The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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push hard for a starting job as well, and can play at either end of the line. Additional help could come from 6-6, 287-pound redshirt junior Matt Godin, who battled injury in the spring, and 6-2, 281-pound redshirt sophomore Maurice Hurst Jr., who showed flashes of prowess in spring. In the spring game, Wormley ac- counted for five tackles and pounced on a fumble, while Henry and Hurst managed four stops apiece. Marshall, a pass-rushing presence, recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss among his three stops. Linebacker A pair of veterans stood out at the inside linebacker spots, but they've got younger players pushing hard behind them. Fifth-year senior Des- mond Morgan and senior Joe Bolden appear to have the inside track on the starting inside linebacker spots, but junior Ben Gedeon and redshirt sophomore Mike McCray are getting better and should see the field plenty. Outside linebackers in a 3-4 look could involve seniors James Ross III and Royce Jenkins-Stone, with red- shirt junior Allen Gant also making a strong bid to get snaps. This is a veteran crew that has seen a lot of on-field and practice time to- gether, but learning what Durkins ex- pects and performing it well involves a summer of player-only efforts and a hard-edged fall camp. In the spring game, Bolden stood out as a huge presence for the Maize squad, recording 13 tackles, includ- ing three tackles for loss. Gedeon racked up nine stops, while Morgan recorded four stops and an intercep- tion for the Blue. Secondary The move of redshirt freshman Ja- brill Peppers to safety caused plenty of buzz early, and Peppers created more just with his approach. Sec- ondary coach Greg Jackson insists he's going to be a special part of that crew. In fact, Jackson compared him to Rodney Harrison, the former stand- out for the NFL's San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots. "He's enthusiastic, intense dur- ing practice, full speed to the ball all the time," Jackson said. "He's a kid that's hungry, ready to prove himself. A guy like Peppers, you can't teach hustle — he's just got it. He's just got that knack of being a football player. "He tackles great. He does every- thing you ask him to do, and he does much more. Pep is the type of player that is not going to get relaxed. He's got fire within." He also has veterans all around him, with senior Jarrod Wilson likely to start at the other safety, and fifth- year senior Blake Countess along with junior Jourdan Lewis at the corners. That crew could develop into one of the Big Ten's best defensive back- fields, with junior Channing Stribling providing capable backup at corner and juniors Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill competing hard at safety. In the spring game, Peppers made 1.5 tackles for loss among four stops and tallied one pass broken up. Lewis posted six tackles, and Count- ess made four stops. ❑