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Thursday, June 23, 2016
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS

After season-ending injury, 
Glasgow ready to make return

By ORION SANG

Summer Managing Sports Editor

Ryan Glasgow remembers the 

exact moment he tore his pectoral 
muscle.

The fifth-year senior defensive 

tackle was chasing down Rutgers 
quarterback Chris Laviano when 
his hand got stuck in Laviano’s 
helmet.

The quarterback went one way, 

Glasgow went the other and he 
heard a pop. He knew instantly 
his season was over, and his 
absence from the starting lineup 
clearly had a negative effect on 
the Michigan defense.

Up until that point, the most 

rushing 
yards 

the Wolverines 
had given up 
all 
year 
was 

144. But in the 
game following 
Glasgow’s 
injury, 
Michigan gave 
up 307 rushing yards to Indiana 
before getting gouged by Ohio 
State’s rushing attack two weeks 
later for 369 yards in the final 
game of the regular season.

Fast forward seven months 

and Glasgow is raring to go with 
his shoulder almost back to 100 
percent.

“(My) strength is back already, 

which I’m really happy with 
(considering) it’s only been seven 
months,” Glasgow said Saturday. 
“Conditioning is 
fine, everything 
is 
going 
well 

right 
now. 
... 

There 
might 

be some rust in 
technique 
but 

I’d be healthy 
enough to go.”

Dealing with 

the injury was 
difficult 
for 

Glasgow as he 
had to sit on the sidelines and 
watch as his team played without 
him. But he found company 

in 
former 

defensive 
end 
Mario 

Ojemudia, who 
was Glasgow’s 
roommate and 
close friend.

Ojemudia 

had sustained a 

torn achilles tendon earlier in the 
season against Maryland, keeping 
him out for the rest of the year. 
For Glasgow, that meant he had 
someone whose situation he could 
relate to.

“You work all year to play 

these games with your friends 
and teammates,” Glasgow said. 
“(When) it gets taken away from 

you instantly it makes you realize 
how great the game of football is 
when you can’t play.

“Being 
out 

on the field is 
amazing. 
I’ve 

definitely taken 
it for granted 
before 
and 
I 

never will ever 
again now. The 
injury definitely 
sobers you up 
to the fact that 
football 
does 

have 
an 
end 

date, which is unfortunate, but 
really makes you appreciate the 
game.”

Now, Glasgow is ready to hit the 

field with the rest of the defensive 
line — a defensive line that returns 
six key contributors and also adds 
the nation’s top-ranked recruit in 
freshman Rashan Gary.

Glasgow 
is 
aware 
of 
the 

expectations 
surrounding 
the 

defensive line but believes it’s 
simply a matter of letting their 
play do the talking.

“We just want to show it on the 

field,” Glasgow said. “You don’t 
see any of us tweeting about it or 
posting on Instagram saying we 
want to be the best. Last year we 
just went out and showed it on the 
field every game, and we want to 
have a similar approach this year.”

Drevno looks for 
progress from line

By ORION SANG

Summer Managing Sports Editor

In its final game of the 2015 

season, the Michigan football team 
faced a Florida team that boasted 
one of the top defenses in the nation.

But the Gators were no match for 

the Wolverines, who piled on 225 
rushing yards and 278 passing yards 
for a total of 503 en route to a 41-7 
victory.

All in all, it was a banner day for 

the Michigan offense. Now, offensive 
coordinator Tim Drevno looks to 
carry that momentum forward into 
the next season — especially with 
his offensive line, which is among 
the most experienced in the nation 
with a combined 105 starts.

“They’re a year older so once 

they’re comfortable with me they 
understand 
what 
I’m 

teaching 
and 

what I expect 
from 
them,” 

Drevno 
said 

Saturday 
after 
the 
A4 

quarterback 
camp. “You give 
them a little bit 
more. But really nothing’s changed 
the way I’m going to coach them. 
I’m going to demand (a lot) from 
them, and (they have to) understand 
the importance of how (good) we’ve 
got to be on the offensive line for 
the team’s success. But it is nicer 
that they’ve had a lot of games 
underneath their belt and they’ve 
played in big venues.”

The Wolverines lost only one 

starter from last year’s line in former 
center Graham Glasgow, who was 
taken in the third round of the NFL 
Draft by the Detroit Lions.

But Michigan didn’t have to look 

too far for Glasgow’s replacement 
— junior Mason Cole moved from 
left tackle, where he started all 25 
games the past two seasons and 
was awarded All-Big Ten Honorable 
Mention in 2015, to center during 
spring practice.

The move appears to have 

stuck as Drevno — who is also the 
offensive line coach — believes that 
Cole’s transition has been seamless 
thus far.

“Mason’s 
a 
very 
intelligent 

person,” Drevno said. “He’s got 

unbelievable football awareness. 
He’s done a really good job in there. 
I believe you put your best player at 
center. He’s making all the calls, and 
he’s got to be athletic and a quick 
thinker on his feet.

“(Cole’s) 
getting 
comfortable 

every day (after) doing it through 
spring ball. He’s progressing really 
nicely, (and) he’s a good football 
player.”

Sliding 
into 
Cole’s 
spot 
at 

left tackle is sophomore Grant 
Newsome, who made appearances 
in four games as a true freshman.

“Grant Newsome (has) done a 

nice job,” Drevno said. “We felt in 
the middle of (last) year that he 
could (come in and) do it, and we feel 
good about his progress right now.

“One thing with young offensive 

linemen is just the strength of their 

body. He’s done 
a good job of 
(improving) that 
this 
offseason. 

Like 
with 

anyone, 
there’s 

a 
progression 

with 
those 

young offensive 
linemen, 
so 

we give him a 

different ‘medicine prescription’, 
just (what) we felt (could) help him 
progress.”

Though Drevno says the starting 

line is currently set with Newsome 
at left tackle and the four returning 
starters — Cole and fifth-year 
seniors Erik Magnuson, Ben Braden 
and Kyle Kalis — he didn’t rule out 
the possibility of any of Michigan’s 
three incoming freshman offensive 
lineman earning playing time.

“I see Michael Onwenu as a 

guard, I see Ben Bredeson as a guard 
or center (and) Stephen (Spanellis) is 
probably a right tackle to start off,” 
Drevno said. “All of them have a 
skillset and characteristic you look 
for, and that’s why they’re here at 
MIchigan. We’re excited to get them 
on campus. It’ll be like a New Year’s 
Day and when training camp starts 
it’ll be like Christmas Day.

“All three of those guys, they’re 

going to have the opportunity to 
come in here and compete for a 
starting job. Everyday you want to 
come out and be the best, and those 
other guys in the room understand 
that.”

ALLISON FARRAND/Daily

Ryan Glasgow tore his pectoral muscle against Rutgers last year and missed the final three games of the season.

FOOTBALL

Michigan 

returns four of 
five starters.

Glasgow had an 
important role 
in Michigan’s 
run defense.

“My strength is 
back already.”

