a 0 S S 0 0 v w w Toughest in the trencheS Offensive front has 'Jumbo' size KOLESAR, MCMURTRY LEAD SWIFT FLEET Receivers pose deep threat Messner eheads- veteran group By DARREN JASEY Mark Messner is one of those players who comes but never seems to go. He's been a standout on Michigan's defensive line for the past two years and has a chance to graduate two seasons hence with the most career tackles for loss in Michigan history. His talents do not excede some of those who played before him, such as Mike Hammerstein, Robert Thompson, and Curtis Greer, but he will always be noted for his longevity and consistency. "He's passed the test of time," said defensive line coach Tom Reed. "Now he's got to keep on going." AFTER HIS redshirt first year, Messner has started every game at defensive tackle. In each of those years he has led the team in sacks. In 1985 he was AP second team Big Ten and last season he was AP first team Big Ten. By GREG MOLZON Anthony Carter. When you talk about great receivers in Michigan history, the list has to begin with number one. Carter holds all the Wolverine receiving records and is unquestionably the best pass catcher in the school's history. While Bo Schembechler doesn't appear to have any receivers this season who will eclipse Carter as the best ever, this year's group may just become known as one of the best receiver corps in Michigan history. John Kolesar, Greg McMurtry, Chris Calloway, and Tripp Welborne are the names to remember. They are all sure handed speedsters who will make the job much easier for whoever Schembechler tabs as the team's starting quarterback. Daily Photo by JOHN MUNSON Mark Messner, shown in Spring Game, leads by example. .He has accumulated 24 tackles for loss and has two years of eligibility left. The Michigan career leader is Greer with 48 from 1976 to 79. "What that demonstrates is his consistency," Reed said. "He repeatedly does things well. He has developed a habit of being successful." MIDDLE GUARD Billy Harris joins Messner for his final year on the line. He has also started every game for the past two seasons. "We've grown really close," Harris said. "I know I can depend on (Messner). I have a lot of confidence in him." "We've got our basic starting three back," said Messner. "There isn't any superstars up front. We don't really have any big names but we play well as a unit." Junior John Herrmann (6-5, 258) will start at the other tackle position. Fifth-year senior David Folkertsma, is also back to bolster the line. The 6-foot-5, 263 pounder started all but one game last season. More weight fell on the shoulders of Herrmann and Folkertsma when See EXPERIENCED, Page 13 First year offensive lineman Greg Skrepenak is the first Michigan football player born in the 1970s. By DARREN JASEY John Elliott is like many students at the University of Michigan: He takes classes. He likes music. He's from the state of New York. However, Elliott does not spend his weekends in the diag playing hacky sack or throwing frisbees. Instead, he specializes in 'pancakes' - a practice known among Michigan's offensive linemen as knocking an opponent on his back. At 6-foot-7, 306 pounds Elliott, a .fifth-year senior, may be the best offensive lineman in the nation. He is a leading candidate for the Outland Trophy. "HE CAN be a ' dominant player," said head coach B o Schembechler. "He is powerful and strong with exceptionally fine movement and weighs 300 pounds or thereabout." "He has got great strength and good quickness for his size," said offensive line coach Jerry Hanlon., Elliott, also known as 'Jumbo' to his teammates, has started 32 of the last 34 Michigan games in a three- season span. His last 12 starts have been at strong tackle. Last season he was selected first team All-Big Ten and second team All-American. Joining Elliott on the line will be senior center John Vitale (6-1, 289), senior quick tackle Mike Husar (6-3, 279), and senior quick guard Michael Dames (6-2, 265) - all starters a year ago. The only vacancy is at the strong guard position manned by Mark Hammerstein last season. VITALE MOVED from guard to center last season and started every contest. He is another likely candidate for All-Big Ten honors. "Those people will undoubtedly be a pretty good first line," said Schembechler, "although we can't afford injuries in there because I don't think we have a lot of depth at that positionJ "With John Elliot and John Vitale we have two outstanding collegiate lineman," he added. "John Vitale at center will be one of the great centers that we've had." The leading candidate for the open guard position was sophomore Tom Dohring (6-7, 265) before before an injury set him back. Senior Dave Chester (6-2, 260) of Titusville, Florida now has the insidetrack to that job. If he falters then Schembechler has Dave Dever, Jeff Tubo, Mike Kerr, and Dave Weil to choose from. WITHOUT A tested quarterback the Michigan coaches expect to be more of a ball control offense than a big-play offense this season. According to Hanlon the offensive line will have to adapt. "A lot of improvement has to be made," Hanlon said. "We have to improve our consistency running as well as get good pass protection because we may not have the big play quarterback like we had in Jim Harbaugh last year." Said Schembechler; "(Elliott) must have a great year and must be a great leader. All of them must contribute and have great years." One thing that Elliott hopes to see happen in the upcoming season is Jamie Morris break the all-time Michigan rushing record. Morris needs 1,172 yards to eclipse Butch Woolfolk's mark set in 1981. This will be the fourth year in the starting lineup for the biggest and smallest Michigan players. The 5-7 Morris has led the team in rushing in each of his three seasons and has gained over 1,000 yards the past two. Jumbo feels partly responsible for Morris' success. "We've got to move them out for him," he said. "We're going to have a good offense. We have a veteran offensive line. Our goal is to be the best line in the Big Ten." THEY HAVE also made it much easier for Michigan fans to get over the losses of Paul Jokisch and Ken Higgins, two excellent receivers from last year. Jokisch is trying to catch on with the NFL, while Higgins passed on a final year of eligibility to go to Harvard tLaw School. "That's the deal with Michigan," Kolesar said. "It's not a fact that great players are leaving, you have great players coming up too." One reason that these players may become so great is because of their youth. Of the four, there is one freshman, two sophomores, and a junior. That means that they will be together for at least the next two years to wreak havoc on enemy secondaries. K OL E S A R, a junior, is the senior member of the group. The most memorable moment of his career was the 77-yard touchdown pass he caught from Jim Harbaugh two years ago to seal a 27-17 victory over Ohio State. Kolesar, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds, has averaged a hearty 27.3 yards per catch in his first two seasons. It appears that the only thing that can slow down Kolesar is injuries. He missed the end of last season and spring practice with an injured collarbone, and has been hampered by a sore hamstring early in this season's practice. Schembechler flirted with the idea of moving Kolesar to defense, but the coach finally decided against it. However, just the thought of moving such a dangerous threat has to give some indication of how highly Schembechler thinks of his other receivers. MCMURTRY will start along with Kolesar to form a solid 1-2 punch. The electrifying sophomore was named the top freshman receiver by The Sporting News last year, and the same publication projected him to be the fifth best wideout in the country this season. McMurtry, who played center field on the Wolverine baseball squad and missed most of spring practice, caught 22 passes in his first campaign for 508 yards. He averaged 23.1 yards per reception and showed Injuries have hindered John Kolesar more than GOOD TIMES YOU CAN TASTE. A visit to Ruby Tuesday is a tasty good time at lunch, brunch, and dinner. Ruby's menu is filled with variety and values-big beefy burgers, plenti- ful platters, soup, salads and sandwiches, Mexican favorites, Cajun Specialties, -u and dinner feasts. Ruby Tuesdav 13riaravon Ala/i 16~1G r N 660 glimpses of the man who wore number one before him, Carter. The other sophomore is the relatively unknown Calloway. But he is not unknown to his coach. "Chris Calloway is going to be an outstanding receiver at Michigan," Schembechler predicted. Calloway sprang into prominence in the '87 Spring Game. The 5-foot- 10, 173 pounder caught six passes for 108 yards and one touchdown. THE FINAL member of the crew is first year player, Welborne. The youngster from North Carolina has been compared to McMurtry because of his great athletic talent, and might even play baseball too. Schembechler is bubbling over the prospects of coaching him for four years. "I just watch him run, jump, catch, dodge. All those things pA6. 4%. t . J, f~ y j t ,1 1 thi Sc en tw be by StE Ai an tal in( W wi ME gr( qu ou ba to Daily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY Sophomore Greg McMurtry is Michigan's man in motion. " frames " covers * pillows Ond more! $20 OFF any regular price futon with this ad! 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