The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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M Brady Hoke Likes The Competition U-M Features In Backfield Brady Hoke loves to compete. He loved it as a high school linebacker, a college performer, an assistant coach who once helped guide a national championship defense, and now as Michigan's head coach. He knows nothing raises the level of a team more than competition. Hoke believes he'll see that in a number of different position groups this year. The offensive line has been built up to the point of featuring many options, all battling for five spots. The secondary has become more populated, and the tight ends are rolling in. One of the most scrutinized areas for the fall certainly involves Michigan's running backs. Denard Robinson is gone, taking with him his 1,000 yards per season. Fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint represents the leading returner among the tailbacks, but he rushed for 514 yards last year and is bouncing back from a significant leg injury. Increased competition is demanded, and the Wolverines are going to see it come August. In spring practice, Toussaint took no con- tact, and tailbacks such as redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes (5-10, 190), redshirt freshman Drake Johnson (6-0, 212), junior Thomas Rawls (5-10, 217) and sophomore Dennis Norfleet (5-7, 168) battled it out. That competition ramps up considerably come fall camp, when Toussaint returns, joined by a pair of true freshman tailbacks in 5-11, 220-pound Derrick Green and 5-11, 218-pound De'Veon Smith. Green, Rivals. com's No. 1 prep back in the nation last year, and Smith will join the battle with Toussaint in elevating Michigan's ground game behind what is expected to be an improved offensive line. Michigan coaches like their move back to a pro-style offense under redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner. They love his ability to play-action pass. At the same time, they know there has to be respect for the running game for play-action to enjoy any success. "He does a nice job with it — that's footwork and ball mechanics and the fake that goes along with it," Hoke said. "But for that Michigan Football Projected Post-Spring Depth Chart Pos. WR or LT LG C or RG or or RT TE or WR or QB or FB RB or or or Pos. PK P LS Offense Defense No.PlayerHt.Wt.Yr. Pos. No.PlayerHt.Wt.Yr. WDE 57 Frank Clark 82 Amara Darboh 6-2 213 So. 6-2 277 Jr. 85 Joe Reynolds 6-1 200 5th-Sr. 53 Mario Ojemudia 6-2 244 So. 86 Jehu Chesson 6-3 183 R-Fr. 33 Taco Charlton 6-6 265 Fr. DT 55 Jibreel Black 77 Taylor Lewan 6-8 308 5th-Sr. 6-2 276 Sr. 75 Michael Schofield 6-7 302 5th-Sr. 69 Willie Henry 6-3 306 R-Fr. 50 Tom Strobel 6-6 262 R-Fr. 71 Ben Braden 6-6 314 R-Fr. NT 76 Quinton Washington 6-4 305 5th-Sr. 61 Graham Glasgow 6-6 303 R-So. 56 Ondre Pipkins 6-3 308 So. 60 Jack Miller 6-4 291 R-So. 54 Richard Ash 6-3 316 R-Jr. 61 Graham Glasgow 6-6 303 R-So. SDE 92 Keith Heitzman 6-3 277 R-So. 67 Kyle Kalis 6-5 297 R-Fr. 99 Matt Godin 6-6 277 R-Fr. 56 Joey Burzynski 6-1 291 R-Jr. 6-5 290 R-Fr. or 43 Chris Wormley 58 Chris Bryant 6-4 325 R-So. MIKE 48 Desmond Morgan 6-1 227 Jr. 75 Michael Schofield 6-7 302 5th-Sr. 35 Joe Bolden 6-3 222 So. 78 Erik Magnuson 6-6 286 R-Fr. WILL 15 James Ross 6-1 223 So. 19 Devin Funchess 6-4 228 So. 52 Royce Jenkins-Stone 6-2 215 So. 84 A.J. Williams 6-6 265 So. 6-3 254 Jr. SAM 97 Brennen Beyer 88 Jake Butt 6-6 231 Fr. or 4 Cameron Gordon 6-3 233 5th-Sr. 10 Jeremy Gallon 5-8 187 5th-Sr. SS 30 Thomas Gordon 5-11 208 5th-Sr. 26 Drew Dileo 5-10 177 Sr. 17 Jeremy Jackson 6-3 206 Sr. 34 Jeremy Clark 6-4 201 R-Fr. 12 Devin Gardner 6-4 203 R-Jr. FS 22 Jarrod Wilson 6-2 196 So. 6 Brian Cleary 6-3 199 R-Fr. 14 Josh Furman 6-2 197 Sr. — Shane Morris 6-3 183 Fr. CB 5 Courtney Avery 5-11 174 Sr. 36 Joe Kerridge 6-0 241 R-So. 6 Raymon Taylor 5-10 186 Jr. 39 Sione Houma 6-0 229 So. 5-9 175 Jr. or 24 Delonte Hollowell 28 Fitzgerald Toussaint 5-10 200 5th-Sr. CB 18 Blake Countess 5-10 181 Jr. 38 Thomas Rawls 5-10 217 Jr. 25 Dymonte Thomas 6-2 187 Fr. — Derrick Green 5-11 220 Fr. 5 Justice Hayes 5-10 190 R-So. 29 Drake Johnson 6-1 212 R-Fr. Specialists No.PlayerHt.Wt.Yr. Pos. No.PlayerHt.Wt.Yr. 34 Brendan Gibbons 6-1 240 5th-Sr. H 26 Drew Dileo 5-10 177 Sr. 45 Matt Wile 6-2 215 Jr. 10 Jeremy Gallon 5-8 187 5th-Sr. 45 Matt Wile 6-2 215 Jr. PR 10 Jeremy Gallon 5-8 187 5th-Sr. or 26 Dennis Norfleet 91 Kenneth Allen 6-3 212 R-Fr. 5-7 168 So. 54 Jareth Glanda 6-3 260 R-Jr. KR 26 Dennis Norfleet 5-7 168 So. This is a projected depth chart by The Wolverine based on conversations with position coaches for the Football Preview. 28 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview Hoke is eager to see how Michigan's veterans and newcomers at running back battle this fall, saying of the group, "It's going to be a position that's one of strength." photo by brian blanco to be as productive as we want, we've got to be able to run the ball. It still gets back to the same thing." Hoke acknowledges that Toussaint and the freshmen could change the equation at that position. "It's going to be a position that's one of strength," Hoke said. "We'll see how Fitz comes along. He's done great in his recovery. We'll see how De'Veon and Derrick come in. A lot of it is going to be their transition when they get here for summer school — classes, lifting, being away from home, learning what they can from an offensive perspective, the weight room and all that." As for Toussaint, Hoke likes what he's seen and heard. "He didn't do any contact," Hoke noted of Toussaint's spring efforts. "He did individual drills with the running backs, caught balls and did all that kind of stuff. I never saw him grimace or slow down or anything like that. "In talking to Paul [Schmidt, senior football athletic trainer] and the trainers, they think he's probably ahead of where they all may have thought. I'm not a doctor, but when they put that apparatus in there — screws and that kind of stuff — it's made it pretty strong. We'll see how he handles the summer conditioning." Toussaint sounds confident in his comeback. Meanwhile, newcomers are training vigorously to get into the mix. To Hoke, that means competition, and competition always translates into better results on the field.