Phil Steele’s 2014 All-Big Ten team released
Devin Funchess |
Phil Steele released his 2014 All-Big Ten team, and there are several Michigan players on the list.
FIRST TEAM
WR Devin Funchess
LB Jake Ryan
CB Blake Countess
SECOND TEAM
DE Frank Clark
LB Desmond Morgan
THIRD TEAM
P Will Hagerup
FOURTH TEAM
QB Devin Gardner
LB James Ross III
Many of these are interesting picks for various reasons. First of all, Devin Funchess is going into his first year as a full-time wideout, and he will also be without a proven commodity taking attention away from him in the form of Jeremy Gallon. Ryan is switching positions from strongside outside linebacker to middle linebacker in a new base defense. Countess has been rumored to be relegated to a backup role behind sophomore Jourdan Lewis, though Countess will start at slot corner. Morgan is another guy who changes positions, albeit slightly (middle linebacker to weakside linebacker). Gardner might be the most physically talented quarterback in the conference, but he’s behind Braxton Miller (understandable due to winning and good talent), Connor Cook (who came out of nowhere last year), and Christian Hackenberg (who will be without his stud receiver, Allen Robinson). I think there’s a decent chance that Gardner is a First Team or Second Team all-conference quarterback by year’s end. Meanwhile, Ross is in a battle for his position with up-and-comer Royce Jenkins-Stone.
Michigan certainly has a lot of question marks going into 2014, but that’s what happens when you go 8-5 and 7-6 in consecutive years.