The Wolverine

April 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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46 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2019   MICHIGAN FOOTBALL bonnet would be limited this spring after having a procedure on his knee, but Michigan head coach Jim Har- baugh provided a little more detail on the rookie's status and other injuries March 18. "Charbonnet came in with a proce- dure that needed to be done — he had a scope for a meniscus," the coach ex- plained. "Very little was taken out, but it was what was best for him long term, and he won't participate in spring ball. "[Senior cornerback] Lavert [Hill] had a procedure, and so did [junior re- ceiver] Nico Collins. [Junior wideout] Donovan [Peoples-Jones] isn't partici- pating right now, and [redshirt junior defensive tackle] Mike Dwumfour had a foot injury before the bowl and then aggravated it during the game. I don't know yet if those guys will miss all of spring or not." It remains to be seen whether or not they will return for Michigan's spring game April 13. Although not due to injury, one player who will not be available this spring or next fall for the Wolverines will be defensive end Reuben Jones, who announced March 18 his inten- tions to transfer for his fifth year of eligibility. Jones appeared in just 16 games during his U-M career, notching seven tackles with one stop behind the line of scrimmage. — Austin Fox JIM HARBAUGH UPDATES POSITION BATTLES One day after the Maize and Blue began spring practices, head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media March 18 and provided updates on several position battles, including a detailed look at the quarterback pecking order. Backup quarterback and redshirt sophomore Dylan McCaffrey is back in action after breaking his collarbone last year and is now pushing returning starter and senior Shea Patterson. "Dylan McCaffrey is back to 100 per- cent healthy, and he, Shea and [redshirt freshman] Joe [Milton] are all getting equal reps," Harbaugh noted. "[Red- shirt junior] Brandon Peters and [fresh- man] Cade McNamara are getting into the mix as well. Shea is No. 1 on the depth chart, Dylan is No. 2 and Joe is No. 3. There's no way Shea can just put his feet up throughout this battle, because he has serious competition with Dylan and Joe. "Our offensive line, meanwhile, really fits into [offensive coordina- tor Josh] Gattis' style, and we have a chance to be as good as we've ever been there. [Redshirt freshman] Jalen Mayfield and [redshirt sophomore] Andrew Stueber are the primary guys we're looking at, at right tackle. "Our tight ends are really good as well, and may be as good as any group in the country. We also have talented wideouts who will make another jump with Gattis coaching them, and we're already starting to see it. "I'm happy with our running backs, too — [redshirt freshman] Christian Turner has surged from bowl practices and become a rising player. [Senior] Tru Wilson is also quicker and faster now, because he's been dedicated to- ward his offseason conditioning pro- gram." — Austin Fox MICHIGAN ADDS A FOURTH ANALYST TO THE STAFF On Feb. 28, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh hired Bradford Banta as an analyst to his staff, marking the fourth one he had brought on since February began. Banta served as the New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator the past two years, but he and Harbaugh actually had a history from their play- ing days with the Indianapolis Colts, where they were teammates from 1994-97. Banta enjoyed an 11-year NFL career as a tight end and long snapper. The 48-year-old has spent time on two other NFL staffs as well, begin- ning his professional coaching career with the Detroit Lions (assistant special teams coach from 2008-11 and assis- tant linebackers coach from 2012-13) before moving on to the Washington Redskins (assistant special teams coach from 2014-16). Banta joins Pat Perles (who will also be an assistant offensive line coach at Michigan), Steve Casula and Aashon Larkins as the three other analysts Har- baugh has hired this year. — Austin Fox TY LAW WILL SERVE AS HONORARY CAPTAIN IN THE FALL Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh announced on his March 5 'Attack Each Day' podcast that former U-M and NFL Hall of Fame cornerback Ty Law will serve as an honorary captain for Michigan's Oct. 5 Homecoming contest against Iowa this fall. "I would be honored," Law said on the podcast when Harbaugh inquired. "We'll make it a great Homecoming and whoop some Iowa [butt]. "I cannot wait, because I haven't had a chance to get back as often as I'd like. I have no hops right now because my back is killing me, but I want to get it taken care of so I can touch that banner. "I'm embedded in the university and talk with Charles Woodson all the time about doing business up there. I actually have a son who plays quarter- back, and all he wants to do is play at Michigan someday — he has it in his mind that he'll be a Wolverine." Law played at U-M from 1992-94 and was a two-time unanimous All- Big Ten selection the latter two years, as well as a first-team All-American member (from the Walter Camp Foun- dation) in his final campaign. He finished his Michigan tenure with 154 tackles, six interceptions and 17 passes defended, and was then se- lected by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. By the time his pro career came to an end, Law was a five-time Pro Bowler (1998, 2001-03, 2005), a two-time first- team All-Pro (1998, 2003), a two-time NFL interceptions leader (1998, 2005), and was named to both the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the New Eng- land Patriots Hall of Fame. — Austin Fox Law will serve as an honorary captain for Michigan's Homecoming game against Iowa Oct. 5. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN

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