College Football
Player Profile: Rashan Gary
He may be the third ranked draft prospect by nfl.com, but defensive end Rashan Gary is focused on winning championships this season. He says he’s not thinking about the NFL at all, just about winning the Big Ten and then the national championship. At the end of the 2018 season he will be draft eligible, but will also be eligible to return to Michigan for another season. The decision, of course, will be his.
College Career
Gary joined the Michigan team in 2016 as the highest touted recruit in the country. Despite the fact that Chris Wormley was still playing in Michigan in Gary’s freshman year, Gary played in all 13 games. He had 27 tackles, including five for loss, and one sack.
His sophomore year was even more impressive. As the starting defensive end for the Wolverines in 2017, Gary set career highs in 5 categories. He dominated in The Game against Ohio State, with a career-high 11 tackles, 7 assists, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Against Michigan State he made a career-high 5 solo tackles. He contributed on special teams against Cincinnati and Air Force. The young defensive end had 66 tackles on the season, 12 for a loss, and 6 sacks. He also had 7 quarterback hurries.
Getting to the NFL
Gary’s resume so far is impressive, but it’s not good enough for the junior. Last year Gary, along with teammates Maurice Hurst and Chase Winovich, were the anchors for the front 7 of the 3rd best defence in the country. Hurst is now gone to the Oakland Raiders, but Gary and Winovich are aiming for the top. They want to be the best in the country, and they want to win the national championship. Gary wrote it in his locker in permanent marker for everyone to see. Coaches Don Brown and Jim Harbaugh don’t doubt that it’s possible.
Gary is a leader on the team, and the hardest working player on the team, according to his coaches. There’s no doubt that he can motivate his teammates to be the best they can be. Harbaugh went so far as to say that Gary was the best player on the team, despite only being a sophomore. Gary is determined to mentor the younger players on the team the way teammates Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton did for him in his first two years.
Looking Ahead
Michigan starts their season September 1 at Notre Dame, and opens at home the following week against Western Michigan. They haven’t played rival Notre Dame in two seasons, so it could be a good game to watch. Other noteworthy rivalry games are later in the season. The showdown against Michigan State is in East Lansing this year in the traditional last weekend in October. The Game against Ohio State, which Michigan will also play on the road, is also in its usual spot in the schedule on the last weekend in November. Maybe this year Michigan will win one of those games.
Written by Susannah Schmidt
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