John Kolesar) but short on talent at defensive back. Accordingly, head coach Bo Schembechler began to use Welborne as a defensive back during spring practice in April 1988. Welborne handled the position change well, winning the 1988 John Maulbetsch Award as the freshman player best demonstrating desire, character, and capacity for leadership during spring practice. He started all 12 games at strong safety for the 1988 Michigan football team, compiling 72 tackles, five interceptions, three pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. 1989 season As a junior, Welborne again started all 12 games at strong safety for the 1989 team that compiled a 10–2 record, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked #7 in the final AP Poll. Welborne totaled 80 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions in 1989. He also became Michigan's principal punt returner in 1989, returning 32 punts for 297 yards, an average of 9.3 yards per return. At the end of the season, he was honored as a unanimous first-team defensive back on the 1989 All-America Team. 1990 season As a senior, Welborne started the first 10 games of the 1990 season at strong safety. In just 10 games, Welborne had 86 tackles, seven pass breakups, a fumble and an interception. He also returned 31 punts for 455 yards (an average of 14.7 yards per return), including returns of 60 yards against Indiana, 53 yards against Illinois, and 38 yards against Notre Dame. Welborne broke Michigan's single-season record with his total of 455 punt return yards, a record that stood until 2003 when it was broken by Steve Breaston. In the 10th game of the 1990 season, on November 17, 1990, Welborne sustained a serious injury to his right knee while returning a punt 31 yards to Minnesota's 20-yard line to set up the go-ahead touchdown for Michigan. At the end of the 1990 season, Welborne was honored as the Most Valuable Player on the 1990 Michigan team. He was college defensive player of the year, and was also selected for the second consecutive year as a unanimous first-team All-American. Career statistics In three years at strong safety, 238 tackles, nine interceptions, fifteen pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. He also returned 67 punts for 773 yards, an average of 11.5 yards per return. During Welborne's three years as a defensive starter from 1988 to 1990, Michigan won three Big