The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/653976
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL initiate contact more, the coach ad- mitted. "A lot of guys can hit a home run here or there, but can you block ev- ery play, can you get two yards when there is nothing there to get?" said Isaac, whose final carry of the sea- son was a one-yard gain in the third quarter against Michigan State. "I met with Coach Wheatley at the end of last season to talk about things that we mutually felt I needed to work on. I really tried to attack those and work on some goals I set for myself in the offseason and in the spring. "Just being more intense, more fo- cused, paying attention to little de- tails. We went over it together to be clear that I knew what I had to do to get better." The lack of playing time grated on the 6-3, 228-pound Isaac, but he stuck with Michigan through the offseason and is determined to showcase the type of back he knows he can be. And if he ever lacks for incentive, he simply must look at Smith. "If anyone can be consistent and make plays, you could take his spot, but De'Veon has been doing really well," Isaac said. "Obviously, it's De'Veon's job to lose, which gives you extra motivation. "My mindset hasn't changed. I'm going out every day trying to com- pete to get that starting spot and be ready to carry the load when the sea- son starts." ❏ FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK • While defensive end Willie Henry prepares for the NFL Draft April 28- 30, after leaving U-M following his junior season, tight end Jake Butt is happy he made the decision to return for his senior year. "At the end of the day, I think I made the right decision coming back here, getting another chance to learn under this great coaching staff, another year in the weight room, another year to hit some of these team goals we haven't quite hit yet with my best friends," he said. • Henr y and center Graham Glasgow both participated in the NFL Combine Feb. 23-29. Tight end Jake Butt is not second-guessing his decision to return for his senior season at Michigan. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN