Pressure on Michigan WR Devin Funchess to Deliver Epic Performance vs Notre Dame

Minutes before Michigan’s season opener, the move that began in desperation last season become complete. Devin Funchess officially switched jerseys from No. 87 to No. 1 and then went out and made Brady Hoke look like a genius for making a him a full-time wide receiver.

But big games versus foes like Appalachian State are quickly forgotten when you play at a program like Michigan.

At Michigan you make your bones against your bitter rivals—Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State.

And next up for Michigan is a night game that will mark its last scheduled meeting with Notre Dame.

Funchess announced his presence on the landscape of college football with a resounding performance versus Appalachian State. Wearing the hallowed No. 1 jersey he caught everything thrown in his general direction (seven receptions for 95 yards, three touchdowns) and looked like he might be the next great player to star for the Maize and Blue. 

Quarterback Devin Gardner said it best.

“He [Funchess] can probably be the best receiver to ever play here” as per the Detroit Free Press.

Player	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
Braylon Edwards (2002-04)	252	3541	39
Anthony Carter (1979-82)	161	3076	37
David Terrell (1998-2000)	152	2317	23
Derrick Alexander (1989-1993)	125	1977	22
Greg McMurtry (1986-89)	111	2163	15
Devin Funchess (2012-?)	71	1077	14

Some of the greats in Michigan history have had top performances versus Notre Dame. In 2010 Denard Robinson gashed the Irish for 502 yards (258 yards rushing with two touchdowns, 244 yards passing with one touchdown) in a 28-24 victory in South Bend. The game jump-started his Heisman Trophy campaign and he finished sixth in the voting.

In 1991 Desmond Howard began his Heisman Trophy march with “the catch,” an amazing touchdown reception which became an epic moment in Michigan football history.

Now, Funchess has an opportunity to showcase his talent in a primetime contest before a national audience with dire implications for his team and his coach.

For the first time in 135 years, Michigan will play all three of its key rivals on the road. A win versus Notre Dame would propel the team back into the national rankings and put it on a collision course with Michigan State at the end of October. A loss would not only damage the team’s prospects of returning to the rankings but spur speculation that head coach Brady Hoke is on the hot seat.

Even larger than the implications of a win or a loss is how Hoke will be viewed as the arbiter of Michigan tradition by deeming Funchess worthy of the number. Former coach Rich Rodriguez got himself into hot water by ignoring the minutiae of Wolverine football culture.

"The young man asked me about it [wearing the No. 1 jersey], and I said that's fine," said Michigan coach Brady Hoke after Funchess’ first game. “…And believe me I asked him who has worn No. 1, and he started with Anthony Carter and went down the list, so I think that he earned it,” via ESPN.

Tony Ding/Associated Press

A big game for Funchess coupled with a Michigan victory would evoke talk of Wolverine tradition and would be a powerful statement supporting Hoke’s rebuilding efforts. It would also give Hoke a signature victory on the road where his teams have struggled.  

Funchess definitely has the talent to be a playmaker versus Notre Dame.

Devin Gardner has acknowledged that via MLive, “[Jabrill Peppers] and [Devin] Funchess are probably the top two athletes on the team…I used to always like to think I was the top athlete on the team. But these two guys…they’re pretty elite.”

Funchess (6’5”, 230 pounds) will also have favorable matchups versus Notre Dame. He towers over the players who will be tasked with covering him.

Postion	1-Deep	2-Deep	3-Deep
CB	Cody Riggs (5'9"), 185	D. Butler (6'1"), 195	J. Atkinson (5'11"), 195
CB	Cole Luke (5'11"), 190	N. Watkins (6'0"), 194	Jalen Brown (6'1"), 202
S	Max Refield (6'1"), 198	E. Shumate (6'0"), 213	Nicky Baratti (6'1"), 205
S	A. Collinsworth (6'1"), 205	M. Farley (5'11"), 205	Eilar Hardy (6'0"), 225

The circumstances are right for him to leave an indelible mark on the last game (for now) of this classic rivalry.

Notre Dame will do everything in its power to stop Devin Funchess. But Devin Funchess might be unstoppable.

Phil Callihan is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations obtained firsthand

Follow
@PSCallihan

All season statistics from mgoblue.com, official University of Michigan athletic department web site.