Jay Harbaugh, Michigan’s special teams coordinator and safeties coach, tweeted about an interesting number for the Wolverines.
Jay, one of many Harbaughs on staff, served as Ann Arbor’s special teams coordinator for four seasons and did a good job. Draft picks are rarely used as evidence to support special teams coaches, but Jay is an exception. In last year’s draft, Michigan had both a kicker and a punter taken. Jake Moody competed in the third round, and Brad Robbins in the sixth. Even better, former long snapper Camaron Cheeseman was selected in 2021! How’s that for trivia?
Consider how far your memory is stretched as you try to recollect the most recent successful kickoff return against the Wolverines. J.J. McCarthy had not yet enrolled, the team was 2-4, and Joe Milton was regarded as the future quarterback.
Of course, the situation has greatly improved since then. Michigan’s last three seasons have resulted in a total 40-3 record, three Big Ten championships, one Rose Bowl victory, and an indisputable national title. That is a very good run, if you ask me. And if you ask Jay Harbaugh and others around the programme, they’ll most likely attribute that streak to strong special teams. They wouldn’t be completely wrong, either.
Michigan has utilised a few kickers throughout this time. Tommy Doman this year, and Jake “Money” Moody in the previous two seasons. Moody is the Niners’ starting kicker, and Doman appears to be a future NFL punter.
Michigan’s kickoff unit exudes a particular enthusiasm that other teams lack. The first 11 on the pitch after a touchdown take satisfaction in their work, however other schools may view it as a consolation award for not starting. Caden Kolesar gets special recognition here. The former walk-on has been a standout on the team and may have earned an invite to an NFL camp as a result. Kolesar was awarded the team’s 2021 special teams player of the year, and he went on to win six special teams player of the week titles in the next two seasons. Kolesar also participates to other special units, but he does the majority of his job covering kicks.
