The Wolverine

  MICHIGAN FOOTBALL ary, including coming up closer to the line of scrimmage like a Sam linebacker. • The cornerbacks are a little bit of a concern. To address that, the coaches have been using Peppers there some, feel- ing safety is in good enough hands with senior Jarrod Wilson and junior Delano Hill that Pep- pers could play a bigger role at corner if no other Wolverine emerges there. Junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis has been very steady thus far, but the position op- posite him has been a revolv- ing door, seeing the likes of graduate transfer senior Wayne Lyons, redshirt junior Jeremy Clark (who moved over from safety), junior Channing Strib- ling and redshir t freshman Brandon Watson. • Seniors Joe Bolden and Desmond Morgan have been "lights out" at the two middle linebacker positions in the 3-4 defense, and they are expected to have very productive seasons. • Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Dan Samuelson has left the program, feeling he would not have a chance to compete for playing time at Michigan. Classmate Chris Fox has gone on a medical hardship scholarship and his play- ing career is also over with. With those two out, and Kyle Bosch transferring after the 2014 season, the heralded six-man haul of 2013 up front, which had an average star value of 3.83, is down to tackle Logan Tuley-Tillman, guard David Dawson and center Patrick Kugler. None of the three are expected to start this season. • Michigan now has 80 committed scholarships for 2015, allowing the coaches to reward five walk-ons will full rides if they see fit. U-M also now has 17 scholar- ships it can offer to the 2016 recruiting class; the Wolverines currently have 22 verbal commitments. Junior De'Veon Smith leads the Wolverines' group of running backs as of mid-August, thanks to his success rushing on early downs. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL

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