Although he didn’t see extensive playing time last year, sophomore receiver Eddie McDoom was able to showcase his versatility in both the run game and the passing game.
In fact, McDoom caught five passes while carrying the ball 16 times, with the majority of them occurring on jet sweeps.
So where’s he practicing the most here in 2017?
“I’m learning every position right now,” he said. “I’ve been working in the slot and on the outside — they want me to learn everything.”
Part of that expanded role could be due to the arrival of passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton, who McDoom said he has a great relationship with.
“We work with Pep every day,” the sophomore said. “Pep is an amazing coach. He’s very close with us now, and I feel like he’s adapted well. He’s more comfortable here, and talks to us like we’re part of his family now —that’s important because we have to have a relationship to grow.”
Although he’s only in his second year in the program, McDoom explained that he’s taking on a different role in fall camp this year.
“I’ve been able to take more reps this year,” he said. “Last year I was learning from Jehu [Chesson] and Amara [Darboh]. Now I have to be that older guy for the young guys.”
McDoom explained that despite the new faces, the whole receiver group is a tight-knit unit, and they joke about which one of them is the fastest.
“We tease about it — me and [sophomore Kekoa] Crawford and [freshman] Donovan [Peoples-Jones]. I feel like I’m always going to be the best. I would never say someone could beat me in a race.
“I think I might’ve lost once in the spring. Donovan beat me, but I put my foot down and stepped in and showed him who’s faster. We might not race again until offseason, but the challenge is always there. To be No. 1, you have to have that confidence, and we all have that.”
Finally, despite having such a young team, McDoom said there’s no reason the Wolverines can’t win big in 2017.
“We think we’re going to win big this year,” he exclaimed. “We come in every season and you want to win — there’s no waiting till next year. Our goal right now is to win the national championship, the Big Ten and to be the greatest team we can be.”
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