The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/589596
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK • Senior Buck linebacker Mario Ojemudia may have another opportunity to wear the winged helmet. Big Ten Network reporter Lisa Byington said that U-M is looking into petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eli- gibility after Ojemudia was lost for the season five games into the year with an Achilles injury. Michigan has not confirmed the coaching staff 's intention to do so, with a media rela- tions official saying he had no comment on reports that coach U-M will apply on Ojemu- dia's behalf. The 6-2, 252-pound Farmington Hills, Mich., native appeared in nine games his true fresh- man season, 13 in 2013, 11 with three starts in 2014, and five this year. He had contributed two sacks and six tackles for loss in 2015 before his injury. The chances of a successful petition, how- ever, are unlikely, one of the rules, seemingly, making the point moot: a student-athlete must not have competed in more than 30 per- cent of the season, or three games, whichever is greater. Even if Michigan plays in the Big Ten Cham- pionship Game and a bowl contest, Ojemudia will have participated in more than one-third. In Ojemudia's place, senior Royce Jenkins-Stone has notched 10 tackles, in- cluding one for loss, in two starts. "When he goes in, he's making plays," Mattison said. "That's what you want. The next guy always steps up. Royce understood that. He went in and played very, very hard, did some really good things and played with good technique." • One of the subtle moves paying off for Michigan this season was the decision to move redshirt junior Jeremy Clark from safety to cornerback in fall camp. The 6-4, 210-pound Clark has played in all seven games, making two starts at corner, recording one pass broken up, three interceptions and 11 tackles. "We felt that Jeremy Clark could bring a lot more to the table at corner. He's long, tall and quick, and could use his hands a lot more," safeties coach Greg Jackson said. "He can run with a lot of big corners in the Big Ten." • Michigan's three true freshman offensive linemen — Grant Newsome, Jon U-M is looking into petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eligi- bility for senior Buck linebacker Mario Ojemudia, who was lost for the season five games into the year with an Achilles injury. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN