Every once and a while I'll profile one of Michigan's five Division I college football playing schools focusing on a top team and the influence players from the state of Michigan had on each squad. Today I'll look at the 1978 Big Ten co-champion University of Michigan team which finished 10-2 overall and ranked No. 5 in the nation. U-M was loaded with kids from the Great Lakes State. The Wolverines' losses on the season came againt intra-state rival and co-Big Ten champion Michigan State (also loaded with Michigan players -- I'll look at that team later) 24-15 and to USC in the Rose Bowl 17-10.
Out of U-M's 22 starters that season, 15 hailed from the state of Michigan. Here are the starting players from the state of Michigan on the 1978 Wolverine No. 5 ranked and co-Big Ten championship team.
Offense-
WR-Rodney Feaster-6-1, 182-So.-Flint Southwestern
WR-Ralph Clayton-6-3, 211-Jr.-Detroit Redford
(third WR was Alan Mitchell-6-1, 175-So.-Detroit Catholic Central)
TE-Gene Johnson-6-3, 231-Sr.-Flint Southwestern
QB-Rick Leach-6-1, 192-Sr.-Flint Southwestern * # (team MVP)
TB-Harlan Huckleby-6-1, 200-Sr.-Detroit Cass Tech
OG-Greg Bartnick-6-2, 240-Sr.-Detroit Cody
OT-Mike Leoni-6-3, 255-Jr.-Flint Powers Catholic
(also starting three games at right tackle was Bill Dufek-6-4, 265-Sr.-East Grand Rapids)
Defense-
DT-Chris Godfrey-6-4, 245-Jr.-Detroit DeLaSalle
DT-Curtis Greer-6-6, 250-Jr.-Detroit Cass Tech *
OLB-Jerry Meter-6-2, 205-Sr.-Bloomfield Hills Andover-C
ILB-Ron Simpkins-6-1, 230-Jr.-Detroit Western *
(starting four games at the other ILB spot was Mark DeSantis-6-3, 215-Sr.-Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher)
OLB-Tom Seaborn-6-3, 210-Sr.-Detroit Cass Tech
CB-Mike Jolly-6-3, 180-Jr.-Southgate Aquinas *
CB-Mark Braman-6-1, 195-Jr.-Midland
SS-Mike Harden-6-1, 180-Jr.-Detroit Central *
* All-Big Ten
# All-American
C- Captain
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