The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/116680
front is solid." Sophomore Joe Bolden (6-3, 222) will battle to start at middle linebacker, after playing extensively as a true freshman. Hoke noted that junior weakside linebacker Desmond Morgan (6-1, 227) could also move over to play the middle, opening the door for sophomore James Ross III (6-1, 223) to add to his freshman work at weakside backer. Hoke also indicated sophomore Royce Jenkins-Stone shouldn't be counted out in the middle. "Royce Jenkins-Stone is going to compete," Hoke said. "Joe obviously got more time, but Royce is a physical guy who really plays well." All-Big Ten redshirt junior Jake Ryan (6-3, 241) should again hold down the strongside linebacker spot, although fifth-year senior Cameron Gordon (6-3, 233) enjoyed an "excellent winter" according to Hoke and is pushing for time. Depth comes from fifth-year senior Mike Jones (6-2, 223), redshirt freshman Kaleb Ringer (6-1, 236) and redshirt sophomore Antonio Poole (6-2, 218). Hoke looks to fifth-year senior safety Thomas Gordon (5-11, 208) to step up his leadership in the absence of 2012 Michigan MVP Jordan Kovacs. Gordon begins his third year as a starter. "Thomas has had great flashes and played really good in some games," Hoke said. "We need to get him more consistent. He's taken that leadership. He's always been pretty good on the field that way. He and Jordan had a nice playing relationship. "Jarrod Wilson is a guy that played a decent amount a year ago. Allen Gant, Jeremy Clark, all those guys are in there. Marvin Robinson and Josh Furman are two guys that have shown flashes. Now, the consistency is what we have to get from all of them." Wilson (6-2, 196) is a sophomore who could slip into the lineup by Gordon, either at strong or free safety. Meanwhile, Clark (6-4, 201), a redshirt freshman, demonstrated spurts of strong play in bowl scrimmage situations, while senior Robinson (6-2, 202) and redshirt junior Furman (6-2, 197) are both veterans with a big opportunity. The same goes for redshirt freshman Gant (6-2, 203) and true freshman Dymonte Thomas (6-2, 187). "The message of competitiveness with consistency is something we're going to talk about a lot," Hoke stressed. Redshirt sophomore Blake Countess (5-10, 181) won't take contact in the spring, but after starting as a freshman he is a strong candidate to grab a spot at cornerback, along with junior Raymon Taylor (5-10, 186), who started in Countess' absence all of last year. Senior Courtney Avery (5-11, 174) leads a pack of challengers for playing time. Those corners include sophomore Terry Richardson (5-9, 162), junior Delonte Hollowell (5-9, 175), and newcomer Ross Douglas (5-10, 176). Let the competition begin, Hoke insists — at a higher level than his first two years back in Ann Arbor have demonstrated. ❑