The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/279958
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL a torn ACL Feb. 13 and was out in- definitely, TheWolverine.com analyst Doug Skene called it a "significant loss for the offense next season." U-M moved quickly to fill the void. In addition to further devel- opment of the current tight ends, the coaches switched redshirt junior Keith Heitzman from strongside end to tight end. "He was a tight end in high school as well as a defensive lineman, and he was all for it," said head coach Brady Hoke, who was even more convinced of the transition after a few spring practices. "Keith has been a really good move for us. He is pretty athletic, he is big at the line of scrimmage, and he is tough." Heitzman will look to become the 35th Wolverine during the last 20 years to earn a varsity letter at two different positions and the 18th to do so on both sides of the ball. The 6-3, 271-pounder will have his hands full transitioning, said former player Andy Mignery (2000-03). Mignery knows something about moving, spending his first three sea- sons, including a redshirt in 1999, at quarterback and his last two as a tight end. He increased his weight 16 pounds, to 250, and would eventu- ally contribute with two touchdowns among four catches in his senior year. He had only one grab, in his junior season. "He has to make up years of study- ing the offensive playbook," Mign- ery said. "He has to make up time in his offensive knowledge, because he has been so focused on the other side of the ball. The thing about tight end — along with quarterbacks, tail- backs and wide receivers — is that you have to know the offense inside and out. "You're on both sides of the forma- Heitzman, a 6-3, 271-pound redshirt junior, played strongside defensive end last season, but he will move to tight end to give the Wolverines added depth at the position. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL