Kornacki: Gentry Poised to Make His Mark After Offseason of Growth

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Zach Gentry is nothing if not motivated.

Issue Gentry a challenge, and he gets a look in his eyes that seems to say: "Bring it!"

When Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh wanted him to switch from quarterback to tight end, he could've declined or even transferred. Gentry was a four-star quarterback at Albuquerque (New Mexico) Eldorado and had numerous powerhouse programs after him. But instead, he latched on to Wolverine All-America tight end Jake Butt and learned all he could about the new position.

Gentry began making his mark in 2017 as an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, catching 17 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns. He was a huge quarterback at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds as a freshman. And now he's a 6-8, 263-pound lineman/receiver combo who could be headed for a special season.

"It's been a constant improvement from the time he left the quarterback position," said Harbaugh. "His progression as a blocker and a pass-catcher, knowing his assignments. He's one of those guys who plays hard every play and knows what he's supposed to do. And more and more, the subtleties of the game are coming his way -- the techniques, the fundamentals.

"He's been a continually ascending player ever since we switched him to tight end. He's very, very confident. He's got the chin bob, and you know he's got this. And he hasn't stopped looking to get better. He's timing up his jumps right now, and that's something that he's trying to perfect and master -- catching the ball at its highest point and taking it on the way down. The hands are there and he's running well. He's in tremendous shape right now."

Gentry, a Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement honoree, also is driven in the classroom. He said he's on schedule to graduate after this season, in only three and a half years, and aspires to someday become a lawyer.

"I'm studying English and political science," said Gentry, "and I think that whenever football is over I'm going to apply at some law schools. I did an internship last summer with a law firm in Albuquerque."

He strives to be the best at everything he does, and so I asked Gentry about what, deep down, motivates him.

"A lot of it comes down to my family," said Gentry. "I love football, and that alone is motivation. I want to be the best I can be. But my family did a lot for me, and I know they're real proud of me playing at this level. They're a great family, and I love them a lot.

"I'm wearing our name on my back, and I take that to heart. I play for them, and my grandfather was actually a real well-respected coach in New Mexico and helped me out a lot with football. He was there for me every step of the way and still is now."

Gentry spent two weeks during the summer back home, "hanging out" with his parents, Tom and Kris, brother Sam and grandparents. There were fishing trips to "warm- and cold-water lakes" in pursuit of his favorite catches -- high-mountain wild trout or walleye.

Bill Gentry, his grandfather, retired in 1995 with the New Mexico high school state record for football victories with 305 and three state championships during 38 years of coaching. He coached his son, Tom, who was his quarterback one year. His grandsons both went on to play major college football. Sam, three years older than Zach, was a tight end, holder and punter at the University of New Mexico, where his grandpa was a lineman in 1948 and 1949.

Grandpa coached a misdirection Wing-T offense that wouldn't have fit Zach's skills as a slinging quarterback in a spread offense. He threw for 3,734 yards and ran for 1,013 more while throwing or running for 53 touchdowns at Eldorado.

However, he was outgrowing quarterback when he arrived in Ann Arbor, and Harbaugh saw the makings of a first-rate tight end when watching him run scout team routes as a wide receiver during his freshman season. Gentry has spent the last two seasons developing into a tight end, and he got a crash course from Butt.

Gentry said, "Jake didn't have to, but he really took me under his wing, helped me out, and helped me understand everything. I think that he saw potential in me that maybe I didn't even see in myself. He taught me a lot of the tricks he used and is a great friend.

"Hopefully, I can emulate the seasons he's had in the past."

Zach Gentry
Gentry totaled eight catches for 157 yards in the final four games last season.

Where has Gentry improved since last season?

"Using my feet in the running game and being in the right spot with my hands and my feet," said Gentry. "It's about being in the right position, and I think I did a really good job in the offseason of trying to hone in on that stuff, and becoming a better blocker every year. That's something I've been proud of so far. I'm definitely a lot more comfortable with that stuff."

Gentry credited new strength and conditioning director Ben Herbert.

"I put on 14 pounds," said Gentry. "No, I never thought I'd weigh 263, especially when I was playing quarterback. Definitely not. But I'm stronger, too. I'm putting up bigger numbers on lifts."

His time in the 40-yard dash has remained 4.6 seconds despite adding 33 pounds during his career.

"Having the size now just brings more confidence," said Gentry. "I have more confidence that I can fire off the ball and push people back. And it's been nice to gain the weight and not slow down a step."

He's also benefited from working with new tight ends coach Sherrone Moore.

"Coach Moore brings a high energy," said Gentry. "He's very knowledgeable and already understands everything in our offense, no matter the position. He's really organized, too, and I know I've really made strides because of him."

Harbaugh added, "Sherrone Moore is doing an incredible job with him. He's been a tremendous addition to our staff."

The Wolverines have brought in four quarterbacks who were four- or five-star recruits since Gentry arrived, and they're battling for the starting position entering this season. Gentry has a unique perspective on them as a former signal-caller, and I asked him what one thing impressed him most about each.

• Second-year passer Dylan McCaffrey: "Dylan is a very smart quarterback. He knows what he's doing and makes the right checks. He reads the defense well, knows what the line's doing, knows everything that's going on. He's grown tremendously and is doing a really good job."

• Freshman Joe Milton: "Joe is just a big, physical presence (6-foot-5, 234 pounds). He's tall, muscular, athletic and moves very well, too. The thing that jumps out the most is his arm strength. He really zips the ball in and can throw it downfield with ease."

• Ole Miss transfer Shea Patterson, a junior: "I would say athleticism. I knew Shea was a mobile quarterback coming in, but he's shiftier than you realize, especially in person. He's quick, shifty and accelerates fast as well."

• Third-year passer Brandon Peters: "With Brandon, it's a mixture of a lot of different things. But he throws a really good deep ball, and that always jumps out on film. He just lays it right in with a lot of velocity on his ball. It's always a tight, clean spiral."

Gentry started 11 games last year while establishing himself at his current position, and he combined with junior tight end Sean McKeon (31 catches, 301 yards and three touchdowns) to become a formidable receiving duo. Both are among 64 on the watch list for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the nation's top tight end and was won by Butt in 2016.

Gentry traded in No. 10 for No. 83 and went right to work, motivated to make his mark. He is now succeeding in doing so.

Harbaugh said, "I can't say enough good things about Zach."