The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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bursts into the offensive backfield. Still, there is no dominant edge rusher returning. Perhaps that player has yet to ar- rive on campus — recruits Reuben Jones and Shelton Johnson combined for 53.5 career sacks in high school — but Michigan would feel better if it finishes the spring with at least the hope that a potential 10-sack rusher is emerging. "A dominant defensive end is a lot like a dominant cornerback because he can just shut down one side of the field and make life miserable for a quarterback," Rumishek said. "It's been a long time since we've had one of those guys on the line." HOW CAN JABRILL PEPPERS BEST HELP MICHIGAN? A five-star prospect and the na- tion's No. 3 overall recruit in the 2014 class, sophomore Jabrill Peppers was expected to compete at nickel back for the Wolverines last fall, giving the Michigan defense a dynamic athlete who could cover slot receivers yet had the size and strength to play the run and also blitz off the edge. The 6-1, 205-pound Peppers played in only three games, making one start, before succumbing to a sea- son-ending injury. He was granted a year reprieve from the NCAA and will have four seasons of eligibility remaining, though if he lives up to his hype, will probably be gone long before a potential fifth year. Peppers announced on Twitter his desire to play safety in 2015, and at least early in spring practice the coaches have granted his request, lin- ing him up as the last line of defense instead of at cornerback or nickel back. "He has a good burst. He's a smart kid, so he has a nose for the foot- ball and I think he tracks the football well," former All-Big Ten safety Mar- cus Ray (1995-98) said. "Both run and pass, he finds a way to get wherever the action is, and he's always trying to create turnovers and havoc." Sophmore defensive back Jabrill Peppers played in only three games, making one start, in 2014 before succumbing to a sea- son-ending injury. PHOTO BY PER KJELLDESN