Kornacki: DPJ is Must-See TV

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The special ones make you watch from the edge of your seat every time they settle under a punt. Anthony Carter, Steve Breaston, Desmond Howard, Jabrill Peppers and Derrick Alexander were like that.

Donovan Peoples-Jones is going to be in that category, too -- must-see TV with the ball headed his way. And that goes for any time the freshman wide receiver gets the call on offense, too.

The game-breaker Michigan players and coaches refer to by his initials, DPJ, is showing why he's as good or maybe even better than advertised after doing it all at Detroit Cass Tech.

Peoples-Jones had a 79-yard punt return touchdown in Saturday's (Sept. 16) 29-13 win over Air Force and also made 25 yards out of nothing with his great speed on another return. He caught his first pass for 37 yards and added one more catch for 15 yards.

That's four touches for 156 yards, 39 a crack.

Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh was asked if he's considering kickoff returns as well for DPJ.

"Yeah," said Harbaugh, "we're giving a lot of thought to using Donovan in a lot of ways, you see him make a play. But remember this is Donovan's third game as a collegiate football player, and what an outstanding thing for the 15 or so guys who are playing as true freshmen. It's a testament to their ability, their talent and their effort.

"It's grow-grow-grow and plus-plus-plus. So, it's great to see his mettle. I feel like great things will happen for Donovan Peoples-Jones."

Peoples-Jones began his play of the game by fielding the punt by Charlie Scott on the right hash mark at the Michigan 21-yard line, and headed to his left. David Long and Josh Metellus supplied the first two key blocks, and DPJ cut back just after passing the left hash mark to head for the block M in the center of the field.

One defender had a shot at him a just before the 50-yard line, but left his feet in vain and came up grasping nothing but air. The bolt of maize and blue gained steam headed toward the right sideline.

DPJ displayed great vision the whole way and especially in the middle of the run when decisions are critical. He zigged when he should have zigged, and zagged when he should have zagged.

Then he let his speed take over. The punter had a chance to drive him out of bounds at about the 15. Scott even got both hands on Peoples-Jones' shoulder pads, but the returner shrugged him off as if he almost wasn't even there. Grant Ross tried getting to the goal line before DPJ, but was too late.

Touchdown!

???? (@dpeoplesjones)#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/PEoUFnFjF6
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) September 16, 2017

The 111,387 at Michigan Stadium created a chorus of joyous noise on his circuitous journey, but he didn't hear anything until reaching the end zone to celebrate, a la Barry Sanders.

"It's really just like white noise out there," Peoples-Jones told me. "I don't pay attention to that when I'm running the ball. I hear it when I'm on the sideline, and somebody else is making a play. But when I'm in the game, it's all tunnel vision and it just sounds like white noise to me."

He ran along the back of the end zone holding the ball in his right hand as teammates slapped his helmet and back.

"As soon as I got to the end zone," said Peoples-Jones, "I was trying to give the ball to the ref, but I couldn't find him. So, it kind of looked like I was holding the ball forever.

"But I was very excited. That was my first touchdown, and I'm just ready to do more."

I asked if he took the approach that Sanders learned from his father, who stressed to his son acting like he'd been in the end zone before and simply handing the ball over to an official.

"Yes, sir," said Peoples-Jones. "That's it."

He insisted that he was simply one of 11 Wolverines who made the play happen.

"My punt return team did a good job of blocking," said Peoples-Jones, "and really made my job very easy ... All 10 guys on the field with me blocked perfectly.

"It just opened up like the Red Sea. They did a great job of not clipping and I changed (directions) a couple different times, and they did a great job of blocking."

Great plays are something that came to be expected of him in high school.

Peoples-Jones caught 60 passes for 1,071 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior, leading Cass Tech to a 14-0 season and the state championship. He scored with nearly every third catch, and was a five-star recruit coveted by every college team.

He didn't get much receiver action in his first two college games. Though, he did take a jet sweep 44 yards on his first carry last week against Cincinnati. But in this game he caught his first pass, getting open on a short route and then using that great speed that made him the All-City 100-meter champion to pick up 37 yards.

"It was a really good play call," said DPJ. "It was a great throw, and I had some great blocks on that, just freed me up."

He's as good at crediting teammates as he is at making plays, and they all know what he brings to the team.

"I think you saw Donovan kind of settle in a little bit today," said Speight, "and realize what he's truly capable of with catching passes, making people miss, and catching a punt and taking it 70-something yards.

"Those are the strides and steps that we need to take, and everyone needs to take."

Peoples-Jones nodded in agreement.

"I felt better today," he said, "and every time I step onto the field, it's an opportunity to help my team any way I can. I think the coaches today let me make my plays, and have done a great job of rotating me in, and I'm just executing their game call."

Peoples-Jones

Peoples-Jones was instant offense and a big difference-maker.

However, he also proved to be a quick learner, and that allowed for his breakout performance against Air Force.

Peoples-Jones showed that he was a fearless returner in the opening game with Florida, bringing back a punt for 18 yards with little or no breathing room. But he faltered against Cincinnati, making poor decisions on returns and failing to clear out his teammates on a short punt that ended up kicking off the heels of a Wolverine to become a recovered fumble.

Harbaugh sat him down, opting to let veteran receiver Grant Perry return punts the rest of the way against the Bearcats.

So, what was stressed to DPJ this week in regard to becoming a trusted punt returner?

"It's about getting to every ball," he said, "and getting a good jump on it so I can get to every ball. It's OK to make a fair catch. Fair catches are great, too. Getting the ball back for the offense is No. 1, and that is the priority."

On a short kick that he didn't end up fielding, DPJ pointed to the ground passionately with both arms, the signal to teammates to clear out and let an opponent down the ball. It might have gone unnoticed to most, but taking control there showed important progress.

He nodded, and added, "The most important thing is giving the offense good field position."

Harbaugh passed Peoples-Jones in the hallway behind the Crisler Center television studio, and shouted, "Good job, Donovan!"

Donovan smiled and said, "Thanks, Coach."

Then he returned to the interview and answered a question about what he's enjoyed most so far.

"We've got great coaches and players," said Peoples-Jones, "and it's just really been fun to come out here with all my friends at Michigan."

And this day was the one when the fun began for DPJ.