The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
Forged In Fire A Crowded Backfield Creates Intense Competition To Be U-M's Starting Ball Carrier In The Season Opener O By Michael Spath ne by one, they came together to pose for a picture as a group inside Michigan Stadium. There was fifthyear senior Fitzgerald Toussaint and junior Thomas Rawls, redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes and redshirt freshman Drake Johnson, and then three rookies — De'Veon Smith, Wyatt Shallman and Derrick Green (on request, Green flexed his biceps to show off his mammoth muscles). As a group, they were all smiles following the conclusion of media day Aug. 11, joking and laughing with each other … the best of friends. Somehow, they maintain that positive attitude even during intense competition in practices, insisting the jockeying to be the starting tailback when U-M opens the 2013 season Aug. 31 with a visit from Central Michigan will not dissolve into a mean-spirited affair. "Every one of us wants that spot, but we're going to help each other," Johnson said. "No one is going to cut-throat anyone else. If Rawls succeeds, we all succeed. If Fitz succeeds, we all succeed because this is about the team and our team goals." Still, Johnson wants to be the starter. So does Rawls. So does Hayes. Toussaint insisted he will be the starter, prompted by that question just days into fall camp, and proclaiming without any sense of bravado there is only one correct answer to the query, "Who will be the starter on Aug. 31?" "I will be the starter on Aug. 31," Toussaint said, confidently. "We all want to start," said Hayes, who at 5-10 and 192 pounds is up 17 pounds since National Signing Day 2011. "If we didn't want to compete to start, we wouldn't be here and we would transfer and quit." Running backs coach Fred Jackson is in his 22nd season with the Maize and Blue, and while he openly admits he's prone to hyperbole, he looks around his room and is in awe of the talent he's mentoring.