The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL tion in different sets. At other times, you're lining up at H-back or full- back. You have to know all those po- sitions. And you're going to have to know the passing game and all the intricacies in it, more than the run- ning backs. You have to understand the passing game. That is going to be the biggest change. "On the defensive line, he didn't have to deal with that at all, outside of disrupting the tight end's pass re- lease. The biggest thing I would tell him is, 'Dive into the offensive play- book and study it every single night, just like academics.' You have to know it as well as the quarterbacks. That is one of the advantages I had, moving from quarterback, I already knew the playbook inside and out." Heitzman started seven games among 11 appearances defensively for the Maize and Blue in 2013, and registered eight tackles. However, he was ceding playing time late in the year to rising senior Brennen Beyer, and he likely knew he could make a bigger impact at tight end. "I saw my years waning," Mignery said. "You only have five of them. Once you sign that letter of intent, that clock starts to tick." Though Heitzman played tight end in high school, he was not a promi- nent offensive performer, catching four balls in his career at Hilliard (Ohio) Davidson High School. It will take awhile for him to catch on, but the want and commitment is there. "It all takes time," Mignery said. "He'll get a lot of reps in the spring and summer, and he is going to need it. He should be able to pick up the blocking game and the schemes quickly, though." UPDATED ROSTER INCLUDES WEIGHT GAINS, POSITION CHANGES Michigan's updated spring roster included a number of noted posi- tion changes, notable weight gains/ losses and the departure of both of- fensive lineman Chris Bryant and tight end Jordan Paskorz. A guard, Bryant would have been a redshirt junior but called it quits due to lin- gering injuries, head coach Brady Hoke said. There was no word on why Paskorz decided not to return for his fifth year. The Wolverines made a few po- sition changes, some big and some subtle. Hoke announced that senior Jake Ryan was moving from the Sam (strongside) linebacker to the Mike (middle), with senior Desmond Mor- gan switching from the Mike to the Will (weakside) and junior James Ross III going from the Will to Sam. Additionally, redshirt junior Keith Heitzman has moved from defensive end to tight end, redshirt freshman Ross Douglas slides over to running back from defensive back, while red- shirt freshman tailback Wyatt Shall- man will see time at H-back. "We thought we could get a little more depth with Ross," head coach Brady Hoke said. "He was a 2,000- yard rusher in high school, and he showed us some things during the fall. "Wyatt Shallman gives us a little