The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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64 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW RUNNING BACKS expertise of doctors here, and being able to do the surgery and have the post-op in house, it's really reassuring. You can supervise and structure the recovery. "There's no downside. Either way, he's go- ing to miss spring, so let's do it all here and make sure everything is exactly right. When he transitions to summer training, it will be smooth, and there are no more concerns." The biggest concern, for all those sitting out, involves a new offensive coordinator installing a new offense. While Josh Gattis went to work, several simply had to look on and learn. "He's done really well," Harbaugh said of Charbonnet in that respect. "Him, C.T. [Turner] and [redshirt freshman] Hassan [Haskins] have all maintained a high level of engagement with everything, in terms of learning the offense and really understand- ing details. They were able to stand back there, watch what's happening, track whoever they're blocking in protection or have their eyes on the run read. "All three of those guys have done a pretty good job of just fighting that urge to get on the field and staying with it." Haskins played in three games last year, all on special teams. He then made the move from linebacker to running back this spring after retaining his redshirt under new NCAA rules. Redshirt freshman Ben VanSumeren also saved a year of eligibility, seeing his play limited to four games. He saw time at both linebacker and fullback last fall, made the switch to running back this spring and gives Harbaugh a bigger option, at 6-2, 236. "He's doing well," Harbaugh said. "And he's handled it well. There are growing pains, understanding the level of detail on certain plays. You get to the point where, 'I know this play's go- ing this way. Now I've got to know, this is my landmark, this is my footwork, this is my read.' "He's just gradu- ally building up on the level of detail he can handle and ex- ecute with." Junior Ben Mason remains listed as a fullback, as well as a defensive lineman. He carried 33 times a year ago for 80 yards and seven touchdowns. He'll likely remain a goal-line option on of- fense, when he isn't digging in with defen- sive coordinator Don Brown's crew. "Ben is a defensive-minded player," Har- baugh said. "He came out of the womb pene- trating into the backfield and sacking people. That's what he was born to do, just wreak h avo c a n d s m a s h people. "But he really has an offensive skill set, more so than people would imagine. He catches the ball re- ally naturally. As a runner, he's smooth and comfortable. It doesn't take a whole lot of work for him to get into a groove of- fensively." There can certainly be a place in Michi- gan's new offense for someone who can both run the football and catch it out of the back- field. Mason, and several other Wolverines, fit that bill. Harbaugh noted his position group will be ready for what's required of it in a Gattis-led offense. Freshman Zach Charbonnet enrolled early, but was not able to participate this spring due to a knee surgery. However, expecta- tions are still high for Rivals' No. 60 overall recruit in the class of 2019. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN Senior Tru Wilson, a former walk-on, is U-M's top returning rusher, after he gained 364 yards and a touchdown on the ground last year. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL "We're still a run-first team, and the runs that we're running aren't really that much different. … There's more involvement with screens, and we've made an emphasis on that." RUNNING BACKS COACH JAY HARBAUGH ON THE OFFENSE