The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin moved on. Partridge didn't know what that would mean for him, but he insisted he's developed a high level of trust in Jim Harbaugh in a very short time. "You work hard, and I want to be a coach," Partridge said. "He knew that. You work hard in your job, and then you get those opportunities. In my heart, this is the place I wanted to be. I put my trust in him and knew I wanted to coach for Jim Harbaugh, in this place. "It doesn't get any better for me. This is awesome. It's what I love. I'm on the field, I'm coaching, I'm getting after it." Partridge is obviously excited to see another of his former players coming into the fold. National No. 1 signee Rashan Gary is and will be special, he assured. "I can say I know him better than any other college football coach in the country does," Partridge said. "That's a fair statement. The sky is the limit for him. I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised when he shows up here. "There are certain players that just have something. It's a work ethic on the field and in the classroom. It's just a love for the game, where they have a bounce in their step every time they hit the field." Grouping both of his former prep stars together, he added: "They just have it. Every single play they play, it's 110 miles per hour. I expect huge things out of Rashan, and he expects them out of himself." Partridge insists he couldn't be in a better venue to grow his own coach- ing career and knowledge of how to go about his business. He pointed out that he had access to all of Michi- gan's coaches last year, learning from mentors like defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and special teams coach John Baxter, along with a host of oth- ers. "It's like a clinic here," he said. "I can carry around a notebook and write something down that I learn every single day. Being open to that, I pride myself in being able to gain as much knowledge from anybody I can and take it to how I teach the players. "Working in special teams with Jay Harbaugh and seeing how he teaches his tight ends, you learn little things that you can take to the linebackers. I've learned an incredible amount, and I wouldn't have done it any other way." ATHLON RANKS FOUR WOLVERINES IN BIG TEN PRE-SPRING TOP 25 Senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis ranked third overall and first among Wolverines in AthlonSports.com's break down of the top 25 players in the Big Ten heading into spring prac- tice. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was No. 1, followed by Iowa corner- back Desmond King at No. 2. Michi- gan defensive weapon Jabrill Pep- pers is fourth, followed by Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillian. On Lewis and Peppers, the site's author, Steve Lassan, wrote: "Op-