| • Connecticut is among the most well-represented states on the U-M roster. Six Wolverines call the Constitution State home: offensive lineman Tristan Bounds (Wallingford), edge Kechaun Bennett (Suffield), wide receivers Cornelius Johnson (Greenwich), Will Rolapp (Darien), and Jake Thaw (Westport), and tight end Luke Schoonmaker (Hamden). • U-M is on to the third and final non-conference matchup as part of a four-game home slate to kick off the season. The Wolverines are 18-0 in non-conference games played at Michigan Stadium under Coach Jim Harbaugh. • With 16 players making collegiate in the season-opener and another 10 last weekend, 26 players have seen their first college action in the season’s early going. In addition, five different first-year Wolverines who joined the team via transfer made U-M debuts, meaning 31 total players have seen their first playing time as Wolverines this season. • U-M is tied for the top-ranked scoring offense in the country at 53.5 points per game. The team’s 107 points scored through two weeks are the second-most in the Harbaugh era (2016: 114 points) and tie for the sixth-highest total in program history. Those totals rank: 142 points (1892), 136 points (1902), 127 points (1914), 114 points (2016), 109 points (1905, 1921), 107 points (1901, 1903, 2022). • The Wolverines list 11th in scoring defense, allowing 8.5 points per game with 14 of 17 total points allowed in the fourth quarter. The 17 points surrendered are tied with the 2016 season for the fourth-lowest total through two weeks in the last 25 years (1997, six points; 2003, 10 points; 2000, 14 points). • Quarterback J.J. McCarthy received a grade of 93.7 by Pro Football Focus College (PFFCollege) in his first career start against Hawaii. That mark is the best single-game grade for a quarterback in the Harbaugh era. Other top performances include: McNamara vs. Western Michigan, Week 1, 2021, 93.0; Patterson vs. Rutgers, Week 11, 2018, and McCaffrey vs. Nebraska, Week 4, 2018, 92.5; Rudock vs. Florida, Citrus Bowl, 2015, 92.4; Speight vs. Maryland, Week 10, 2016, 91.9. • McCarthy has produced a lofty touchdown rate of 10.7 percent thus far in his career (eight on 75 attempts). Half of those eight touchdown passes have been explosive plays, checking in at 35, 42, 56, and 69 yards. • That does not include McCarthy’s ability to contribute on the ground, which has produced three career rushing touchdowns and a 6.1-yard-per-carry average, before adjusting for sacks. Each of the last seven offensive drives that were started and ended by McCarthy has led to a touchdown. • So far, 16 different Wolverines have at least one catch this season. Ronnie Bell (seven catches) leads the group in receptions and Roman Wilson (two) leads in touchdowns. Wilson (one rushing, three total) has three touchdowns on four offensive touches total. • The U-M offensive line has allowed four negative plays on 123 offensive snaps (two in each game), or on 3.25 percent of all offensive snaps. The unit allowed 34 total TFLs in 2021, the fewest in the nation. • The line has helped bolster the run game to the tune of 7.2 sack-adjusted rush yards per attempt and 8.4 yards per play overall. • Running back Blake Corum has 164 rushing yards so far this year with 74 coming after contact, according to PFFCollege. Corum (22 carries), Donovan Edwards (15), and C.J. Stokes (14) are all averaging better than six yards per attempt in the early going with Corum pacing the group at 7.5 YPC, good for 10th nationally. • Among FBS backs with at least 10 attempts, Edwards (second, 87.7) and Corum (24th, 79.5) are both ranked among the top 25 graded players by PFFCollege. They rank first and seventh in the Big Ten, respectively. Nathan Carter of UConn (83.3) ranks eighth nationally. • Despite Michigan being a heavy favorite in both games and the Wolverines jumping out to quick leads in both games, opponents have combined to average only 125 passing yards allowed per game, the eighth fewest in the country through two weeks. For the second straight game to begin the year, the U-M defense yielded just 3.7 yards per play to its opponent. • Seven different Wolverines recorded a pass breakup in week two, matching a single-game high from the 2021 season (Washington, Week 1). On the season, 12 different Wolverines have at least a share of a TFL with Mike Morris (3.0) leading the way. • Jaylen Harrell has been credited by PFFCollege with six pressures, including five hurries, on just 24 pass rush snaps. Only John Waggoner (Iowa, six hurries) has more among fellow Big Ten players with at least 10 pass rush snaps. Braiden McGregor (four hurries) is among a four-man contingent of Big Ten players that make up the next highest-ranked group. • Six attempts into the 2022 campaign, no punt returner has gained a yard against the U-M punt coverage team and punter Brad Robbins, though two have tried without gaining a yard. The other four attempts have been downed, fair caught or rolled out of bounds. His special teams partner Jake Moody has allowed one 23-yard return on 15 kickoffs. |
