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