The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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102 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Partridge knows it's in the best interests of Peppers and Michigan to have a weapon prepared and capable of lowering the boom in a variety of ways. "He's so good at coming off the edge and getting to the quarterback in a split second," Partridge said. "He's explosive as heck, and when he gets a jump off the ball, good luck blocking him. That's impressive. "You know he can cover, you know he can run around, you know he can play on the back end. But when he starts coming off that edge, and even making a spin move on an offensive lineman to come inside and go make a play … that's going to be special." Michigan radio's on-field reporter Doug Karsch has seen it up close, and he marvels at what Peppers can accomplish. It's not just that he's talented. As someone who witnessed Charles Woodson, Ty Law and other Michi- gan greats in action, that's not necessarily unique. Karsch's jaw dropped early on not over a highly skilled performer, but someone who seemed so ready to go physically so early in his career. "Freshmen are generally not physically ready to play," Karsch said. "The guys that have been in a college weight program for two and three years look so much more like college football players than any freshman. "And Jabrill Peppers, as a redshirt fresh- man, was making plays physically that a kid his age shouldn't be able to make. I'm not talking about in coverage. I'm not talking about in the return game, although that was impressive as well. "I could not believe how easily that kid would shed a blocker, a college football player that has been there for several years, and make a sure tackle. I could not get over it. It just is so rare to see a dominant player, physically, at that age." Of course, there's more to Peppers than making defensive plays with strength and quickness. He slipped to the other side of the ball at wideout, running back and even a taste of wildcat quarterback last season. "When he gets the ball in his hands, it's like a video game," Karsch said. "He's just a spe- cial, special player, who also has the attitude to go with it, and the swagger. That kid has never shied away from a leadership position. He's got a personality that's infectious, and the rest of the team will follow." Michigan isn't giving out specifics on Peppers' scheme assignments, of course, or even the time he'll be able to devote to the offensive side of the football in 2016. The third-year Wolverine figures that just gives Michigan fans reason to show up at the sta- dium come Sept. 3 and beyond. "Come to the first game in The Big House, when Hawai'i comes rolling into town — you guys will see," Peppers said with a laugh, fol- lowing Michigan's spring game. "That's it. That how we'll keep it." Peppers noted Brown came to him with the challenge regarding the position tweak. The redshirt sophomore acknowledged a little frustration early on because there were so many new reads and elements to learn. Those speed bumps quickly passed, and he began experiencing all of the potential plusses of the new spot. "He was like, 'We feel as though this role will be beneficial to you and to the defense,'" Peppers said. "He said that he thinks it can be effective for us because they won't know where I'm lining up at while I'm on the field, because I'm not just going to play linebacker. So it's really smart when you think about it." Karsch remembers a performer used in a similar fashion, at times, for a venerable Michigan defense. "He's probably thinking that he can make more plays closer to the football," Karsch said. "He'll still drop into coverage, but he'll be close to the action. "They loved to bring Woodson close to the line of scrimmage and blitz him. He'll be in position to get to the quarterback, he'll be in position to man the run game. Again, I'm so impressed with his physicality, but he's not built like your typical college linebacker. "You hope he can take the pounding. But the reality is if any kid his age that came in as a corner can do it, it's him." Michigan secondary coach Mike Zordich has worked with Peppers at the safety spot. He's convinced the multi-talented Wolverine will take it up a notch in the fall and become a true difference-maker. "I do," Zordich said. "We've got him in a spot where he can be that. He's matured. I think he's ready to take on the role. "With Jabrill, there is always a 'Whoa' mo- ment. Our first spring here, we had a 'Whoa' moment. When he steps on the field, it's all ball. He just goes 100 miles an hour. He's a hell of an athlete — great speed, great power. It will be great to see him put all of that to- gether. "He's very smart, mind you. Very smart. There's a helluva package." Peppers impressed all of Michigan's de- fensive coaches with his willingness to be flexible and move into a new assignment, according to Zordich. "The more he can do, the better off in his NFL.com named Peppers the most versatile player in college football heading into 2016, writ- ing: "Nobody can say Jim Harbaugh doesn't explore every possibility with the biggest star on the Wolverines' roster." PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL