CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Michigan preview

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Michigan Wolverines

Drew's time to shine

College Football: The New Century

'99: 10-2, 6-2 Big Ten

Coach

Lloyd Carr (sixth season, 49-13)

Key offensive players

Drew Henson, QB, Jr.
The strong-armed Henson completed 52 percent of his passes last season as a backup.

David Terrell, WR, Jr.
Named the Orange Bowl MVP after catching a school bowl-record 10 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

Anthony Thomas, RB, Sr.
"A-train" is the top returning rusher in the Big Ten (1,257 yards) and should be better since he has a healthy supporting cast this season.

Steve Hutchinson, OG, Sr.
Three-time All-Big Ten performer is the anchor on a strong offensive line.

Key defensive players

Eric Wilson, DL, Sr.
Versatile lineman could fill nose tackle position vacated by Rob Renes.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Bennie Oosterbaan, E, 1925-27
"Three-time All-American also coached the Wolverines to 1948 national championship."

Brightest Moment: First-year coach Bo Schembechler's Wolverines upset a powerful Ohio State team in 1969 that had many players back from its national championship squad.

Lowest Moment: Wolverines fans were clearly dejected to lose every bowl game they played in the 1970s. Starting with the Jan. 1, 1970, Rose Bowl and ending with the Dec. 28, 1979, Gator Bowl, the Wolverines lost seven bowls, including five Rose Bowls.

James Whitley, CB, Sr.

Two-year starter was second on the team last season with nine pass breakups and fourth in tackles.

Key newcomer

Chris Perry, RB, Fr. A 6-2, 215-pound back, Perry is expected to make an immediate contribution.

Throwback player

Senior defensive lineman Eric Wilson can play a lot of different positions along the line and likes to get physical.

21st century player

Michigan players tend to be pretty conservative but junior wide receiver David Terrell is certainly the most flamboyant of the bunch.

Fast Fact

Carr is 11-1 against top 10 teams in his five years as coach.

Outlook

The Wolverines might have the most offensive talent in the league with Henson, Terrell, Thomas and a strong line led by Hutchinson and tackle Jeff Backus. The Wolverines only rushed for 121.8 yards per game last season -- their lowest total in 37 years -- but the line got progressively better and the team now has more depth at running back. The lack of returnees on defense has Carr questioning those who pick the Wolverines as the Big Ten favorite. "When you lose as many players on defense as we did, especially players that have been team leaders, then you are faced with a major rebuilding season," he said. But Michigan gets a slight nod as the favorite over Wisconsin because it hosts the Badgers.

-- Mark Ambrogi