Michigan sophomore Rashan Gary has been named a Sporting News pre-season first-team All-American. Gary is expected to take a huge step up this season, following a solid rookie campaign.

Gary notched 27 tackles, including five tackles for loss, in his freshman campaign, a year after being regarded as the top prep player in the nation. He performed behind NFL Draft picks, getting mentored by two of them in Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley, and expects to take what he learned and apply it.

He played in all 13 games last season, posting one sack along the way. Michigan took note of his pre-season attention already.

Gary has also been hailed for his leadership with younger players and contemporaries, despite the fact that he's only headed into his sophomore season. Gary noted that he's grown in the ability to do so.

"That's something my mom instilled in me, ever since I've been playing sports," he said. "It went away last year, because I was under leadership, playing with Taco and Chris Wormley. Before they left, they were like, I've got to step up and become that.

"Coach [Greg] Mattison and Coach [Jim] Harbaugh challenged me about it this winter — keep going, keep going. Now it's here."

So is an increased level of attention, that isn't likely to subside any time soon.

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