The Wolverine

September 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Wide Receiver Roy Roundtree Has Knee Surgery F throscopic knee surgery Aug. 10, however head coach Brady Hoke was optimistic that the Wolverines' top re- turning wideout would be cleared and practicing in time to play in the season opener against Alabama Sept. 1. "He had a little cartilage he needed cleaned up," Hoke said. "We expect him back in two weeks. Everything went great, and he feels great. As a senior, he'll do a great job of bounc- ing back. "Roy is a committed guy, so he's ifth-year senior wide receiver Roy Roundtree underwent ar- going to do everything in his power to be back." Roundtree ranked third on the team in receptions last year with 19 for 355 yards and two touchdowns. In his career, he has made 123 catches for 1,724 yards and 12 scores, leading current Maize and Blue receivers in all three categories. If Roundtree cannot play in the opener, then U-M's receiving corps would consist of targets that made just 43 grabs a year ago. Position coach Jeff Hecklinski is not con- cerned, though. "I don't think it affects us very • Sophomore safety Tamani Carter has left the program. "He's a great young man, a tre- mendous kid," Hoke said. "He de- cided to leave, and we'll leave it at that." mit to Hoke's staff after they took over in January 2011, but he did not appear in a game last season. He has not announced where he intends to transfer. • While it's likely that a few true Carter was the first player to com- freshmen will appear in Michigan's two-deep this fall, and potentially even compete for starting jobs, they haven't practiced enough while fin- ishing up summer-term classes for the coaches to know what to expect. "I'm not going to single anybody Roundtree, who had arthroscopic knee sur- gery Aug. 10, ranked third on the team in receptions last year with 19 grabs for 355 yards and two touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL out," Hoke said. "They've missed some time, and they're trying to catch up a little bit mentally. Most importantly, they've got to do a great job of finishing those classes. "Once we get that over, on [Aug. much at all," he insisted. "Obviously, losing someone of his experience and his talent … but we're at Michigan. It's the next person. The expectation is for that spot. Whoever takes that position and whoever plays against Alabama is expected to go make the plays to help win the game. "From top to bottom, all the kids in the room understand what it means to be a receiver at Michigan. It goes beyond skill. All of them are skilled — that's why they're here. Now it's the details of the position, and learn- ing how to play it here at Michigan. "It's a unique position here at Michigan. It's one of the best in the country. They all accept it, and they all play hard every day." Here are some other tidbits that came out of U-M's media day on Aug. 12: 56 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2012 14], we'll start seeing a little bit more and having a little better idea. "I think it's a very good class. I like how their demeanor has been." • There is continued talk that Mich- extended opportunity, and may start the opener against Alabama regard- less of whether Toussaint is permit- ted to play. "When he runs, he's trying to hurt the guy [that tries to tackles him]," running backs coach Fred Jackson said. "Anybody that tackles him knows he's been hit. He doesn't take many blows. He gives them. "He has the power you look for in igan will de-emphasize the role of its tight ends this fall due to a lack of the multi-dimensional athletes that of- fensive coordinator Al Borges needs at the position. It is possible the Wol- verines will employ more three- and four-receiver formations instead of using tight ends prominently. "With the players we have, we a back. In this offense, if you're run- ning the ball the way we should, he's a guy you've got to have. He's go- ing to be the guy who will make the third-and-ones, the guy who is going to go in and get you four yards when only two yards need to be made, be- cause of his power. "Chris Perry is a guy he's very sim- can do the things we want to do, but what Al has to figure out is, 'What's the tradeoff?'" tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno said. "Are we going to be able to do it well enough with those guys, and if not, then where do you go? What's the next step? That still remains to be seen." • With redshirt junior tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint suspended the first week of fall camp due to a DUI arrest this summer, sophomore Thomas Rawls made the most of his ilar to. He has Chris Perry's power. He doesn't necessarily have his feet, but Chris Perry doesn't have his speed, either. He's a lot like Chris." Jackson will prepare Toussaint to play also, leaving the decision on the tailback's availability up to Hoke. "The kid made a mistake, and he's paying for it," Jackson said. "I talk to him every day, spend time with him every day. I try to see him and encourage him. "The kid's got a great future. The kid's got some stuff to him. I'm going

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