So much has happened with Michigan football since my last article, where do I begin? After my Yuri Wright article brought me (unwanted) national attention, getting publicity from Yahoo Sports, Sporting News, Huffington Post and Fox News, I made the decision to lower my profile for a while and focus on other hobbies.
But, that sabbatical is over and Ace is back, baby.
Let's start with the latest on Wolverine departures. Four 5th year seniors, Rocko Khoury,
Mike Cox, George Morales and Terrence Robinson will not be members of the Michigan team next season. I spoke with one of my closest sources to get the scoop and the word is that this was a coaches decision. All four of the players were invited to remain members the Michigan team, but would not be offered a 5th year on scholarship. Given that these guys are slated to graduate this spring, the opted not to pay to play and will leave Ann Arbor after graduation. Cox will return to the Big House this fall, as he has indicated his intent to enroll at UMass and play football for them next fall. Morales and Khoury will not play football next fall and Robinson will look to transfer to another program in Texas and hope to make an impact for his final year of eligibility. ALl players would be eligible to play this season if they enroll in a graduate program that Michigan doesn't offer.
Redshirt Junior to be LB Isaiah Bell has also left the school. Bell was given the harsh news that he would likely never see the field during his days at Michigan and made a tough decision to transfer in order to get some playing time in college. As of this morning, Bell has indicated that Central Connecticut State is his likely destination. Bell has indicated to teammates that he hopes to play 2 years at a smaller school like CCSU and has hopes of making the NFL or Arena League after his collegiate days are over.
Now, on to the guys still on the team . . .
QB Devin Gardner has been a hot item of discussion the last couple days after word broke that he was taking reps at WR in practice. It has been made very clear to Gardner that he will likely NOT receive a medical redshirt for the 2010 season. There has been a ton of uncertainty about Gardner's eligibility and here is what I have heard: Gardner played in several games in 2010, and was put on the injury report once Tate Forcier was back on track as the backup to Denard. Under Rodriguez, Michigan would have pushed for a medical redshirt for a lower back injury. But, as my source told me, AD David Brandon and coach Brady Hoke will not do anything in the grey area on this one. The fact is, Gardner was not injured enough to hold him out of games and Michigan will not falsify, like many schools would, documents that say differently.
So, being that Devin is an imposing physical specimen, he doesn't want to sit on the sidelines for another year. He met with the coaches recently and the option was discussed of him moving to WR for 12-15 snaps a game. If Gardner can prove he is a strong route runner, I have been told that the coaches are not opposed to moving him to WR full time.
Why would they do that with their backup QB and potential started for 2013? Well, it seems that those roles are not guaranteed due to the emergence of redshirt freshman QB Ronald Bellomy. Bellomy performed well during his freshman season on the scout team and has the chance to pass Gardner for the backup role and will fully be ready to become the starter in 2013. This is good news on all fronts. 1. it allows Gardner to become a playmaker at a position that doesn't interfere with Denard Robinson ans 2. It gives Michigan a strong backup/competitor to super recruit Shane Morris in 2013 and beyond. Gardner will enter 2013 fighting for the starting QB role no matter what happens, but, he will not be the given starter is Bellomy has anything to say about it.
At RB, Fitz Toussaint is firmly entrenched as the starter going into this season. RS Frosh Justice Hayes is one to watch for as a player that is emerging as his potential backup. Hayes has shown flashes of greatness is practices last fall and came into camp Saturday is the best shape of any player on the team and his skills demand playing time. Many had pegged Hayes as a potential replacement to Vince Smith's slash role in the future, but Hayes has his mind set on being the main man for the Wolverines in the future. Hayes progression this spring is one to watch for.
On O-Line...
We are THIN at the O-line this spring. Only 7 scholarship lineman return for the spring, with 2 being RS freshman this season. The Michigan coaching staff has already slated that the best 2 true freshman OL will not be able to redshirt and will be in the 2 deep and getting live game snaps as early as the Alabama opener.
Ricky Barnum and Jack Miller will fight for the starting role at center, while Patrick Omameh, Taylor Lewan and Mike Scholfield are slated to be starters. RS frosh Chris Bryant, who is huge and has impressed in off-season workouts, is being penciled in as the 5th starter as long as he brings an intensity and mean streak has that sometimes isn't always evident.
The WR role will be one that is ripe with competition and talent. Although JR Hemmingway is gone, I think this group will be overall better than last year's and rotate in 6 players with meaningful snaps. Roundtree, Gallon and Jerald Robinson are the presumed starters, but there are no guarantees that they remain. Look for Roundtree to move into the flanker/deep threat role that Hemmingway manned last season, which should lead to higher numbers after seeing his 2011 stats drastically drop from his production in 2010.
Drew Dileo is still a favorite of the coaching staff and the starting QB and just comes to play every day. Jeremy Jackson, although one of the biggest receiver, will compete for snaps as a slot receiver. The coaches expect to play one of the incoming freshman WR, with Amarah Darboh being most likely to see action.
On to defense . . .
As I stated MANY times over the 2011 season, returning senior starting LB Kenny Demens doesn't have a guaranteed role with the 2012 team. Demens was a player that never had the best attitude and has not appeared to give 110% during practice or games. Demens also has irked teammates and coaches for some negative publicity regarding a court case involving unpaid rent with an apartment he shared with convicted felon and former teammate Boubacar Cissoko. Given these factors, Demens enters the spring in the doghouse and has to change his attitude and dedication to Michigan football, or he will be quickly jumped by an incoming freshman on the depth chart.
Sophomores Jake Ryan and Desmond Morgan appear to be firmly entrenched as starters at LB and have the respect and confidence of their coaches and teammates. Look for these two to go down as a memorable 4-year starter duo when all is said and done. Even though highly talented freshman and 2013 recruits are coming in at LB, don't expect anyone to beat two out. I was told that Ryan is seen as a guy who could be an All-American type in the next three years.
A rejuvenated Williams Campbell is on the brink of becoming a star. The extra coaching he received during bowl preparations really propelled the way he approached this off-season. His dedication in the weight room is paying off, as he showed up at practice this weekend in great shape and definitely passed the 'look test'. Michigan coaches expect Campbell to be the best player on the line and be drafted in the 1st 3 rounds in the 2013 draft.
The secondary is one area where the Michigan coaches feel they are STACKED. Blake
Countess and JT Floyd are the presumed starters, but Ramon Taylor is a player that is as talented as any player on the defense. Look for Taylor to put heat on the starters and see playing time early on in the season. As for safety, Kovacs will start at one safety position, with Thomas Gordon and Marvin Robinson fighting for playing time at the other safety spot.
Look for more updates in the coming days on the 2013 recruiting class and the silent commitment that Michigan may have secured . . .
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