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Thursday, June 18, 2020

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS

Jackson fronts dynamic special teams

When considering Giles Jackson’s 

game-breaking speed, a few plays 
come to mind.

Sure, there’s the reverse handoff 

he took 22 yards for a touchdown 
against Ohio State. Or the 40-yard 
reception off a wheel route against 
Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. But 
when examining Jackson’s full body 
of work as a freshman last fall, one 
image stands out most.

On a sunny November afternoon 

in College Park, against Maryland, 
Jackson only needed one juke to take 
the opening kickoff to the house. As 
he trotted across the goal line for 
a 97-yard touchdown, 11 Terrapins 
helplessly lagged behind him.

Jackson’s tone-setting touchdown 

against Maryland paved the way for 
a 38-7 win while simultaneously 
showcasing his value in the grand 
scheme of things. Beyond his 
increased offensive responsibilities 
as the season progressed, the 5-foot-
9 speedster averaged nearly 26 yards 
across 24 returns as Michigan’s 
primary option last season en route 
to an All-Big Ten honorable mention 
selection.

“Giles is a real ascending player,” 

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said 
after the Citrus Bowl. “... He’s a true 
freshman, so I didn’t know exactly 
what you’re going to have in a true 
freshman, but he has really produced 
and had a heck of a year.”

What, exactly, did Michigan have 

in Jackson? Last fall, he became just 
the second player in program history 
to score a touchdown by rushing, 
receiving and kick returning in the 
same season. And he did it at 17 years 
old.

Heading into his sophomore 

season, Jackson is set to spearhead 
arguably the deepest group of special 
teams returners the Wolverines 
have carried in the Harbaugh 
era. And as special of a freshman 
season as Jackson might’ve had, the 
Wolverines’ running backs coach 
and 
special 
teams 
coordinator 

Jay Harbaugh still sees untapped 
potential in Jackson’s return game.

“(Jackson) is crazy fast, super 

talented,” Jay said in a teleconference 
Friday. “He even left some yards out 
there last year that I think this year 
he’s gonna be able to take advantage 
of as he continues to improve the 
way he understands our system, 
seeing the blocking scheme develop. 
Expecting a huge year from him.”

Behind 
Jackson, 
Harbaugh 

identified presumed VIPER Mike 
Barrett, receivers Ronnie Bell and 
Mike Sainristil, running back Blake 
Corum 
and 
cornerback 
Andre 

Seldon as others who could see 
action as kick returners. Barrett, in 
particular, has proven himself as a 
blocker in the role of off-returner, 
while safety Daxton Hill and 
running back Chris Evans have also 
seen time as returners.

“(Jackson) has a great group of 

guys who are going to be able to 
compete with him, make him better 
and be back there with him,” Jay 

said. “… We feel great about the 
quality of guys back there, which is 
really necessary because as soon as 
a returner becomes a big-play threat, 
that’s when you see that guy doesn’t 
get the ball that much anymore, so it’s 
important to have someone else back 
there that is a legit big-play threat.”

As for returning punts, Michigan 

will be forced to adjust to life without 
Donovan Peoples-Jones, who left for 
the NFL during the winter following 
his junior campaign. In his three 
seasons returning punts, he racked 
up 743 yards across 89 attempts and 
scored a pair of touchdowns.

With Peoples-Jones now gone, 

the Wolverines could hand the keys 
to Bell, who returned eight punts last 
season. Michigan could also turn to 
Jackson or Barrett, while Harbaugh 
also touted the “electric” potential 
of incoming freshman receivers 
Roman Wilson and AJ Henning.

“I’m 
confident 
(Wilson 
and 

Henning) will at least be able to 
compete and push those guys,” 
Jay said. “If they can get to the 
point where they can catch it with 
confidence at some point during the 
year, they could be legit dudes as 
well.”

Regardless of which direction the 

Wolverines go, there’s no shortage 
of viable options within the group. 
And in the event multiple candidates 
prove themselves, it wouldn’t be 
surprising to see a plateau system.

But for now, it seems pretty like 

one option stands above the rest.

“We love Giles back there,” Jay 

said. “I think everybody does.”

MILES MACKLIN/Daily

Sophomore receiver Giles Jackson is preparing for a season with more responsibility on special teams and offense.

DANIEL DASH
Daily Sports Writer

Michigan opens up for 
some athletes to return

Michigan will join the schools 

that have allowed some athletes 
back on campus for voluntary 
workouts this week, the school 
announced in a press release 
Monday.

Football, men’s basketball and 

women’s basketball athletes will be 
allowed on campus for voluntary 
strength 
and 
conditioning 

workouts, 
returning 
in 
four 

phases. That includes a 14-day 
pre-report risk assessment, a six-
day resocialization period back to 
campus and daily risk assessments.

All athletes will be tested 

for COVID-19 and antibodies. 
There will also be team physicals, 
concussion testing, sleep surveys, 
fitness testing, mobility screening, 
body 
composition, 
nutrition 

evaluations and regular medical 
testing.

Athletes in other fall sports 

will return to campus after the 
successful 
reintroduction 
of 

football, men’s basketball and 
women’s 
basketball, 
per 
the 

release.

“We are pleased to start the 

process of welcoming student-
athletes back to our campus 
through a medical and public 
health-informed 
protocol 
and 

plan,” athletic director Warde 
Manuel said in the release. “We 
continue to take the utmost care 
to ensure that all student-athletes 
and staff return to a safe and 
healthy environment.

“Our protocols and plans have 

been developed by medical experts 
from across U-M’s campus, who 
have collaborated with officials at 
the local, state and national levels. 
I appreciate the contributions and 
comprehensive efforts across so 
many groups and in coordination 
with the Big Ten conference and 
peers across the NCAA.”

Athletes 
and 
coaches 
will 

be screened daily before being 
allowed 
into 
facilities, 
where 

high-risk areas will be sanitized 
daily. Those who test positive for 
COVID-19 will enter a quarantine.

“I am so grateful we are able to 

make our way back to Ann Arbor 
after all these months,” men’s 
basketball coach Juwan Howard 
said in a release. “It has been a very 
unusual time to say the least. What 
has been so impressive is to watch, 
read and have zoom calls to better 
understand all the efforts and new 
procedures being made — so many 
talented and caring doctors and 
administrators — to ensure we 
are safe. Make no mistake about 
it, the COVID-19 pandemic is so 
much bigger than basketball and 
we do not take that lightly. We 
have challenges ahead, but we 
know taking this first step is key to 
returning to a normal routine.”

Though the University has not 

yet announced plans to reopen 
for students in the fall, allowing 
some athletes back could be a 
natural first step towards that 
end. University President Mark 
Schlissel has said that if students 
are not on campus, there will be no 
sports.

Now, with some athletes back, 

everyone else will wait.

ETHAN SEARS

Managing Sports Editor

ALLISON ENGKVIST/Daily

Football along with men’s and women’s basketball will return to campus.

