The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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66 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW RUNNING BACKS the running backs rotation isn't guaranteed — for anyone. "That all depends on the competition," Wheatley said. "Once again, it's a competitive group. Everybody is competing for their time. I can't say [he will play], even if he competes well. Somebody else might compete better. "That's what it boils down to. It's whoever competes and comes out on top." Johnson, meanwhile, already survived his toughest opponent of the year. His run-in with a forklift that ran over him in Michigan's track building — while he was lying down and stretching — didn't end his football career, just like the two ACL surgeries he overcame before the incident. "He's doing well," Harbaugh insisted, following the mishap. "I can tell you this: it would have killed a lesser man. He is blue twisted steel." He's also the great survivor of the running back corps, who man- aged 271 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries in 2015, nine months after his second major knee surgery. Johnson appeared espe- cially sharp in the Citrus Bowl, adding a receiving touchdown to his rushing prowess. He may not be an every-down back, especially given the setbacks he's encountered. He can still get to the perimeter and deliver some big plays, according to those who watch him perform daily. "Drake will be well," Wheatley noted. "Drake is going to be okay. He's working out, doing all the things he needs to do to prepare him- self to get ready for the upcoming season." Johnson performed his best at the conclusion of the 2015 cam- paign, his position coach pointed out. "At the end of the season, Drake was a great change-of-pace guy for us," Wheatley assessed. "He was able to come in and do some things, get loose in the backfield. He uses his speed, and he's a very, very tough runner. "We could throw the ball to him out of the backfield, run screens with him. It's crazy, but Drake is still growing as a running back. He's still uncovering some skill sets and talents, and we were able to exploit those at the end of the year." Following the top trio of tailbacks is a hungry pack of younger players. True freshmen Kareem Walker (6-1, 210) and Kingston Davis (6-1, 225) join sophomore Karan Higdon (5-10, 189) in the scramble for snaps, with converted walk-on quarterback Joe Hewlett (6-0, 195) providing some recognizable quickness in spring ball. "Karan is coming along," Wheatley said. "He's been a little snake- bit here. He had the high ankle sprain last year, and he fought that off and came back. Then he was hit with an illness and missed spring ball. "But Karan is a talented young man. He has all the tools to be a good running back. We just have to keep him healthy and get him on the field." The rookies, Wheatley noted, have much to learn in the weeks and months to come. "They both are freshmen," Wheatley said. "Kareem looked like a freshman, but he shows flashes. Good speed, good burst, power, good vision. Those are things he showed flashes of. Hopefully, they won't just be flashes. They'll be a constant, burning flame we can see in the future. "He's a very tough runner who loves to compete. I like that a lot." Wheatley summed up Davis' game by stressing his strength, com- bined with mobility. "Power," Wheatley said. "Power, but with great feet. Kingston, for a man his size, has the feet of a 5-6, 165-pound guy. Good, swift, quick feet and a good change of direction. I love his power. "But once again, he's a young man who is a freshman. He showed his freshman tendencies early. With time, these two young men will be a pretty good one-two punch." They'll all try to state their case in August. Just as important — if not more so — is the lineup at fullback, following the departure of workhorses Joe Kerridge and Sione Houma. Houma came on at the end of the season to provide some punishing runs, while both proved they could pave the way for others. Michigan made certain to bolster the fullback ranks this spring, moving former tight ends and redshirt juniors Khalid Hill (6-2, 263) and Henry Poggi (6-4, 266) into the backfield. They join redshirt junior Wyatt Shallman (6-3, 245), fifth-year senior Bobby Henderson (5-11, 245) and a number of other walk-ons looking for a chance to get onto the field. "The fullback is a key component in our offense," Wheatley stressed, "in blocking, running and pass receiving. Poggi is a big guy who has discovered he has some abilities, receiving the ball out of the backfield and also learning how to run the ball. But the first thing for him right now, Poggi is a solid blocker. "He's a solid, punishing blocker. As those other skill sets material- ize, I think Poggi will be a great asset for us in the backfield." Hill is also learning quickly, Wheatley assured. "Hill is a very athletic guy," he said. "For a guy his size, he's ex- tremely athletic. He played tight end for us, and now all of a sudden, he has to carry the ball every once in a while, and he's learning how to block. "Like Joe Kerridge and Sione, those two are going to be very, very valuable assets to our offense." Quick Facts Position Coach: Tyrone Wheatley (second season). Returning Starters: TB De'Veon Smith (12 career starts), TB Drake Johnson (3), TB Ty Isaac (1), FB Henry Poggi (3 at TE, 1 at FB) and Khalid Hill (6 at TE). Departing Starters: TB Derrick Green (7), FB Joe Kerridge (13) and FB Sione Houma (5). Projected New Starter: None. Top Reserve: Karan Higdon. Wait Until 2017: Kingston Davis. Newcomers: Kareem Walker and Davis. Moved In: Khalid Hill (from tight end) and Henry Poggi (from tight end). Moved Out: None. Rookie Impact: Walker. Most Improved Player: Isaac. Best Pro Prospect: Smith. FYI: Smith earned 11 starts a year ago, with Johnson and Isaac drawing one apiece … The Wolverines will be attempting to jump start a rushing offense that finished no better than 11th in the Big Ten in conference contests, averaging 127.9 yards per game … Smith garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten status in 2015 … Johnson came to Michigan from Pioneer High School, right across the street from The Big House … John - son's mother, Pamela St. John, is Michigan's cheerleading coach … Davis comes from Prattville, Ala., where Michigan conducted a Summer Swarm satellite football camp last year, and where it ventured again this summer … Davis is from the same school that produced Michigan cornerback Keith Washington … Walk-on Joe Hewlett is the son of former Michigan quarterback Rich Hewlett … Fullback Brian Chu traveled the farthest to be a member of Michigan's running backs corps, hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia … Smith's 109-yard effort in the Citrus Bowl is the best bowl total by a Michigan running back since Mike Hart rushed for 127 yards in U-M's 41-35 win over Florida in the 2008 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. "We got to a point where the runs that we were dialing up, the guys had a pretty good feel for, and the line got into a good rhythm. Everything just started to click." RUNNING BACKS COACH TYRONE WHEATLEY ON THE WOLVERINES' 225 RUSHING YARDS IN THE 41-7 CITRUS BOWL WIN OVER FLORIDA.