The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Here's an in-depth look at each po- sition and how things might shape up next year. The Offense QUARTERBACK This position holds the $64,000 question, and there's no clear-cut answer. Sophomore Shane Morris is the odds-on favorite on experience alone, but he struggled in his lone start this year, completing only seven of 19 passes for 49 yards with an in- terception vs. Minnesota before be- ing replaced in the third quarter. He finished the season 14-of-40 passing for 128 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns, and he was 29- of-47 for 261 yards with two picks last year. Redshirt junior Russell Bellomy was the only other quarterback to play this year behind Morris and fifth-year senior Devin Gardner, and he only threw two passes. He'll likely be a backup next season. The only other realistic candidates to play are redshirt freshman-to-be Wilton Speight and incoming frosh Alex Malzone of Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice. Speight re- ceived positive reviews from team- mates this fall, while Malzone was the state's Gatorade Player of the year after throwing for 2,998 yards, 38 touchdowns and just five intercep- tions this year in leading Brother Rice to the Division 2 Regional Finals. Best Bet: Morris gets the initial nod, but gets pushed by Speight. RUNNING BACK The Wolverines had three running backs rush for 4.8 yards per carry or more this year, led by redshirt sopho- more Drake Johnson's 6.0 per rush. Johnson tore his ACL for the second time in a 42-28 loss at Ohio State, otherwise he'd be the favorite after rushing for 361 yards this year. He was by far U-M's most effective, ex- plosive and elusive runner. But there are options. Sophomore Derrick Green started six games and rushed for 471 yards (5.7 per carry) before going down with a broken clavicle at Rutgers. Fellow soph De'Veon Smith led the backs with 519 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per rush, and redshirt junior Justice Hayes managed 213 yards and 4.4 per rush though he was used primarily as a third-down back. One to watch is Southern Cal soph- omore transfer Ty Isaac. Isaac carried 40 times for 236 yards as a USC frosh and caught four passes for 57 yards. Trojans coaches loved his potential and thought he was destined for big things before he left. Fullbacks Joe Kerridge, a redshirt junior this year, and junior Sione Houma will be back in their primar- CLICK THE ICON TO PLAY OR STOP THE PODCAST Borton & Balas Discuss The Future Of Michigan Football