Spring football is here for the Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines finished with a 10-3 record in head coach Jim Harbaugh first season at the helm. However, the Wolverines came up just short in their bid for a Big Ten title and lost 42-13 to Ohio State.
The Wolverines are searching for a new starting QB this year and are looking to make it to the Big Ten Championship game. That won't be an easy task in the tough Big Ten East. With the spring game nearly here for Michigan, we've put together everything you need to know for Michigan football spring practice. That includes the top position battles, newcomers, players who need to step up and more.
3 Biggest Position Battles:
Quarterback:
Last year's starter, Jake Rudock, is gone and the Wolverines will need to find a new starting QB. Junior John O'Korn, the Houston transfer, might have the most talent. He struggled in his sophomore season at Houston, but showed great promise in his freshman season. Also in the mix are redshirt junior Shane Morris, sophomore Wilton Speight, redshirt freshman Alex Malzone and freshman Brandon Peters. Speight was the backup last season, as Morris redshirted. Peters could be the long-term answer at QB. He enrolled early and has shown promise so far. Speight is in the lead for now, but O'Korn isn't far behind and Morris is still very much in the mix. Those three have pulled away from the freshmen.
Running Back:
The Wolverines return last year's starter De'Veon Smith, who had three times the carries as anyone else on the roster. But, there is competition to take some carries from Smith this year. Ty Isaac has slimmed down and looks more like the five-star recruit he was coming out of high school, drawing praise from Harbaugh. Drake Johnson should be fully recovered from a torn ACL in 2014 and gives the Wolverines a speedy, shifty back. Highly-touted recruit Kareem Walker is getting reps in the spring, although he might be better off waiting until 2017 to really contribute. Smith should still be the starter, but there will be competition for carries.
Linebacker:
All three starters at linebacker for the Wolverines are gone from last season. That means Michigan will have three new starters, although one player could shift over from a different position. Expect Senior Ben Gedeon to start at Mike LB, with true freshman Elysee Mbem-Bosse and redshirt freshman Reuben Jones battling for the backup job. At Will LB, Mike McCray is the favorite to win the starting job. However, he's been pushed by early enrollee Devin Bush Jr., who will see the field early. Redshirt sophomore Noah Furbush has seen action at SAM LB, but Jabrill Peppers has spent 70 percent of his time at LB this spring. It appears the Peppers will shift down from safety, and serve as the SAM linebacker. Michigan is deeper in the secondary than it is at linebacker. In defensive coordinator Don Brown's scheme, the SAM linebacker often covers the slot WR or tight end. Peppers playing LB is designed to ensure he's on the field at all times, and he'll be more of a linebacker-nickel corner hybrid than he will be a true linebacker.
3 Players Who Must Step Up:
QB John O'Korn
Korn is still the favorite win the starting job, even if the QB battle is pushed into the fall, because of his talent. The Houston transfer had a great first season with the Cougars, showing the ability to be a very good pro-style QB. However, he struggled his sophomore season amidst a scheme change, was eventually benched in favor of Greg Ward. O'Korn spent last season in the Michigan program after transferring, and that time under Harbaugh should help him. If Michigan wants to win the Big Ten title this season, they'll need a strong season from O'Korn.
OT Grant Newsome
The Wolverines want Mason Cole at center this year, meaning they're banking on Newsome to take over at left tackle. Newsome saw more reps in practice and in games as last season went along, and was the team's No. 6 lineman late in the year. But now he's expected to take over at left tackle, a critical position. The sophomore is a former four-star recruit and the left tackle of the future. So far in spring ball, it appears that he's the left tackle of the present as well.
LB Ben Gedeon
It's now or never for Gedeon, who is expected to start at middle linebacker. There have been reports that he's been sharp in spring practice, but that's something Wolverine fans have heard before. With limited depth, Michigan needs Gedeon to step up and have a big season. He's contributed on special teams in the past, but now the former four-star recruit needs to take hold of a starting spot and help lead the Michigan defense.
3 Newcomers To Watch:
DE Rashan Gary
Gary leading the way should be no surprise at all, as he was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2016. Gary will see the field early in his career at Michigan and will start his career at DE. He's expected to help replace Willie Henry. Gary has drawn praise early, and he'll at least be a key rotation player with Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley if he doesn't start right away.
LB Devin Bush
Bush was mentioned earlier and he will likely see the field early since Michigan is so thin at LB. Bush is small, and might not actually be the 6-feet he's listed at. However, he can make plays and enrolling early will give him a chance at stealing a starting job. For more Michigan coverage, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
WR Ahmir Mitchell
Mitchell was a four-star recruit and the No. 9 athlete in the class of 2016. He enrolled early and although Michigan already has Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh at WR, Mitchell will play this season. Chesson being out all spring has helped players like Mitchell. He is one of the few freshman to get work with the first and second string players in spring practice. At 6-foot-3, 203-pounds, Mitchell has the raw skills. He just needs polish on his route-running and other aspects of his game. He could be the team's No. 3 WR if he can beat out players like Grant Perry.
Notable Quotes:
"I've done this a long time and [over the years] you see a lot of guys who are really, really talented. And you never really know. It's like the NFL, when you draft a guy really high you have very high expectations [for him] and you put your name on it. ... But the thing that's so exciting about Rashan is that you can watch a highlight tape and then you can watch an entire game. And it's the same thing." - defensive line coach Greg Mattison on DE Rashan Gary.
"[Peppers] has already picked it up. He's playing at a high level there. I'm happy with him. From a coverage standpoint, it's everything we expected. I think he's picked up the linebacker pieces of it well as well. Making good progress, but like everybody else, he needs more time and more reps. "We'll be able to do some [creative] stuff with him. But that position's always been occupied [by talented players] ... You expect a lot at that spot. So we're going to get what we expect." - defensive coordinator Don Brown on LB Jabrill Peppers.
"What I’m excited to see is a real football game. Not practice, not seven-on-seven, but how does a quarterback manage the game and lead his team and who’s into the end zone the most?” - Harbaugh on the Spring Game.
"We’re going to make it a live type of game. We’re going to tackle the quarterback, sack the quarterback. When he runs, he’ll be live, just like a regular football game. The reason: because they really haven’t played in football games a lot, all of our quarterbacks. Excited to see that. Nothing speeds up a quarterback in the pocket like live bullets." - Harbaugh on the Spring Game.
"A harder, rougher guy, he just does. There’s never an excuse. Just harder. You just watch him get rougher, get harder right before your eyes. I’m really pleased the way he’s doing that now. Some of the outside runs are something he’s really good at. (Now) taking the responsibility of being a guy that he can run between the guards, run between the tackles, stick it up in there, lower his shoulder pads when he crosses the line of scrimmage. Embracing that and knowing I have to get a little better at that. I’ve seen that." - Harbaugh on RB Ty Isaac.
What They're Saying About The Wolverines:
What To Watch For In Friday's Spring Game (Detroit Free Press)
Quarterbacks' Contrasting Takes On Competition (Maize & Blue News)
QBs To Face Plenty Of Pressure In Spring Game (Detroit Free Press)
Michigan Schedules Jam-Packed Summer Full Of Camps (Detroit Free Press)
"Wide Open" QB Race Is UM's Biggest Issue (The Detroit News)
Spring Game Information:
Date: Friday, April 1st
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV/Stream: Big Ten Network