College Crosse 2017 Scouting Report: Michigan Wolverines

Our next 2017 Scouting Report is on 2016's 51st ranked RPI team, the Michigan Wolverines!

(Check out all our 2017 Scouting Reports and my 'The Good, The Bad, & the Future' posts here .)

Michigan Wolverines

Profile: Since starting up their Division I program back in 2012, Michigan had high expectations of being that next big lacrosse power. Big school, football power, and a popular destination for many. Unfortunately after five seasons, Michigan hasn’t been able to achieve that status. They went 3-10 and winless in Big Ten play this season, and there probably is pressure on BOSS John Paul to at the very least make the Big Ten Tournament next season.

2016 Record: 3-10 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten play. They went 5-8 last season, and you’d think Michigan would be close to breaking through. In the middle of the season, they lost three straight one goal games to Dartmouth, Marist (in overtime), and Maryland. They also had close losses to Penn and Ohio State, and earned their wins against Colgate, Delaware, and Vermont.

Roster: The Wolverines will lose ten kids to graduation in 2017, including leading goal and point scorer in attackman Kyle Jackson. The senior had 29 goals and 36 points. Also departing is fellow senior attackman Peter Kraus, who was third on the team with 24 points. LSM Chase Brown also graduates after leading the team with 21 caused turnovers a year ago, and was second on the team with 41 ground balls, ten behind FOGO Brad Lott. Lott also graduates after going 55.5% on faceoffs last season, and taking nearly all of them in the process.

But a notable underclassmen won’t return in rising redshirt senior goaltender Gerald Logan. Logan will spend his final year of eligibility at Big Ten rival Johns Hopkins in 2017. Logan had a 12.51 goals against average and a .509 save percentage last season in Ann Arbor.

Rising senior attackman Ian King led the team with 16 assists and was second on the team with 29 points. Rising sophomore midfielder Decker Curran started his collegiate career on a high note with 10 goals and five assists, good for fourth on the team. Those two players will be back, as will rising senior goaltender Robbie Zoninno. Rising junior FOGO Mike McDonnell took the second most faceoffs last season after Lott, while guys on defense such as Stefan Bergman and d-middie Chase Young.

Coming in to Ann Arbor are Gonzaga midfielder Avery Myers and MICDS goaltender Matthew Trowbridge. Both players were in the Under Armour All-American game back in July.

Conference: The Big Ten boasts Maryland, who’s seem to be in Championship Weekend nearly every Memorial Day Weekend, and Johns Hopkins, the other powerhouse team in Maryland. Add Penn State with their young core and a surprise Rutgers squad, along with Ohio State, and the Wolverines have a very difficult hill to climb.

What They’re Doing This Summer: SWOOSH BABY! AND THE JUMPMAN!

Can’t wait to see their unis for next season. I wouldn’t be shocked if they went sleeveless. I like the sleeveless jerseys and that is a #HOTTAKE

2017 Outlook: I still see similar things from the Wolverines next year. And I think BOSS Paul is going to be let go. He was a great coach when Michigan was in the MCLA, but they’re with the big boys now, and it’s shown that Paul hasn’t been able to transform Michigan into at least an over .500 team. If Michigan wants to continue making progress with their program, I think they have to part ways with their longtime coach.

Non-Sequitor: Michigan has PUMPED OUT a ton of alums including Tom Brady, Madonna, Larry Page, James Earl Jones, and former President Gerald Ford.

Bonus fun fact: As President, Ford often had the naval band play Michigan’s fight song The Victors before State events, instead of Hail to the Chief.