U-M's Rashan Gary works through freshman year, will grow

Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Rashan Gary entered this season as a freshman, carrying the burden of being the No. 1 recruit in the nation.

He played as a reserve defensive end for most of the year, recording 27 tackles, five for loss and a sack.

It was a strong freshman year, but playing behind a dominant senior line, he took time to grow into his role. After Friday's Orange Bowl, he will ascend to a starting role, something he had prepared for this year, behind the scenes.

"If you said to him, what did your freshman year like, he'd probably (grumble,)" U-M defensive coordinator Don Brown said. "But he's really gotten a lot better. He's playing at a very high level right now. I'm really excited about his future."

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His teammates see the growth in Gary, partly because he didn't just accept that his talent would carry him.

"Rashan's ceiling is so high because he's such an amazing player," said U-M defensive end Chase Winovich, who will likely start on the opposite defensive end next year. "I remember when he came in watching him in 7 on 7s and how easily he was able to dominate the freshman line in pass rush drills. Everyone had their own observations and the success he had ... With another year and another offseason, he's going to be great. He works really hard, he's pretty football smart and know about football."

The next step is important as there will be a lot expected of Gary as a focal point, often facing the No. 1 tackle on an opposing team.

"He's definitely picked up a lot of football and a lot of knowledge," U-M defensive lineman Maurice Hurst said. "As he gets more comfortable at a higher level and consistently, having a starting spot and playing every down that will really help him next year and he'll definitely feel more comfortable as the season goes on."

Being mentored by senior Chris Wormley has helped as well.

"It's made me a better player, telling him things to do that normally I would just watch myself," Wormley said. "Explaining it to him, teaching the game of football as much as I could to somebody that wants to learn, wants to be better, wants to be a good player, be a great player."

BUTT ON NCAA: Michigan tight end Jake butt started this season at the Big Ten meetings in Chicago, voicing his feeling about the restrictive rules on college players.

He's ending in much the same manner, explaining his objections to college football hypocrisy with coaches and NCAA regulations.

At a Wednesday pre-Orange Bowl dinner in South Beach, Butt was asked about a few high-profile players skipping their team's bowl game.

"Why aren't we talking about coaches leaving their bowl games early and leaving all their players behind?" Butt said. "Coaches can leave. Players can't leave, players can't transfer just because their coaches leave. Coaches can go as they please. When more money's placed on the table, coaches will likely chase after that. And here we are living off rent checks. A (player) sees an opportunity for a lifelong dream at the NFL, they make a business decision. I can't judge anybody."

He doesn't see any solutions with money and players being paid, which he has advocated in some form in the past. but the current restrictions aren't accomplishing the intent in his mind.

"The way I always look at it as, if Billy Bob walks down the straight to Chipotle and befriends the manager and get free Chipotle burrito and one of us walks into Chipotle, we can't accept that burrito," he said. "Then the way the NCAA looks at it -- we have enough compliance meetings -- the way that I understand it is they think every friend we make is because we are a football player. They said we can't even go out to dinner with our girlfriend's parents because ... who knows? So there's so much that goes into it. There's no clear answer."

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