The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/122487
Emerging Young Talent Makes The Receiving Corps Stronger M By Chris Balas aybe it was a sign, or perhaps just a coincidence. Either way, when redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner unleashed a 30-yard bomb down the right sideline to sophomore wideout Amara Darboh on the first play of the April 14 spring game — from his own end zone, no less — it seemed to send a message to those who question Michigan's ability to attack downfield. "We have weapons," offensive coordinator Al Borges seemed to be saying. "And we aren't afraid to use them." Not even from the black zone, Gardner said with a grin following a performance in which he completed 11 of 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, a 12-yard strike to freshman tight end Jake Butt. The Wolverines spread the ball around to 12 different receivers in their final practice, and while not all of them will play this fall, they all played well. There were, of course, a few standouts. Fifth-year senior Jeremy Gallon (three grabs for 18 yards) moved the chains with a number of catches at the sticks. He plays much bigger than his 5-9 frame and could be a 1,000-yard guy in 2013 after catching 49 passes for 829 yards as a redshirt junior. "The young guys and Jeremy Jackson, too — Jeremy has really had his best spring," head coach Brady Hoke said of the senior. "You look at [redshirt freshman] Jehu [Chesson] and Amara, both of those guys have really come along. They both are very talented and can do a lot of different things. "[Fifth-year senior walk-on] Joe Reynolds keeps pushing everybody. Joe is a guy who can play a lot of positions. That's real positive for us." There's even more positive news in that three true freshmen will join the team in the fall — 6-3 Csont'e York, 6-2 Da'Mario Jones and 6-4 Jaron Dukes. Some will play and some will likely redshirt, but if they progress like last year's freshmen, the corps is headed in the right direction. Youth Will Be Served After one of the late-March practices, dozens of players mulled around the 50-yard line at the Al Glick Fieldhouse. Some of them were getting extra reps in by themselves while others were just talking. Ten minutes later, just a few stragglers remained. The ones who stayed were all young wide receivers who had made their way to the corner of the practice facility to put in more work on their own, catching passes out of a JUGS throwing machine. Gallon, the mentor, was impressed with the effort. "They are all competing hard,"