5 Bold Predictions: Week 4 vs Maryland
1. JJ Throws for 300+
Even though Maryland will be JJ McCarthy’s 3rd career start, he hasn’t really been afforded the opportunity to string together 4 consecutive quarters of football. Showing flashes of brilliance in limited action as a freshman, JJ appears poised to become the answer to the annual underwhelming quarterback play in Ann Arbor. So far this season, JJ boasts the 5th highest individual passing grade in the country according to PFF, and I anticipate his success will continue with a 300+ passing yard performance against Maryland.
2. Schoonmaker Scores
There have been rumblings of a possible injury to 1st string tight end, Erick All, which could potentially hold him out of the game this Saturday against the Terrapins. If true, All will undoubtedly be missed, but Michigan is in good shape at the TE position. Luke Schoonmaker has shown the ability to make big plays. In fact, he was tackled just inches short of the goal line last week. There are many more notable offensive players on the Michigan roster, so I believe it’s bold to predict a Luke Schoonmaker score this weekend.
3. Corum Adds Multiple Rushing Touchdowns
Star running back Blake Corum currently leads the nation in rushing touchdowns this season. Last week against UConn, he managed to rack up 5 total TD’s, tying a Michigan record set the previous season by his teammate Hassan Haskins. With an offensive line that appears to be healthy heading into the game, I predict Corum will add at least 2 more rushing touchdowns against Maryland.
4. DJ Turner Doesn't Give Up a Catch
All offseason, I’ve been on record saying that DJ Turner is the Wolverine that I believe is most likely to put in an All-American performance this season(Jake Moody and Brad Robbins aside). While Maryland boasts the 7th highest PFF passing grade in the nation through week 3, Turner is as “lock-down” as they come. I’m hopeful that we will see a DJ Turner masterclass on Saturday in which he doesn’t give up a single catch in man coverage.
5. Gus Johnson Mentions Eyabi's Name Change
Okay, this one is just fun. Michigan fans have grown accustomed to some legendary Gus Johnson calls, especially after him announcing a few of our biggest games last season. He loves to point out unique stories and always brings fantastic energy. Last week, transfer defensive end Eyabi Anoma announced that he had officially changed his name to Eyabi Okie. For my final prediction of the week, Gus Johnson will mention Eyabi’s name change in some way, shape, or form.
