed inside the 20. In his freshman season, Grant was 23/49(65.2%) on field goals with a long of 49 and 1 blocked. He was 0/1 last week on a 24yd FG. He had 7 kickoffs last week with none being deep enough for a touchback.
Returners: Jayden Reed 6'0" 170 lbs (Fr.) and LeVante Bellamy 5'9" 185 lbs (RS Jr.)
Reed, the true freshman is the punt return man but did not have a return last week. Bellamy only had 1 kick return in 2017 for 18yds. Last week he had 4 kick returns with an average of 13.8yds and a long of 18.
Players to watch:
LeVante Bellamy - HB
John Keenoy - C
Alex Grace - OLB
Prediction:
This team sucks. Their tackles are extremely inexperienced, and unlike Wimbush their QB may not be able to use Gary and Winovich's instant pressure against them. Their defense is full of average players at best and mostly inexperience. Their special teams, especially kicking and punting is also trash.
I fully expect this game to be played within a 60yd area for Michigan's offense. I don't see WMU moving the ball with any consistency and while our offense may be slow to get started, in the end the short fields and extended time on the field will wear down the Bronco D and the inexperienced D-Line will be a much needed confidence boost for our O-Line. I see a 20-3ish halftime score with a runaway train down the stretch with a Gopher like thrashing on the ground that we saw last year.
Michigan wins 48-10
This years predictions:
Week 1: Michigan/Notre Dame 24-13 (17-24 actual)
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