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Big Ten Championship Game Preview: Michigan vs. Purdue

RUSH OFFENSE vs. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan is #5 in rushing offense (244.5 yards/game) and #5 in yards per carry (5.62). Unfortunately, running back Blake Corum – a Heisman candidate – is out for this week and possibly for the rest of the season. That leaves the injured Donovan Edwards, who has a cast on his right hand, as the likely lead back. Can Michigan get heroics out of him for a second week in a row after 22 carries, 216 yards, and 2 touchdowns against Ohio State last week? Otherwise, it’s down to freshman C.J. Stokes and walk-on Isaiah Gash. The offensive line has been outstanding and is mostly back to full strength, with all five starters earning some form of all-conference accolades. Purdue is #38 in rushing defense (128.8 yards allowed/game) and #40 in yards allowed per carry (3.91). They had some good performances early in the year, but their run defense seems to have dropped off a little bit in recent weeks. The leading tackler is junior safety Sanoussi Kane (6’0″, 205) with 63 stops, but linebacker Jalen Graham (6’3″, 220) averages a team-leading 6 tackles per game in his eight contests. Graham and defensive end Kydran Jenkins (6’1″, 270) lead the team with 4 tackles behind the line each in the run game. Michigan has leaned on other teams with success in the past, but doing it without Corum is a relatively new and unknown challenge.
Advantage: Michigan

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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady completed 29/43 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 23-17 overtime loss to the Cleveland Browns.

HONORABLE MENTION

• Devin Bush, LB (Pittsburgh Steelers): Bush made 8 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 24-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
• Frank Clark, DE (Kansas City Chiefs): Clark made 6 tackles in a 26-10 win over Los Angeles Rams.
• Nico Collins, WR (Houston Texans): Collins made 6 catches for 44 yards in a 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
• Josh Uche, OLB (New England Patriots): Uche made 1 sack in a 33-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
• Chris Wormley, DT (Pittsburgh Steelers): Wormley made 2 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in the 24-17 win over the Colts.

Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 13

FORMER PLAYERS

P George Caratan (UConn): UConn (6-6) had a bye to end the regular season and is bowl eligible. Caratan has punted 62 times for 2,503 yards (40.4 yards/punt).

C Zach Carpenter (Indiana): Carpenter started eight games, mostly at left guard due to a hand injury. Indiana (4-8) is not bowl eligible.

RB Zach Charbonnet (UCLA): Charbonnet ran 24 times for 119 yards and 1 touchdown in a 35-28 win over Cal. He also caught 4 passes for 22 yards.

THAT'S why you never give up on the play!

Zach Charbonnet gets the 1st down with a great 2nd effort for @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/FMdSJ4XC43

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 26, 2022

S Sammy Faustin (UMass): Faustin did not record any stats in a 44-7 loss to Army. Faustin made 3 tackles while playing in eleven games this season. UMass (1-11) is not bowl eligible.

OG Chuck Filiaga (Minnesota): Filiaga is a sixth year senior who starts at right guard for the Gophers.

CB Darion Green-Warren (Nevada): Green-Warren did not record any stats in a 27-22 loss to UNLV. He made 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup this season. Nevada (2-10) is not bowl eligible.

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2022 All-Big Ten Teams

The Big Ten released its all-conference teams over the past couple days, and here’s a look at the honorees for Michigan:

FIRST TEAM
RB Blake Corum (Coaches, Media)
C Olu Oluwatimi (Coaches)
OG Trevor Keegan (Coaches)
OG Zak Zinter (Coaches, Media)
DL Mike Morris (Coaches, Media)
DL Mazi Smith (Coaches, Media)

SECOND TEAM
QB J.J. McCarthy (Media)
OT Ryan Hayes (Coaches)
LB Junior Colson (Coaches)
DB D.J. Turner II (Coaches)

THIRD TEAM
WR Ronnie Bell (Coaches, Media)
TE Luke Schoonmaker (Coaches)
LB Mike Barrett (Coaches)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Jim Harbaugh
RUNNING BACK OF THE YEAR: Blake Corum
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Mike Morris
KICKER OF THE YEAR: Jake Moody

Collins Acheampong, Ex-Wolverine

Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Santa Margarita Catholic defensive end Collins Acheampong flipped from Michigan to Miami on Tuesday.

Acheampong is listed at 6’7″, 254 lbs. and is a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 athlete, and #165 overall. He committed to Michigan back in July. That commitment came on the heels of it looking like he might commit to Miami, so this dalliance has been going on a long time. Acheampong also recently took visits to UCLA and USC.

Acheampong was the highest rated player in Michigan’s class, but the Wolverines have other edge players in the fold, including Enow Etta, Aymeric Koumba, and fresh commit Jason Hewlett. Etta may turn into an interior player and Hewlett has some versatility at 6’4″ and 220 lbs., but there are at least some solid pieces to work with.

This is the fourth decommit in the class of 2023, where Acheampong joins DT Joel Starlings (North Carolina), TE Andrew Rappleyea (Penn State), and LB Raylen Wilson (Georgia).