ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan and Texas are tied for blocking the most kicks this season in major college football.The fourth-ranked Wolverines are also one of two teams, along with Akron, to lead the nation with two touchdowns off punts.Coach Jim Harbaugh, knowing how important special teams are, often keeps his best player on the field even when Michigans offense and defense are on the sideline.Do-it-all Jabrill Peppers was named Big Ten special teams player of the week on Monday after returning a punt 54 yards for a score, capping a 21-point run the Wolverines had to pull away and beat Colorado 45-28 on Saturday.Special teams have been contributing greatly, Harbaugh said. It was our best unit in the last game.Harbaugh raved that Peppers has played a few positions on defense and a few on offense in addition to returning punts and kicks and covering punts and kickoffs. Peppers shared honors for Big Ten defensive player of the week.I cant think of another player like Jabrill, Harbaugh said.The Wolverines, though, will have some thinking and correcting to do this week as they prepare to open the Big Ten season at home against Penn State.Kenny Allen missed two field goals -- from 37 and 44 yards -- against the Buffaloes after making his first four this season.Well get that improved this week, Harbaugh said.Michigans punt team, meanwhile, has stayed under the radar just as it would want to after a botched punt by the unit led to a heartbreaking loss to rival Michigan State.The Wolverines rank in the middle of the Big Ten pack in net punting this season.Theyre excelling when teams have to punt.With Michigan needing a boost during its slow start against Colorado and trailing 14-0 when Michael Jocz blocked a punt, Grant Perry eventually scooped up the football and returned it 6 yards for a score.Harbaugh, unsolicited, said that while he was with his pregnant wife at an ultrasound appointment Monday morning, her doctor described the play as a slippery watermelon.The ball was loose, a lot of people had their hands on it, Harbaugh said.Michigan has gotten hands on punts but hasnt gotten credit for blocking them because the footballs ended up getting past the line of scrimmage.I know we have three that dont count as blocks, Harbaugh said.Deflected punts dont show up in box scores like other statistics such as broken-up passes, but Harbaugh suggested that getting hands on a punt should be recorded.They track everything else, he said.Chris Wormley has blocked two field goals, both in the 51-14 win over Central Florida.Maurice Hurst doesnt show up in the box score for either block by the 6-foot-6 Wormley, but the 6-2 defensive tackle felt like he was part of the accomplishment as an interior lineman on the play.I was close, Hurst said. Our goal inside is to get the guys knocked back. Chris is a tall guy, so his hands can get to the ball a little bit easier.It hasnt been easy, Hurst insisted, to improve Michigans ability to make plays on special teams through three games this season. He said the coaches, including Jay Harbaugh and Chris Partridge, who are in charge of special teams, have made blocking field goals and making plays elsewhere on special teams a point of emphasis.I think its practice with more intensity and I think people are really paying attention to what special teams can do, Hurts said. When you see the results weve had, it makes you want to work even harder to try to make big plays happen.---AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.orgShaquille ONeal Lakers Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Elgin Baylor Lakers Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Elgin-Baylor-Jersey/ . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Magic Johnson Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Wilt Chamberlain Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services.CLEMSON, S.C. -- Ben Boulware said he is tired of his intensity being mislabled as dirty.The Clemson linebacker promises not to ease up when the third-ranked Tigers (6-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) take on North Carolina State (4-1, 1-0) on Saturday.Boulware came under scrutiny two weeks ago when he was caught on camera putting a headlock on Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson at the end of a play. Last week, Boulware was called for a targeting penalty -- which was overturned on review -- on a shoulder-high hit on Boston College quarterback Patrick Bowles.Boulware worried his image has been skewed from tough-minded defender to cheap-shot artist.People are saying that Im like the most hated player in college football and Im dirty, Boulware said this week. People saying that are just jumping to conclusions.Boulware is a leader on a young defense ranked ninth in the country despite losing seven starters from last years ACC champions and national title runners up. The senior was taught to play the game fullout and wont dial it down for anyone.He said he was simply holding onto Jackson to prevent him from making a play.Were not playing golf or tennis, Boulware said. This is an aggressive sport. You can see that Im annoyed by it because its been blowing up the past two weeks.Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said theres nothing dirty about Boulware, except maybe that beard hes got.North Carolina State has relied on its strong defense this season to be the only other ACC Atlantic team without a league loss. The Wolfpack are eighth nationally and held Notre Dame to three points in soggy, 10-3 victory playing under Hurricane Matthews soaking rains.NC State coach Dave Doeren said the defense has steadily improved over his four seasons in charge and he believes his team is better equipped to challenge Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and the teams high-poweredd attack.dddddddddddd.You have to look at improvements weve had since Ive gotten here, he said. Every year weve gotten better on defense.---Some other things to look at when North Carolina State takes on No. 3 Clemson:HOME SUCCESS: Clemson has won a school record 19 straight games at home dating back to a 2013 loss to Florida State. The Tigers mark for not losing at home, though, is 25 where they went 23-0-2 during a stretch from 1980 to 1984.STOPPING THE RUN: The Wolfpacks rise in defense has come in part because of their success against the run. So far, North Carolina State is giving up just 91 yards a game on the ground. That will be tested this week as Clemson tailback Wayne Gallman ran for 109 yards on nine carries last week in a win over Boston College.HEALTHY RECIEVERS: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney expected star receiver Mike Williams to play against the Wolfpack after suffering a hamstring injury against Boston College. Swinney said Williams has looked good this week. The coach also said that injured Hunter Renfrow could return to face North Carolina State after missing the past four games with a broken bone in his hand.BOWL GAME: Since, 1981, the game between Clemson and North Carolina State has been called the Textile Bowl because of the industrys importance to both states and since the two schools have well-regarded textile programs.HUNDRED YARD GAMES: Clemson runner Wayne Gallman tied the school mark of Raymond Priester with his 15th game with 100 yards rushing in the win over Boston College. Gallman can set the record this week if he can break the century mark against Boston College. Gallman surpassed Priesters single-season rushing mark last year.---OnlineAP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '