Kornacki: Defensive Back Stribling Eager to Have Breakout Season
8/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 26, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan senior cornerback Channing Stribling wants to have the kind of football season this year that Jourdan Lewis had last year. He wants to be a breakout player, joining his All-America cornerback teammate and good friend in making a big impact.
Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, witnessing the talent Stribling possesses and the grit he displayed in trying to continually play through a shoulder injury last season, believes Stribling (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) is capable of achieving his goal.
"Stribs is in a perfect cornerback body," said Harbaugh. "He's an A-plus kind of a guy, and he definitely can have that kind of impact. I really think he maybe could have had as much success as Jourdan Lewis had last year had he not had a shoulder (injury) that he was working through. But he gutted it out every day.
"There was a day when his shoulder went out, and I said, 'What are you doing back here practicing?' I had to take him out of practices. I used to have to do that with Anquan Boldin: 'Stop, you're done, leave.' Colin Kaepernick: 'No, you're not taking any more reps.' When you see them try to get back in, you've just got to put your foot down and say, 'No, you're not coming back.' That's when you know guys have a real chance at greatness. So, he's got that chance because he has that grit in his belly."
Kaepernick was Harbaugh's starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl three years ago, and Boldin, now a Detroit Lion, was a 1,000-yard receiver for Harbaugh in both years he coached him with the Niners.
Stribling doesn't have all that much to hang his hat on in terms of statistical accomplishment, but that "grit in his belly" is something he shares with great players Harbaugh has watched grind and succeed.
"That meant a lot to me," said Stribling of Harbaugh's observation of his potential and perseverance. "That's an NFL coach who has done great things for a lot of programs. So, that means a lot to me, and I've just got to build on it.
"I can't take it as, 'Oh, yeah, I'm good now.' I've got to keep building on it and making sure that he actually meant what he said and trusts me."
Lewis had 52 tackles with a school-record 20 pass break-ups and two interceptions in 2015 to help turn the Wolverines' defense into one of the nation's best. Stribling, making four starts and playing in 11 of 13 games, had 17 tackles, three break-ups and two interceptions, including a key one on Florida's first offensive series in Michigan's convincing 41-7 win in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl. The pick came on a fourth-and-seven play at the Wolverines' 20-yard line and helped set the tone for dominance.
Stribling has been able to get healthy and work hard in the eight months since. Where does he feel he's improved?
"My preparation for the game is important," said Stribling, "and my confidence and everything is (better). But this is our last go-round, and we have to make sure that we don't take it for granted or regret anything we've done. So, I just worked on everything I had to."
Stribling, a point guard in high school, had a basketball scholarship offer from Liberty University. The athleticism, mind-set and decision-making required of those playing his position translate well to playing cornerback.
Hoops is his first love, but he wanted to play football at Michigan because he saw that taking him further as a student and athlete.
"Every day, I wish I could play basketball," said Stribling, who joins teammates in competitive summer pickup games. "But it helped me (in football)."
After taking Matthews (N.C.) Butler to a state championship on the gridiron, it was onto Ann Arbor.
They came to Michigan together -- Lewis from Detroit Cass Tech and Stribling from suburban Charlotte -- in 2013 and will go out together after this season.
"The sky's the limit for us," said Stribling. "Nobody can tell us that we can't. Nobody can tell us that we can. It's really on us, but I feel that we can. We've got to leave it all on the field and make sure we have no regrets."
Athlon Sports tabbed Michigan the No. 4 defensive backfield in college football despite the fact that safety and nickel back Jabrill Peppers now occupies a hybrid linebacker position in new defensive coordinator Don Brown's aggressive schemes. The starting safeties, Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas, also are seniors with proven playmaking ability.
Stribling and Lewis have grown close over four seasons together.
"He's cool," Stribling said of Lewis. "He's one of my 'dogs.' Our relationship is great. We came in together and he is an All-American now. So, I've got to catch up to him."
When told that Stribling is inspired by Lewis to achieve greatness, Lewis smiled and said, "Oh, man, Channing's been doing great things since he got here, honestly. If you could see some of the plays he made as a freshman (in practices) against Jeremy Gallon and Devin Gardner, it was unbelievable to see. He already had great things in him.
"Me and Channing both expected to play as freshmen, and things didn't go as expected that freshman year (both played as reserves). But, honestly, I'm just excited to see him go out and do what he does this year."
So is Harbaugh, who said similar things about receiver Jehu Chesson at this time last year. Chesson's statistics hadn't been much in two previous seasons, but he blossomed as a junior and was named Michigan's team MVP.
Harbaugh has an eye for breakout players, but now it's up to Stribling to show he can accomplish what he believes in his heart to be possible.
