The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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As a junior, Denard Robinson posted 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing, along with 2,173 yards and 20 more scores through the air. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL that, Robinson's comfort level with Michigan's offense is growing daily. Junior quarterback Devin Gard- ner — like Robinson, a fun-loving football player — needs to continue progressing, Hoke pointed out. "I like Devin's progress right now, for us," Hoke said. "Tree has played a lot of football. When you look at the guys in the mix, it's a great opportu- nity for them." Hoke noted junior Jeremy Jackson, "Gallon has played a lot of football from a maturation standpoint of knowing how it is to be a quarter- back," Hoke said. "He's a very intel- ligent, gregarious kid, who likes to have a lot of fun. Denard is as well, to some degree, and they love play- ing the game. Devin loves having fun playing the game. "Well, it's not always fun. There is work and preparation, particularly at that position, that has to be second to none." Redshirt freshman Russell Bellomy at 6-3, is one of Michigan's bigger receivers with some experience. "As a freshman, he probably played a little more at a true wideout," Hoke noted. "He didn't play as much last year, because of the rotation and where guys were, but he's played. His freshman year, he had seven catches against Ohio down there." Others, like junior Drew Dileo and is also waiting in the wings, having put together some impressive prac- tice performances behind the scenes. with him the big, physical receiver who can outmuscle defensive backs for jump balls. But senior Jeremy Gallon (31 catches for 453 yards) and fifth-year senior Roy Roundtree (19 catches for 355 yards) return, along with several younger performers. Wideouts Junior Hemingway is gone, and 24 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2012 redshirt sophomore Jerald Robinson, have a chance to continue building a résumé before the freshmen arrive in fall camp. All those in the spring hold a nice advantage, according to Hoke. "They have Coach Heck [Jeff Heck- linski] now for a second year, and they know his demands on how you prepare and the expectations that we have there. Knowing the offense better will help, and the check sys- tem within the offense — all of those things are important to them." ger out of the mix, Michigan's return- Tight Ends With departed captain Kevin Ko- ers at tight end feature a combined one catch for nine yards from last year. That belongs to fifth-year senior Brandon Moore. Asked about the spot, Hoke smiled and contemplated. "That's a good question," he ac- knowledged. "We moved [6-5, 265-pound walk-on redshirt sopho- more] Chris Eddins over there, and [6- 3, 246-pound redshirt sophomore] Jor- dan Paskorz. We're going to try those two big bodies over there on the line of scrimmage. We've got Brandon Moore back, and [6-5, 257-pound fifth-year senior walk-on Mike] Kwitkowski." Redshirt sophomore Ricardo Miller (at 6-4, 234) has been prepped to play either wideout or tight end, accord- ing to Hoke. "Ricardo is kind of a swing guy for us," he said. "We can split him out as a wideout some, because he does a pretty good job running, and has athleticism. But he's also going to have to play at the point of attack, on the line of scrimmage some." Either way, the Wolverines will be very short on experience and demon- strated production at the spot. Offensive Line All eyes will be on the center posi-