ANN ARBOR, MI — On Saturday, a few Wolverines received some high praise ahead of the 2023 college football season. Three Michigan football stars were named preseason All-Americans by famed sports analytics outlet Pro Football Focus. Here is the trio of Michigan Wolverines that made the preseason All-American list according to PFF.
Three Michigan football stars make Pro Football Focus preseason All-American team
Here are the three Michigan football stars that were named to PFF’s preseason All-American list:
Blake Corum (running back) is first Michigan football star named
After an incredible 2022 season, Michigan football star running back Blake Corum is gearing up for an even better season this fall. With a more expirienced offensive line, a veteran quarterback, an incredible defense, and more, Corum will start his revenge tour this September after missing out on the Heisman Trophy ceremony a season ago.
From PFF: “Corum’s 96.2 grade didn’t just lead all players in the country this past season, it was the best PFF has ever seen from a Power Five player.”
Transfer center Drake Nugent named preseason All-American
Drake Nugent is one of the newest Michigan football stars, after transferring to the University of Michigan from Stanford following the 2022 season. Nugent will come in looking to fill the massive shoes of standout center Olu Oluwatimi, who won the Rimington Award, the Outland Trophy, and more during his single season in the Maize and Blue.
From PFF: “Despite losing Outland Trophy winner Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan should still have elite play in the middle of its offensive line.
“Nugent is the highest-ranked center on this list and is the most valuable returning player at the position in the Power Five according to PFF’s wins above average metric. The Stanford transfer’s 84.1 run-blocking grade ranked third among all centers in the country this past season. Between Nugent creating holes in the middle and two top-10 running backs in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, the Wolverines’ ground game should once again be deadly next season.”
Will Johnson (defensive back) is in for a huge season in 2023
After a standout true freshman season in 2022, Michigan football star defensive back Will Johnson is expected to be among the nation’s best corners in 2023. Johnson comes into the year ranked as the second-best corner (behind Penn State’s Kalen King) in the Big Ten and could have All-American-level play as the new leader of the Wolverines’ defense.
From “PFF: Johnson entered Ann Arbor as a five-star recruit and showed immediately that he was worth the hype.
“He’ll remind many of Patrick Surtain II thanks to his size (6-foot-2) and lockdown ability. As a true freshman, Johnson led all corners in the Power Five with a 91.1 grade in man coverage. His two interceptions in man were also tied for fifth in that same group.”
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