The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/813087
32 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 ting in here and getting their feet wet in college and meeting new people, and meeting us as coaches and getting to know our style of coaching." The 6-5, 272-pound Hall reportedly struggled early, but he came on late in camp and seemed to hold his own. His footwork was noticeable on short film clips released by MGoBlue.com. New tackles and tight ends coach Greg Frey isn't into talking about in- dividuals, but he liked the effort he'd gotten out of both Ruiz and Hall. "They're wonderful people," Frey said. "They're playing hard, doing well. We'll see [how they progress]." The seven early enrollees on de- fense, meanwhile, all earned praise for their willingness to learn. One, however, seemed to stand out for his willingness to mix it up. Coaches told safety J'Marick Woods of Florence, Ala., to be ready to play as a freshman, noting the numbers at the position could dic- tate a rookie or two in the lineup. He wasn't able to play in the spring game — he was nicked up with in- juries — but teammates and coaches said he was one of the more impres- sive players they'd seen during the early practices. "He's the truth," sophomore run- ning back Chris Evans said. "He brought that down-south mentality. I know they hit down south, but he's a different human. The way he's been hitting people all spring, you've got to watch out for that guy. He's really hitting people hard." Defensive coordinator Don Brown told reporters he wished they and the fans could have seen Woods in action during the spring game, not- ing he'd "really been showing some things." That echoed what safeties coach Brian Smith had said about him a week earlier. "J'Marick Woods has had an out- standing spring," Smith said of the 6-3, 205-pounder. "He's kind of earn- ing his nickname — we call him 'Woods.' He definitely brings the wood. He's a physical player. He's a hitter. "He's what you look for back there. He's got good range. There are a lot of things he needs to work on still, but he's shown a lot of potential and enthusiasm for the game." Jaylen Kelly-Powell is a differ- ent kind of safety, Evans noted, but he's also shown flashes. He notched three solo tackles, one for loss, in the spring game and continues to move around in the secondary in search of the right position. "He's got great footwork … his footwork is outstanding," Evans said. "I watch him every day. He doesn't really say much or smile much. He's all about his work. I like that." Brown added they'd "fooled around with him at nickel back and strong safety," adding he handled himself well in the spring game to continue his strong spring. "Jaylen Kelly-Powell has done a nice job," Smith said. "He comes in from a good high school program. He's been well-coached. He's really technically sound for a young defen- sive back. His man-to-man skills are definitely there. They flash." The rookie cornerbacks, Benjamin St. Juste and Ambry Thomas, saw more action than expected in the spring game due to injuries. The 6-3, 188-pound St.-Juste picked off a pass early in the scrimmage and returned it 17 yards, and he also notched three tackles. He's got great range and moves well for his size. On the flip side, he was on the wrong end of two long pass plays at the end of the game when Black got Center Cesar Ruiz is expected to at least push for a starting job along the interior of the offen- sive line as a freshman. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste debuted in The Big House with three tackles and an interception, which he returned 17 yards, in the spring game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL