The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
While all four of the returningfrom-injury Wolverines are expected to vie for playing time this season, Toussaint and Countess are locked in intense battles to start at tailback and cornerback, respectively. "This year, I don't want to say it's up for grabs, but we have a lot of defensive backs that have experience and we're all competing right now," Countess said. Toussaint declared he will come out on top in a fight that includes three veterans and a hotshot rookie, Derrick Green. "Starting running back Aug. 31? I'm going to be the starting running back Aug. 31," he said at the press conference, though not in a boastful tone. Neither Toussaint nor Countess will be limited throughout the rest of fall camp, but team doctors and trainers will monitor the duo, knowing they could fatigue more easily than their teammates. For now, though, they look great. "They both looked good running around, speed, cutting ability and all that stuff," head coach Brady Hoke said. "It was good to see them out there. I know their teammates like it when they're both on the field." Wolverines Stay Focused, Out Of Trouble In The Offseason It's been a quiet summer in Ann Arbor. After the Wolverines saw running back Fitzgerald Toussiant and defensive end Frank Clark have issues leading into the 2012 season — which led to one-game suspensions for each of them — Michigan has been committed to staying out of trouble, and out of the headlines. "It's nothing you rejoice about — it's just what we expect from ourselves," fifth-year senior safety Thomas Gordon said. "We expect that no one is going to go out and act a fool and get in trouble. No one has made bad decisions this summer — everyone knows what's on the table this year, and we don't want to mess that up." "It is very important," redshirt junior quarterback Devin Gardner added. "Coach Hoke always talks about it — not having any distractions, and that's what those issues are: distractions that are not needed. And they're not tolerated, either. I'm happy that our team has been walk- U-M Football Injury Report Player Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB Antonio Poole, LB Blake Countess, CB Chris Bryant, OL Chris Wormley, DE Jake Ryan, LB Russell Bellomy, QB Injury Ankle Variety ACL Tibia ACL ACL ACL 2012 Games Missed Two 13 12 13 13 0 0 2013 Season Back Career is over Back Back Back October return Out for season