The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/137378
LB that takes his job very seriously and understands what his role is. I feel very good about Desmond. He'll step in and play well. He'll be counted on to play a lot." The Mike is made for Morgan in one respect, Smith pointed out. That position directs much of the show on defense, lining up people in the right spots, setting the defensive front and making adjustments. No worries there with this third-year performer. "Desmond is very intelligent and understands the game of football," Smith said. "From a mental standpoint, he's very well suited to play that position. "He not only understands what he's doing, he understands what the people around him are supposed to be doing. That's critical for that position, and you've got to be communicating. That's something we talk about all the time — making sure those guys are communicating to the front and to the back end as to what we need to get done with this particular call against that particular formation or personnel group." Meanwhile, Morgan's physical gains fit nicely into a defense that should prove highly mobile. "One thing he's doing much better now than he did even a year ago is that he's running much better," Smith said. "He's done a great job in the weight room with Coach [Aaron] Wellman. He's not putting weight on, but he's changing his body. His percent of body fat has gone down. "He was probably 13-, 14-, 15-percent body fat, which isn't bad for a linebacker, but he's gotten that down into single digits. That just allows him to move much better on the field. He's gotten stronger and gotten more physical at the point of attack. You just see him moving so much better, because his body fat is not as high as it used to be." Bolden played in all 13 Michigan games as a rookie, posting 31 tackles and recovering a fumble. He's still in the grooming process, but certainly got thrown into the action early. Bolden also features the mental makeup for middle linebacker, Smith assured. "Joe's been around football since he's been old enough to walk," Smith said. "His dad is the athletic director at the high school where he came from. His uncle is the head coach. Before that, his uncle was the assistant at the same high school. "Joe's very knowledgeable and very understanding of what the game is about and how the game is supposed to be played. He has a great work ethic, and very outstanding knowledge. "He can adjust to the college game much quicker than some high school kids who don't have that background." Bolden is also making the adjustment to the type of bulk and ACL Injury Not The End For Wolverines Jake Ryan led the Wolverines in tackles (88) and tackles for loss (16.0) last season, but he suffered an ACL injury in the spring. photo by lon horwedel Recently graduated running back Vincent Smith tore up a knee against Ohio State early in his career and bounced back to enjoy productive years with the Wolverines. A host of others have made that same, long road back. U-M redshirt junior Jake Ryan could talk with any of them about how it is to receive the news no football player ever wants to hear — torn anterior cruciate ligament. Then again, maybe Ryan doesn't need to speak with any of them. Some heal more quickly than others, U-M head coach Brady Hoke insisted following Michigan's spring game, when delivering a bit of a jaw-dropper regarding Ryan. Hoke indicated the All-Big Ten linebacker might reappear as early as mid-October. Such a return certainly sounds like a bestcase scenario, at least for the Wolverines in the here and now. The optimum recovery for Ryan, long-term, might mimic in results that of a former Michigan linebacker who came all the way back. David Harris gave no thought to injury on Sept. 6, 2003, when the No. 5-ranked Wolverines took to the field to crush Houston, 50-3. Michigan was on its way that year, steaming toward an eventual Big Ten championship with tune-ups like Houston (138 total yards surrendered) and Notre Dame (a 38-0 rout). The aftermath of the Cougars crusher, though, included a very somber note by thenhead coach Lloyd Carr. One of the troops had gone down. Harris, a redshirt freshman, competed in just his second game on the field for the Wolverines that day. He tore his left ACL, a devastating blow at the time. "The most disappointing thing in that game was that David Harris suffered a knee injury that will require surgery," Carr said at the time. "David will miss the rest of the season. That's a big loss for our football team, not only because 148 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview of the fact that he is a very promising football player. He is also a wonderful young man." Harris' complete recovery involved much more than a matter of months. He did sit out the rest of the 2003 season, then came back to appear in seven contests during the 2004 campaign, registering 10 tackles and forcing one fumble along the way. Harris obviously wasn't an established performer, like Ryan, at the time of his injury. It also took Harris considerably longer to get fully back up to speed than what Ryan is planning and hoping. In terms of a complete comeback, though, there can be no better example. In 2005, Harris led the Wolverines with 88 tackles, recording a sack and six tackles for loss, along with forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering another. As a fifth-year senior in 2006, Harris helped spearhead Michigan's best defense since 1997. He again led the Wolverines in tackles with 103, and recorded four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble on his way to becoming a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award (nation's best linebacker) and earning co-team MVP honors. A first-team All-Big Ten linebacker, Harris didn't slow down any when he made it to the NFL. In six years with the New York Jets, he's posted 637 tackles, topping the 100-stop mark three times. He secured 10 sacks in his first season in the pros and has 45 to his credit altogether. If Ryan comes back to contribute significantly for the Wolverines this fall, he'll garner all sorts of notice for his healing prowess and dedication to the effort. If he comes back as thoroughly as Harris, he'll enjoy the career that showed so much promise prior to his untimely hiatus. — John Borton