The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
Borges said. "He is very hungry." "He's stronger. I know he's faster," Jackson added. "He's put on a little weight. He's smarter. To me that's a recipe for success as a running back; Fitz has done everything we've asked him to do." Toussaint's top competition was thought to be Green, the five-star freshman that was ranked as the No. 1 running back nationally in the class of 2013. However, the 5-11, 240-pounder has missed practices, including the first two padded practices Aug. 9-10, with an injury. Jackson has demanded Green take mental reps so that once cleared to practice again, he can jump back into the race to earn the starting job. "You lose a little bit physically when you're out, but mentally he's in the meetings, and he's going to be all right," Jackson contended. "He'll be back and ready to go real soon, and I think he'll have the ability to step in, because he's doing the mental part of it." Hayes has remade his body to prove he can be a durable, betweenthe-tackles runner. Johnson has worked on his weaknesses. Smith and Shallman may not be generating the hype of their higher-rated classmate, but they also have impressed. Rawls is, perhaps, in the best position to edge out Toussaint because of his past experience, and the knowledge of what it will take to be successful on Saturdays. The 5-10, 217-pound junior had an inauspicious debut in 2012, rushing for only nine yards on six carries (1.5 yards per rush) in trying to replace a suspended Toussaint in the season opener against Alabama. He earned his first career start at Ohio State, but