The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
pers' teammates certainly understand there's more to succeeding than just showing up as a highly skilled athlete. There are all kinds of adjustments to make: being away from home, learn- ing the defense, experiencing a vastly upgraded level of physicality and en- durance. Senior defensive end Frank Clark shook his head and grinned when asked about fall camp. He knows Pep- pers is getting a rude awakening, along with the rest of Michigan's freshmen. "Man … as a freshman, that's the hardest," Clark said. "You're getting up early. You've got to be there at 5:30 a.m., getting on the shuttles that go to the building. Everybody else is getting up three hours later. "You've been in the building for three hours straight. Now you've got to sit and listen to the same plays you just went over with your posi- tion coach and learn these new plays. It was just a struggle. It was a grind. That's the grind he has to go through. "All freshman have to go through it. … You might have to do something for an upperclassman. You've got to carry my bag. You've got to break them in. You've got to get the juices. You've got to clean all the bags, put the bags away." Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan knows Peppers will be drink- ing from the proverbial fire hose over the next few weeks. Those who have a chance to play early get the cram course, and the rookie out of East Or- ange, N.J., certainly fits that bill. "He's a really good athlete," Ryan said. "He brings a lot of energy. But he's one of those freshmen that come in and don't really know about the whole Michigan aspect. That's how I was, and how everyone else is. Instill- ing it in him is what we need to do. "Right when he got here, the first day, we talked to him. We talk to all the freshmen: 'This is what you need to do. You can't do this. Be humble.' It's all of the things a Michigan defense brings to the table." POTENTIAL TO BURN Peppers' place at the table in his first year seems almost certain, barring injury or other unexpected setbacks. Hoke noted over the summer, and re- affirmed at the Big Ten football meet- ings in Chicago, he expects the rookie to start out at the nickel position for the Wolverines. Former Michigan defensive back and present Big Ten Network com- mentator Marcus Ray agrees with the narrow-focus approach … at least for starters. "If Michigan leaves Jibreel working on one aspect, and allows him to learn Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan on Peppers "He's a really good athlete. He brings a lot of energy. But he's one of those freshmen that come in and don't really know about the whole Michigan aspect. That's how I was, and how everyone else is. Instilling it in him is what we need to do."