Michigan vs. Illinois game balls: Mining for gold in rough showing
The Michigan Wolverines fell to 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in Big Ten play after a 21-7 loss at Illinois on Saturday. Typically, a performance like that would not have a ton of contributors rewarded for their play, but there were some good performances to mine from the setback in Champaign.
The Wolverine’s panel of contributors – Chris Balas, Anthony Broome and Clayton Sayfie – weigh in with their game ball picks from the Week 8 showdown.
Here is what they came up with this week.
Chris Balas: The Michigan tight ends
Junior tight end Colston Loveland gets the nod as Michigan’s top performer in this game. He was targeted 10 times – which should be a weekly occurrence – and finished with 7 catches for 83 yards. He was not able to add to his touchdown total of two so far this season, but it is clear than any hope of a passing game this season is dependent on the types of numbers and performances he puts up. That might not even be enough, as we have seen at times this season. There have been a lot of people worried about players mailing it in, but Loveland will not be one of them, and wants Michigan to be a team that wrecks people’s seasons the rest of the way, as he put it.
Anthony Broome: Graduate running back Kalel Mullings
Michigan, for whatever reason, wants to try and make this a backfield timeshare between Mullings and Donovan Edwards. There should definitely be a role for Edwards and both should have opportunities on the field at the same time, but it should not take a big mistake for Mullings to get the lion’s share of carries. By the time the game ended on Saturday, Mullings finished the contest with 19 carries for 87 yards and the game’s only touchdown. There’s not much more that can be said that already has not. He should be a weekly shoo-in for game ball consideration.
Top 10
- 1
Kirby Smart
UGA head coach calls out ESPN, officials
- 2New
SEC admits mistake
SEC releases statement on reversed PI
- 3
Sark stands by Quinn
Steve Sarkisian reaffirms Quinn Ewers as starter
- 4
Bama fans: “Bench Milroe”
Alabama fans react to 24-17 loss to Tennessee
- 5
Police save goalpost
Neyland security stops Tennessee fans from taking down goalposts
Clayton Sayfie: Illinois junior linebacker Gabe Jacas
Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other side of the matchup, and Illinois’ linebacker was all over the place in Saturday’s win over the Wolverines. He finished the game with 13 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, giving Michigan’s offense nightmares from start to finish. The Illini had five sacks as a team on Saturday, meaning Jacas made up for exactly half the team’s output.
Michigan honorable mentions
• Freshman tight end Hogan Hansen: 4 catches, 50 yards
• EDGE duo Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore: 0.5 sack each
• Junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham: 7 total tackles, 2 pass breakups
• Junior nickel Zeke Berry and sophomore corner Jyaire Hill: Pass defended each
