Big Ten notes: U-M DE Rashan Gary compared to Jadeveon Clowney, traffic cone
CHICAGO – Preseason accolades are meaningless, yet Michigan’s Rashan Gary continues to pile them up like tackles.
Watch lists. All-America teams. None of it, coach Jim Harbaugh said today at Big Ten football media days, has fazed the sophomore defensive end.
“There’s some people that are just aspiring for greater things than just the adulation of somebody, and I think Rashan is that type of guy,” Harbaugh said. “You’d really like him. He really doesn’t care too much about that. He’s gone by it like it's a cone, (an) orange cone on the side of the road. And he just works. And I really think competing is his favorite thing to do. And he has the ability to be great.”
Gary arrived a year ago as the nation’s top high school player. As a true freshman playing behind NFL draft pick Chris Wormley last season, the 6-foot-5, 287-pound Gary had 27 tackles, five for loss and one sack. The New Jersey native has been named to both the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch lists.
Linebacker Mike McCray said he knows exactly why there’s so much hype surrounding Gary.
“Uh, because he’s a freak. He’s definitely a freak,” McCray said. “He’s too big to be that fast and athletic. It’s something rare that you see. I kind of compare him to Jadeveon Clowney. Not saying that he is Clowney, but that’s who I compare him to. I mean, you watch film, you see how fast he gets off the ball and how aggressive he is. Just a freak of nature.”
Grant Perry update: Harbaugh said junior wide receiver Grant Perry continues to work out with the Wolverines, but his status will not be determined until after he is sentenced Aug. 2. The 20-year-old from Royal Oak pleaded guilty to a felony, but avoided any sex assault convictions in June in Ingham County 30th Circuit Court after an Oct. 15 disagreement in East Lansing where a woman accused Perry of sexual assault outside a bar.
“He’s preparing for the season, and he’s going to practice,” Harbaugh said. “He’s not going to represent the team in games until that’s come to a conclusion.”
Perry pleaded guilty to one count of resisting a police officer, a felony with a maximum sentence of two years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of assault and battery. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and an alcohol charge.
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France next: After venturing to Rome this spring, Harbaugh said the Wolverines are in the planning stages for next year’s trip to Paris and Normandy. He said London likely will not be part of the second journey abroad.
“It needs a week,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, I’ve been to Paris and didn’t get close to everything done in one week. So I think that’ll probably be the way we’ll lean as we’re starting to prepare for this trip and plan it.”
Kicking himself: Asked if he ever looks back and reassesses his own coaching to spot blunders, specifically against Ohio State last year, Harbaugh said he still was “kicking myself for making that call” to throw the ball near the Wolverines’ goal line late in the first half.
Wilton Speight got hit when he threw the ball, and the Buckeyes’ Malik Hooker returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. U-M eventually lost, 30-27, in two overtimes.
“I mean, I think about them all the time and try not to repeat those mistakes,” Harbaugh said. “I try not to be an error repeater.”
Position change: Harbaugh said Drake Harris, once a highly coveted wide receiver and basketball star from Grand Rapids, has moved to defensive back for his fourth season with the Wolverines.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!