Michigan football countdown to kickoff: 74 days until 2022 season
There’s much anticipation heading into the Michigan Wolverines football season, and TheWolverine.com is counting down the days until the Sept. 3 opener against Colorado State. We’ll discuss the current Michigan events, upcoming season and/or take a look at a significant number that correlates with how many days remain until kickoff, whether it be a player’s jersey number, a year, a date, a score, etc.
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With 74 days until Michigan kicks off its 2022 season, we begin with junior wide receiver A.J. Henning‘s 74-yard rushing touchdown against Western Michigan last season. The end-around score marked the Wolverines’ longest rushing touchdown of the season, and it came in the first game.
It was one of 17 50-plus yard plays on the campaign, which ranked second in the country. The Wolverines’ six 70-plus yard plays were tied for first in the nation.
Play the embedded video at the 6:10 mark for Henning’s run
Henning actually excelled more as a runner than a pass-catcher, with 162 rushing yards on nine carries compared to 79 yards on 10 catches. Now, heading into the 2022 season, Michigan is planning on using him in an expanded role, which will include some time at running back.
Henning is at his best in the open field — like how the end-around against WMU turned into a play resembling a kick return — and Michigan is intent on giving him more chances to get in space.
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Michigan football jersey number spotlight: Ben Bredeson
Former Michigan offensive lineman Ben Bredeson is one of the top players of the Jim Harbaugh era at Michigan, playing from 2016-19. He was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2019 and second team in 2017 and 2018) and named second-team All-American in 2019. He was tabbed as a freshman All-American in 2016. Just as impressive as the other accomplishments, if not more, Bredeson was named a team captain in both 2018 and 2019 — and it’s a rare feat to earn that distinction twice at Michigan.
He started a whopping 46 career games — all at left guard — and was one of the Wolverines’ best offensive players each season he was on the field.
Bredeson was a fourth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, and played with the franchise for one season. He appeared in 10 games, before suffering an injury, then was traded to the New York Giants ahead of the 2021 campaign. He appeared in eight games with one start last season, when he battled a hand injury. He’s slated as the backup right guard for this fall.
Michigan football countdown to kickoff
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