The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2019 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan senior running back Tru Wilson has gotten in the best shape of his life in preparation for his senior season. The former walk- on is in the mix to start at running back and hopes to be atop the depth chart for the Aug. 31 opener against Middle Tennessee State. Wilson talked about his expecta- tions and more in this Q&A: The Wolverine: Did you enter this fall camp like the starting running back job was yours to lose? Tru Wilson: "I entered the camp like it was my job to earn. I didn't want to be given anything. I just want to earn the spot. … I was try- ing to earn a role [last year]. "This year, I'm not only trying to earn a role — I'm trying to be the starting running back. But we also have to bring [up] the young guys around us." The Wolverine: You said you've reshaped your body and are now a self-reported 5-10, 200 pounds. How has that helped you? Wilson: "I feel faster; quicker. I'm a lot more confident in the way I move my body. I was carrying a lot of extra baggage, I guess. "That really hurt me last year and I needed to be more responsible with what I ate in the building, out- side the building." The Wolverine: What drills are there or what can you actually do to increase speed? Wilson: "I worked with the strength staff and the nutritionist on getting faster, losing body fat and gaining muscle. Just my play last year, I felt like I could have im- proved in a lot of areas. My speed, I think, would have gotten me a lot more yards and had me play a lot better last year. "The biggest thing, me and the strength staff were out there dur- ing the spring, before spring ball [several] days a week including our four or five mandatory workouts, just working with the parachutes … running up a hill, running up a curb, whatever it was. And just working on my diet, like I said." The Wolverine: A lot of people be- lieve the running back position is a question mark on this team. How do you respond to that? Wilson: "They can overlook us all they want. We're going to come in the first game and prove everybody wrong, and also prove ourselves right." The Wolverine: You came in as a walk-on and now you're vying to be the starting running back at Michi- gan. How much have you surprised yourself? Wilson: "I wouldn't say I was forced to work harder, because I've always worked hard … but I just had to adapt to the competition, start at a different level than some of the other guys. "I worked to get where I'm at, and I'm happy where I'm at, and I'm always trying to get better. Coach [Josh] Gattis says, 'Don't be sur- prised by success.' I'm not surprised by anything." — Chris Balas Wilson, who rushed for 364 yards and one touchdown during his junior season, is in the mix to be Michigan's starting running back. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Sitting Down With Senior Running Back Tru Wilson them as the Big Ten favorite, preseason polls are not in agreement. Sporting News rounded up the rankings of six outlets — itself, Athlon, the Amway coaches' poll, Sports Il- lustrated, ESPN.com and CBSSports.com — for a composite top 25 Aug. 7. In a formula that awarded 25 points for a No. 1 ranking down to one point for a No. 25 listing, U-M checked in seventh in the land with 111 points. In the polls surveyed, the Maize and Blue had a high of No. 4 (Athlon) and low of No. 11 (Sports Illustrated). Alabama and Clemson tied for No. 1 (147 points), and Big Ten rival Ohio State checked in fifth nationally (127 points). Other 2019 opponents that made the cut included Notre Dame (tied for ninth), No. 15 Penn State, No. 18 Wisconsin, No. 19 Iowa, No. 21 Michigan State and No. 25 Army. In a separate story, Sporting News predicted U-M to play Oregon in the Rose Bowl (with Ohio State making the Col- lege Football Playoff). Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com predicted the Wolverines to play in the Cotton Bowl Dec. 28 as an at-large team, due to being the highest-ranked team not already in one of the other New Year's Six games, against UCF, represent- ing the Group of Five schools. He had the Big Ten being shut out of the College Football Playoff for a third straight season. "Many are on the Michigan bandwagon with Urban Meyer finally out of Jim Harbaugh's hair," Palm wrote. "The Buckeyes are still the most talented team in the league. I am not foolish enough to say the Wolverines can- not win the Big Ten this season, but I will believe it when I see it." ❑ U-M PLAYERS ON PRESEASON TOP COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS LISTS Class Pos. Name ESPN+ SI* PFF^ SN# Sr. QB Shea Patterson 26 90 — 31 Sr. CB Lavert Hill — 67 — — Sr. LB Khaleke Hudson — 40 — — 5th-Sr. DE Mike Danna — — 22 — + ESPN.com did a top 50 list; * Sports Illustrated (SI) did a top 100 list; ^ Pro Football Focus (PFF) did a top 50; # Sporting News (SN) did a top 40