The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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had one grab for five yards. Wide Receiver Despite the loss of top receiver Devin Funchess to the NFL Draft, wideouts coach Jedd Fisch likes what he sees there for the Wolverines. "I'm excited about the receiv- ing corps," Fisch said. "I think that we've got some size, I think we have strength, we have catching ability, we have some guys that have instincts, we have speed, but we also have quickness." He's got redshirt junior Amara Darboh, who made 36 catches for 473 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. He has redshirt junior Jehu Chesson, who made 14 catches for 154 yards, and senior Dennis Nor- fleet in the slot, after a 15-catch, 111- yard performance a year ago. He also has sophomore Freddy Canteen, last year's spring sensation who came back to earth when the season started. And he has this year's rookie practice phenomenon in true frosh Brian Cole, who combines size (6-2, 200) with his speed and strong pass-catching ability. In the spring game, the wideouts demonstrated an inconsistency that has to improve quickly. They were more responsible than the quarter- backs for two of the three intercep- tions thrown, and need to step up beyond Darboh's four catches for 75 yards. "That's an area we need to keep working on, receivers that can make the catch when it's contested, make the tough catch," Jim Harbaugh noted. Running Back It's been a three-man race in the spring, with one of the three — red- shirt sophomore transfer Ty Isaac — sitting out with injury issues. That means juniors De'Veon Smith and Derrick Green have received the li- on's share of practice snaps. Smith and Green rushed for 519 and 471 yards, respectively, a year ago — with Green's season lopped off about the midway point due to a shoulder injury. Both will remain strongly in the mix this fall, while Isaac will look to enter fall camp at full health, ready to show what he can do after coming from USC a year ago. While Michigan coaches would like to settle on a lead back, they ap- pear to be a ways from that sort of determination. Isaac drew glowing practice reports last fall, but has been largely unable to perform this spring, due to the injury. Fifth-year senior Joe Kerridge ap- pears to be the lock-down fullback, with redshirt freshman Brady Pal- lante seeing time there as well. Smith stood out in the spring game, with Green managing just eight yards in seven tries and Isaac one yard on the one snap he ap- peared. Like at quarterback, much remains to be seen here over the next five months. Defensive Line Michigan played a lot of 3-4 de- fensive looks in the spring, meaning the Wolverines were lined up with only three defensive linemen and