The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2018 STATE OF THE OFFENSE later. The votes are already in. You see it as it's taking place. He's got to be the best quarterback to become the start- ing quarterback." The NCAA ruled in late April that Patterson would be immediately eli- gible to play without having to sit out a year, the usual standard for transfers. "I'm very happy that he is [eligible]," Harbaugh said. "That was never in my control, the power to influence, one way or the other … "He's done a fine job. I feel like the quarterbacks have all improved. Over- all, the position is going to be a much better position. The starter will be better as well. That's a good thing. We hope for that improvement for the season." Redshirt sophomore Brandon Pe- ters was right behind Patterson in the spring and was dialed in this sum- mer, according to those close to it. He struggled at times last year, completing 57 of 108 passes for 672 yards and four scores, but he has all the physical tools. Redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey was the most improved player in the spring, Harbaugh added. "He's got a lot of that 'it' factor to him, that winning factor. It shows up in two-minute drives," Harbaugh said. "Two-minute drive, Dylan gets in there and leads the team down for touch- downs. That's what was happening in the spring. And that's a great quality to have." Freshman Joe Milton, meanwhile, has opened eyes with his big arm and his confidence. Senior running back Karan Higdon predicted Milton "is going to leave a complete legacy at the University of Michigan." Harbaugh, though, is in no rush to name a starter. "If somebody proves they're the guy, we all can see it, that can happen sooner," he said. "That can happen later." RUNNING BACKS The Wolverines have had only one 1,000-yard running back this decade (Fitzgerald Toussaint, with 1,041 in 2011), though Karan Higdon came close last year while rushing for 994 yards. Higdon is back for his senior season 15 pounds heavier (from 190 to a self-reported 205) and has the confi- dence he can carry the load this year. Junior Chris Evans, who ran for 685 yards last season, will push him. He av- eraged 5.1 yards per carry and scored seven total touchdowns a year ago. "Of course I look at myself as the No. 1 back, but [Evans] is my brother and he's a great player," Higdon said in July. "He's going to do his job, too." Harbaugh said he looked at them as co-No. 1 running backs. "Karan Higdon is an outstand- ing football player. I always think of Karan and Chris Evans," Harbaugh said. "They're both great. They're both really good players, and that bodes re- ally well for our football team. "Both have really come into leader- ship roles on our team in the way it's developed over the last nine months, and that's also a really good team thing because they've embraced those roles." They've also taken it upon them- selves to groom their backups, Har- baugh continued. "It's important to each of them how they play, but it's also you see them working with the younger backs," he said. "And we've got some talented younger backs. It's nice to see that those guys, Chris Evans in particular, grabs guys, goes over pass protections with them; and I always see Karan put- ting his arm around a younger back or player and talking to them, motivating them, teaching them. "So … I can't say enough good things about Karan Higdon or Chris Evans." But who's No. 3? Walk-on Tru Wil- son was that guy coming out of spring ball, Harbaugh said, but sophomore O'maury Samuels (eight carries for 13 yards as a freshman) will get a look and has improved immensely, Jay Har- baugh said in August, while redshirt freshman Kurt Taylor will also vie for carries. Don't rule out a true freshman, ei- ther. Higdon singled out Christian Turner as a back with a great future. Jay Harbaugh also provided some welcome news in assessing Higdon and Evans' pass-blocking skills, which were suspect last year. Last year, Karan Higdon finished six yards shy of becoming Michigan's first 1,000-yard running back since 2011. He's looking to cross that barrier in his final campaign. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN