6A — Thursday, December 7, 2017
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

With the Michigan football team’s 2017 regular season in the books, the Daily 

looks back at the performance of each unit this year and looks ahead to the 
future in 2018. In this edition: linebackers 

Well, this transition went smoother than many probably 

expected.

Entering the 2017 season, the Wolverines were tasked 
with replacing Ben Gedeon in the middle of the field, 

and Jabrill Peppers’ unique role in the VIPER spot.

Sophomores Khaleke Hudson and Devin Bush 

Jr. quickly put any speculation to rest.

Hudson — who took over at VIPER — finished 

the season with 72 tackles, two interceptions, 
seven sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. The latter 
two marks landed him fourth and third in the 

Big Ten in each respective category, and 
earned him third team All-Big Ten honors.

Not to be outdone, Bush finished with 

94 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 
eight pass break ups and an interception 
of his own. That production not only 
garnered first team All-Big Ten honors, but 
has also landed him among the finalists for 
the Butkus Award — an honor given annually 

to the nation’s top linebacker. 
Michigan 
found 
success 
outside 
the 

production of its two star sophomores, too. 

Redshirt junior Noah Furbush saw an increased 

role, playing in every game as a key component of 
defensive coordinator Don Brown’s new 3-3-5 stack 

formation. Furbush finished with 28 tackles and 
two fumble recoveries — one of which was a game-
sealing touchdown in the season opener against 
Florida.

Rounding out the group was fifth-year senior 

Mike McCray — the sole key contributor who 
returned to the unit. The Wolverines’ defensive 
captain finished the year with a career-high 13 
tackles for loss and 75 total tackles — two shy of 
also becoming a career high.
HIGH POINT: Like the majority of Michigan’s 

defensive unit, there was a fair share of dominant 

performances.
Bush’s coming out party came early, as he dominated the 

Gators at AT&T Stadium to open the season.

He finished that game with seven tackles — 2.5 for loss 

— and 1.5 sacks. Bush wasted no time in building off that 
momentum, as he recorded a season-high 12 tackles just two 
games later against Air Force.

He wouldn’t be in the running for the Butkus Award if those 
performances didn’t become the norm, but those two early-

season performances were highlights — especially 

when few knew what to expect out of him this 

season.

Hudson’s showing against Minnesota was one 

for the record books — literally. Against the 
Golden Gophers, he finished with 15 tackles, 
eight tackles for loss and three sacks for a loss of 
34 yards. The eight tackles for loss set program 
and conference records for a single game. 

Last but not least, McCray led the Wolverines 

with three tackles for loss against the Buckeyes, 
and finished with 11 total tackles — a mark only 
matched by Rashan Gary.

LOW POINT: The Wolverines left Happy 

Valley with a whimper in late October.

Michigan’s linebackers were no exception. 

Saquon Barkley ran all over the Wolverines, 
averaging 7.2 yards per carry and scoring 
two rushing touchdowns.

But Barkley’s 42-yard receiving touchdown 

with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth 
quarter really told the tale of the Wolverines’ 
struggles.

Barkley dusted McCray in coverage just 10 

yards into the route, making one move before 
heading straight down the right hashmarks. 
Trace McSorley had an easy throw, and he made 
it.

He found the end zone, and Michigan went 

down by 22.

Though far less concerning, Bush also went 

through a three-game stretch against Michigan 
State, Indiana and Penn State in which he didn’t 
record a single tackle for loss. Bush admitted 
he noticed that people adjusted to him, trying 
to take him out of plays. In turn, Bush adjusted 
himself, finishing the season in the same way he 
started.

Calling it a low point would be hyperbole, but 

after emerging as Michigan’s breakout star early 
in the season, Bush’s three-game spell was, at 

the very least, surprising.

THE FUTURE: Bush and Hudson will 
be back, now equipped with a full year of 

experience. Furbush has another year 

of eligibility as well. Don Brown can 
rest easy in that regard.

McCray, however, has exhausted 

his eligibility.

The 
Wolverines 
will 
return 

freshmen 
Drew 
Singleton 
and 

Jordan 
Anthony, 
along 
with 

sophomores Josh Uche and Devin 

Gil.

There 
has 
been 
little 

indication of who could fill 
McCray’s 
shoes, 
but 
the 

matchup 
against 
Florida 

at least gave a hint. After 
McCray briefly exited the 
game with an injury, Gil 

was the one to take McCray’s 

snaps.

Season Totals

Bush: 94 tackles, 9.5 for loss

Hudson: 72 tackles, 16.5 for loss
McCray: 75 tackles, 13 for loss
Furbush: 28 tackles, 1.5 for loss

KEVIN SANTO

Managing Sports Editor
Season in Review 2017: 
L I N E B A C K E R S

PHOTOS BY SAM MOUSIGIAN, AMELIA 
CACCHIONE, EVAN AARON

DESIGN BY AVA WEINER 

