On Tuesday morning, University of Michigan Head Football Coach Brady Hoke announced the players that would wear the special uniform numbers to honor legendary players in Michigan Football history. Linebackers Jake Ryan (#47) and Desmond Morgan (#48) are the two returning players that will wear Michigan Legends jerseys, Ryan honoring Bennie Oosterbaan and Morgan honoring Gerald Ford.
Upon the graduations of Roy Roundtree (#21), Brandon Moore (#87) and Jordan Kovacs (#11), however, Hoke had three of the honorable jerseys to give out in 2013. The three players he chose are crucial to the success of Michigan this season, and Hoke likely hopes that the importance of wearing these numbers will inspire the young men to be leaders on and off the field.
The #87 jersey honoring Ron Kramer will be worn by tight end Devin Funchess. Funchess is one of the most important pieces in the receiving core this season, especially after the loss of spring breakout receiver Amara Darboh to a foot injury. The 6'5 tight end will now represent the main big target for Devin Gardner. Most of the receiving core is built on speed and quickness, with players like Jeremy Gallon, Drew Dileo and Jehu Chesson, so Funchess will need to be a consistent option over the middle of the field for the first-year starting quarterback.
Last season, Funchess took college stage by storm, racking up 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first two games against Air Force and UMass. Funchess appeared to be one of the greatest offensive weapons on the team, and quickly became a fan favorite on campus.
Throughout the final 10 games, however, the true freshman faded from the offense, totaling less than 100 yards during that span. His 234 yards and five touchdowns earned him a spot on the Football Writers Associate of America All-freshman Team, but Hoke knows that consistency is the key to the rest of Funchess's career. Hopefully, granting the sophomore with a Legends jersey will spark him during 2013.
Fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon will honor Desmond Howard with the #21 jersey, after watching Roy Roundtree define his career with big plays wearing that number in 2012. Gallon, like Funchess, is crucial to Gardner's success in the passing game. The two athletes developed great chemistry towards the end of last season, as Gardner's impressive accuracy helped the production of Gallon skyrocket down the stretch.
This achievement is a fitting one for Gallon in his final year on campus, as he has risen from a below-average kick returner to the most reliable receiver on the team. Though by no means is he the kind of player Howard was, Gallon's ability to make exciting plays and break big gains makes this a fitting match.
On the defensive end, Kovac's #11 was given to defensive back Courtney Avery. This jersey is worn in honor of the Wistert brothers, who all played tackle for the Wolverines. Avery figures to be the senior leader of the secondary this year, which makes him an X-factor for the Michigan defense.
Though he will sit out the season opener against Central Michigan after having arthroscopic knee surgery, the team captain will be a reliable asset in the secondary for Hoke during the Big Ten season. Losing the production and leadership of Kovacs and Ryan for the start of the 2013 season has left the defense in need of a strong voice, and being named team captain and wearing #11 lays that responsibility on the shoulders of Avery.
Receiving a Legends patch doesn't change the ability of a player on the field, but it should have an effect on how they view their role on the team. The players and traditions that these numbers represent will weigh heavily on Funchess, Gallon and Avery and prompt them to make their own mark on Michigan Football history. Brady Hoke is expecting a big 2013 from these players, and he made that public with the assignment of these three simple numbers.
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