Three Michigan soccer stars are crowned preseason All-Americans
ANN ARBOR, MI — On Saturday, some Wolverines received high praise ahead of the 2023 college football season. Three Michigan soccer stars have been named preseason All-Americans by famed sports analysis site Pro Football Focus. Here’s the trio of Michigan Wolverines who made the preseason All-American list, according to the PFF.
Three Michigan football stars make up Pro Football Focus’ all-American preseason team
Here are the three Michigan soccer stars named to PFF’s preseason All-American roster:
Blake Corum (running back) is the first Michigan soccer star to be named
After an incredible 2022 season, Michigan running back Blake Corum is gearing up for an even better season this fall. With a more experienced offensive line, experienced quarterback, incredible defense and more, Corum will begin his revenge tour in September after missing the Heisman Trophy ceremony a season ago.
From PFF: “Corum’s 96.2 score not only led every player in the country last season, it was the best PFF a Power Five player has ever seen.”
Transfer center Drake Nugent named Preseason All-American
Drake Nugent is one of Michigan’s newest football stars, having joined the University of Michigan from Stanford after the 2022 season. Nugent will follow in the footsteps of center standout Olu Oluwatimi, who has won the Rimington Award, Outland Trophy and more during his only season at Maize and Blue.
From PFF: “Despite losing Outland Trophy winner Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan should still have an elite game down the middle of their offensive line.
“Nugent is the highest-ranked center on this list and the most valuable returning player in the Power Five position on PFF’s above-average metric. The Stanford transfer’s 84.1 run-blocking class ranked third among all centers in the country last season. Between Nugent creating holes down the middle and two top 10 running backs in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, the Wolverines’ ground game should be deadly again next season.”
Will Johnson (defensive back) has a big season ahead of him in 2023
After a stellar true freshman season in 2022, Michigan soccer star Will Johnson’s defenseman, Will Johnson, is expected to be among the best corners in the country in 2023. Coming into the year as the second-best corner (behind Penn State’s Kalen King) in the Big Ten, Johnson could play at an all-American level as the new leader of the Wolverines defense.
From “PFF: Johnson entered Ann Arbor as a five-star recruit and immediately showed he was worth the hype.
“He will remind many of Patrick Surtain II thanks to his height (6ft 2) and lockdown ability. A true freshman, Johnson led all corners of the Power Five with a 91.1 mark in man marking. His two male interceptions also finished fifth in the same group.”
