Wolverines' Maurice Hurst returning for fifth year

Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst will return for his fifth year of eligibility.

A week after coach Jim Harbaugh led a public campaign to keep him during the team's bust, Hurst announced his plans today.

“I decided I’m going to come back for my fifth year next year and start my master’s degree and play another year of football,” Hurst said today at Schembechler Hall. “After thinking it through with my family, coach Harbaugh and coach (Greg) Mattison, we figured out that’s what I wanted to do, improve on some things.”

Hurst made the decision before even receiving NFL draft feedback, which he thinks won't be back until next week.

But that wasn't necessary to tip his decision.

Hurst had an unusual resource in roommate Chris Wormley, who had been saying for a long time that Hurst would be back. Today, Wormley walked past Hurst’s interview session, chanting, “Mo’s back.”

“He probably knows me better than most people,” Hurst said. “I think Chris kind of went through a similar thing as me, and he kind of thought through everything for himself. We’re pretty similar people, so he probably just assumed that would be the best decision for me going forward.”

At the bust, Harbaugh asked fans to tweet at Hurst to have him return.

With 31 tackles (9.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, Hurst matched his 2015 production despite playing this year on the second team. Next year, he’ll get the chance to start, likely with Chase Winovich, Rashan Gary and Bryan Mone joining him.

Next season, he'll lead that talented line of players who were backups this season.

"I've been playing with them pretty much all year, it's not too much of a change," he said. "Those guys are so special in their own sense. A little bit different than the players were had in front of us.

Plus he'll be motivated after going unrecognized on the All-Big Ten teams. Eleven U-M defensive players were honored in some fashion, but Hurst he was left off.

He made it clear that night in a tweet: "Happy for all those who won awards today ... I'm All Big-Ten in my Momma's eyes."

Three weeks later Hurst wasn't stewing over it, but the snub will push him.

"It definitely does motivate me," he said. "I think it makes sense to motivate you. It is upsetting not to receive any sort of honorable mention or anything like that. In the same light, it is really exciting to see 11 players on our defense get that award. That just speaks volumes to the type of defense we had this year."

Hurst isn't sure where he'll pursue his master's degree, though business is a possibility.

He sees many areas to improve in football, including leadership, an area left to other, more vocal leaders the past few years. With an influx of young talent at the position, he understands that may become his important role.

Watching Wormley, who was a co-captain this year, helped him see how it could play out.

"How you carry yourself as a leader of the defense, you've got to to be more careful of the things you say and the conversations you have with people," Hurst said. "But I think it's great though to be looked at as a leader or your team."

Hurst's NFL value certainly could rise with a year as a starter, but his impact for the Wolverines may be the reason Harbaugh was campaigning so hard for him last week.

"It gives the defense a guy who can change the game from the D-line," U-M nose tackle Ryan Glasgow said. "A guy who can probably take it over. Mo's an unbelievable football player and he's instant production type of deal. He can get a sack, (tackle for loss) whenever, makes tackles, muddle up the middle in the run game, get after it in the pass game.

"It changes the defensive dynamic and gives the defensive line a leader."

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Contact Mark Snyder atmsnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra app on iTunes and Android!