This seemed likely after the rumors swirling around this week and Austin White’s absence from yesterday’s scrimmage; Rich Rodriguez confirmed today that White is no longer a member of the Michigan football team:

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez hosted his annual media day press conference on Sunday. One topic of discussion was the status of freshman running back Austin White.

Rodriguez confirmed that White, who enrolled in school last January, was no longer part of the team and wished him well in future endeavors.

White was an early enrollee out of Livonia Stevenson, and a three-star running back according to Rivals.com. With the Wolverines already planning on rotating 3-4 running backs early in the season, including fellow true freshman Stephen Hopkins, White’s departure shouldn’t impact the 2010 squad. I have had the chance to meet Austin during my work with The Wolverine, and I wish him nothing but the best wherever he may end up.

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• Austin White Still a Wolverine, According to Team
• Recruiting Update: Part I (Early Enrollees)
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Thanks to a generous friend with an extra ticket, I was able to attend Michigan’s scrimmage today. No pictures or video were allowed in the stadium, and I won’t comment on specific schemes or formations, but here are a few player-specific notes from my view in the box seats — please keep in mind that these are one person’s observations of one scrimmage from high up in the stadium:

• Unless something crazy happens between now and September 4, Denard Robinson is your clear starter at quarterback. The quarterbacks weren’t live today, but Robinson still managed to carve up the second-team defense (running the first-team offense, of course) with his legs and his arm. His made good decisions with the ball and his passes were on the money, and he took a QB draw 40+ yards to the house — only Denard makes that play, and he made it look easy.
• Devin Gardner, running mostly with the twos, looked at times like a seasoned veteran, but he had a couple throws — including an ugly interception to Marvin Robinson — that reminded everyone he is just a freshman. His natural ability could lead to him seeing the field this year, but I think it’s safe to say he’s probably a year away from really pushing for the starting job. Really like his poise in the pocked and running ability, however, and it would have been interesting to see what he could have done if the quarterbacks were live. Tate Forcier started with the threes but saw snaps with the ones and twos as well — he looked solid throwing the ball, but made a couple poor reads on zone running plays.
• It was great to see Vincent Smith out there running with the first-team offense, and he looks 100% healthy — the coaching staff even put him back to return a kickoff, which has to be a good sign about both Smith’s and the coaching staff’s confidence in his knee being back to normal. He did fumble after getting cracked on a reception (didn’t see who made the hit, but it was a good one). The most impressive back, however, may have been Stephen Hopkins, who has dropped some weight since the spring and looked much quicker while still running through tackles. I didn’t think he’d be more than a situational back this fall, but after seeing him today I think he has a real shot at not only being in the rotation, but starting.
• Kelvin Grady had a very impressive day, making some great catches on seam routes from the slot, getting a lot of yards after the catch on screen plays, and scoring a touchdown on an end-around. He should have an impact this fall from a number of positions on the field. On the flip side of that coin, Terrence Robinson struggled with drops all day — I’d be surprised if he sees much time at receiver or punt returner if those issues continue. Jerald Robinson showed the most promise of the freshmen wideouts, and Je’Ron Stokes had a couple nice catches as well.
• On defense, I was most impressed with the play of Mark Moundros, who showed good instincts in the run game and had a couple really nice hits — he was playing alongside Obi Ezeh with the ones, with Jonas Mouton sitting out in a green jersey. Interestingly, it was Moundros playing in the middle with Ezeh at WLB. Still not sure how I feel about a converted fullback sliding into the starting lineup, but if Moundros beats out Ezeh at MLB, it’s because he earned it. Jibreel Black also made some nice plays — he could be a guy who contributes right away as a pass rusher. Also, his physical resemblance to Brandon Graham when he’s in a uniform and pads is eerie.
• J.T. Floyd and James Rogers were the cornerbacks on the first-team defense. Floyd looked solid, but Rogers got picked on a couple times and got hit with a pass interference flag after getting beat deep by Jerald Robinson. The secondary in general looked very suspect — they were playing a lot of soft zones and gave up too much underneath and up the middle. The good news is they didn’t give up any bombs if you exclude the flag on Rogers, but the offense moved the ball pretty easily through the air.
• From the few kicks we were able to see, Brendan Gibbons looked like the best kicker, but he still has to get more consistent from inside 40 yards — just can’t afford to miss those kicks. Will Hagerup had an up-and-down day punting the ball — had a couple that traveled around 50 yards in the air, but also had some 30-yard kicks. The kicking game could be an adventure this season.
• One last note: Take this for what it’s worth, but I didn’t see Austin White out there in uniform today, and he definitely didn’t see any playing time. Not sure what his status is with the team, and I’ll have updates when there’s some news to report there.

For more, make sure to follow me on Twitter, where I posted my initial thoughts on the scrimmage, and make sure to check back to the blog for more season preview content as we get closer to kickoff. Your thoughts and questions, as always, are welcome in the comments.

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Freshman running back Austin White has been at the center of transfer rumors today, but director of media relations David Ablauf said this afternoon that he is still on the team (via AnnArbor.com):

If you followed our Michigan football live chat earlier today, you know there were a deluge of questions about true freshman running back Austin White and his status on the Wolverines.

“He is still on the roster,” Michigan football spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed late Friday afternoon.

White, 6-foot-0, 200 pounds, is one of six running backs competing for time in a rotation that coach Rich Rodriguez hopes numbers at least two, and maybe three, regular contributors.

While that statement doesn’t seem to entirely shut the door on a possible transfer, it should quell any concerns for the time being. Like the Tate Forcier transfer rumors, it sounds like someone jumped the gun (or totally made it up) again. One of these days, we will be free of a major freakout about off-the-field issues, and I will be a happy Michigan blogger.

UPDATE: As far as I could tell, White was not in uniform at Saturday’s scrimmage. Take that for what it’s worth, and I’ll have more updates when there’s some official word from the team regarding his status as a Wolverine.

Similar Posts:

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With spring practice kicking off this week, I went over the players with the most to gain from a good spring performance yesterday. Today, I take a look at the flip side of that coin: the players who, for one reason or another, will be fighting to hold on their role with this team. Here are the players who are at risk of seeing a diminished role if they don’t come through with a big spring performance:

1. Obi Ezeh, RS Sr. LB: Ezeh is listed first for a reason — no other established starter has come under as much fire as Ezeh because of a lack of performance, and the criticism that has followed Ezeh for the past couple years hasn’t been entirely undeserved. Simply put, this team expected a lot more from Ezeh in 2009, when he was entering his third year starting in the middle, and his disappointing season has opened the door for somebody like J.B. Fitzgerald to ascend to a starting role. By all accounts, Ezeh is a great person and tremendous leader on and off the field, but he will have to bring his on-field performance up to a higher standard if he doesn’t want to be unseated by the fall.
2. Kelvin Grady, RS Jr. Slot: Ironically enough, it was a big-time spring performance that earned Grady a big role to start out the 2009 season, but issues with route-running, knowledge of the offense, and the emergence of Roy Roundtree combined to decrease Grady’s playing time by the end of the season. Now Grady is fighting for playing time with a host of talented youngsters — including Jeremy Gallon, Terrence Robinson, and incoming freshmen Drew Dileo and D.J. Williamson — while Roundtree and Martavious Odoms eat up the lion’s share of the playing time in the slot. If Grady doesn’t make big strides with his football IQ (which is very possible — we forget he was playing basketball a little over a year ago), he could be caught in a logjam and surpassed by younger players.
3. Kevin Koger, Jr. TE: Koger was another player who saw his role diminish as the 2009 season progressed, and now he may be fighting for not only his survival in the starting lineup, but the survival of the tight end position under Rich Rodriguez. Unlike the other players listed here, Koger isn’t facing a ton of competition from his own position group — Martell Webb and Brandon Moore are the only other tight ends on the roster, and neither has shown enough to make me think they’ll unseat Koger — but instead he has to convince the coaches that it’s worth keeping a tight end on the field instead of moving to more four- and five-receiver sets. For Koger, the issue is simple: catch the ball, and it will be hard to keep such a big (6-4, 251 lbs.), skilled talent off the field. If he can’t cure his issues with dropping the ball, however, we could see Roundtree and Odoms both lining up as starters in the fall.
4. Michael Shaw, Jr. RB: It doesn’t seem like that long ago that Shaw was the “next big thing” at running back, but now he finds himself entering his junior season surrounded by questions about his durability and without much of a track record to show that he’s a better option than the plethora of younger backs on the roster. Shaw has to show that he can stay healthy this spring, or the coaching staff may never be willing to trust him as a back who can handle more than 10-15 touches a game. With Vincent Smith slated to return healthy in the fall, Michael Cox and Fitzgerald Toussaint both looking to grab starter’s touches, and two true freshmen already enrolled (Austin White and Stephen Hopkins), Shaw will have to prove that he can be the explosive, home-run threat that everyone expected him to be when he came to Ann Arbor as a freshman. Otherwise, he could find himself fighting an uphill battle against a host of younger players.
5. Darryl Stonum, Jr. WR: Michigan has received very disappointing production from its outside receivers under Rich Rodriguez, and part of the blame could certainly fall on Stonum, who hasn’t lived up to his blue-chip billing in his first two seasons despite getting ample opportunity to show off his talent. Even though Stonum will get the first crack to retain his starting spot, he will have to fend off competition from sophomore Je’Ron Stokes and early enrollees Ricardo Miller, Jeremy Jackson, and Jerald Robinson in the spring and fall. It’s time for Stonum to start producing like a top-100 high school prospect, and if he can’t do that, Michigan has several players waiting in the wings to prove that they can.

That’s all for this week. Enjoy the (already incredible) opening weekend of the NCAA tournament.

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Despite returning 18 players who saw time as a starter last season, Michigan heads into the spring with a lot of uncertainty throughout their depth chart. Here are five players who I think stand to gain the most if they can perform well in spring ball:

1. Je’Ron Stokes, Soph. WR: Michigan may have a logjam at slot receiver, but on the outside the competitions is wide open. With the departure of Greg Mathews and the disappointing production last year from returners Junior Hemingway and Darryl Stonum, there will be ample opportunity for the younger wideouts on the Wolverines to earn playing time, and possibly even a starting role, this season. Stokes may be the most likely of Michigan’s underclassmen receivers to take advantage of that opportunity — he saw sporadic playing time as a true freshman last season and was Rivals.com’s 104th-ranked player overall in the class of 2009. Stokes has the speed to be the deep threat Michigan has been missing since the departure of Mario Manningham, and if he can live up to his blue-chip recruit status, he could be a three-year starter for the Wolverines.
2. Brandin Hawthorne, Soph. LB/S: With Michigan moving to more of a 4-2-5 look on defense this season, Hawthorne could be the guy to replace Stevie Brown at a linebacker/safety hybrid position. Hawthorne played linebacker in high school, but came into Michigan last season undersized even by safety standards. Now, at 6-0, 202 pounds, Hawthorne can play the boundary safety role, and will most likely compete with Mike Williams and Jordan Kovacs at the position. Williams was perhaps the biggest disappointment on a very disappointing defense last year, and Kovacs is still limited athletically, so there is definitely an opportunity for Hawthorne to step in and take a starting spot with a strong spring performance.
3. Michael Cox, RS Soph. RB: With Vincent Smith sitting out spring practice while he recovers from a torn ACL, the running back position is wide open. Junior Michael Shaw, redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint, and early enrollees Austin White and Stephen Hopkins will all compete for playing time, but don’t overlook the potential for Cox to see ample snaps with the first team this spring. At 6-0, 210 pounds and with ideal athleticism for a running back (and without the injury history of Shaw or Toussaint), the former three-star prospect could vault himself from seldom-used backup to starting tailback if he can translate that athleticism and size to the football field.
4. J.B. Fitzgerald, Jr. LB: Even though Michigan returns two fifth-year seniors at inside linebacker, the position is far from stable — Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton both struggled mightily last season, opening up the possibility for one of Michigan’s younger linebackers to prove themselves worthy of a starting spot. Fitzgerald showed flashes of potential last season when filling in for Ezeh, displaying an aggression that the Wolverines have lacked with Ezeh at middle linebacker. If he can harness that aggression and cut down on his mistakes, Fitzgerald could leave Michigan with little choice but to unseat Ezeh and give the junior a shot to solidify Michigan’s linebacker group.
5. Greg Banks, RS Sr. DT/DE: With the departure of Brandon Graham, playing time has opened up along the defensive line as well. Banks has yet to capitalize on his chances to see extended snaps in his Michigan career, but at 6-4, 274 pounds, he could add a lot of versatility to the line this year. Rich Rodriguez mentioned Banks as a candidate to see time at Graham’s vacated end spot, and Banks is already listed on the roster as a defensive tackle, where he could see time at Ryan Van Bergen’s old position (assuming that Van Bergen slides over to DE) as well. I still expect Michigan to roll out a starting line of Mike Martin, Will Campbell, and Van Bergen, but Banks could earn himself a role as a valuable contributor if he proves himself in his final season.

I should mention a few guys who could just as easily have made this list: Toussaint, Mike Jones, Isaiah Bell, Vlad Emilien, Justin Turner, J.T. Floyd, Cameron Gordon, Quinton Washington, Ricky Barnum, Patrick Omameh, and Taylor Lewan are all fighting for their first shot to become full-time starters, and players like White, Hopkins, Jeremy Gallon, and Anthony LaLota are looking to contribute in the fall as well.

Tomorrow, I’ll look at the five players who have the most to lose this spring. With so many position battles and fresh faces, it should be a very interesting spring.

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With the recruiting class of 2010 signed, Michigan football fans can officially turn their attention to spring practice, and ultimately how the team will look come fall. With some assistance from MGoBlog’s depth chart by class and the resources available at The Wolverine (including Michael Spath’s very early look at the 2011 depth chart and Matt Pargoff’s in-depth look at this year’s recruiting class), I’ve done my best to project how the depth chart will look like this fall. Today, I’ll break down my outlook on the offense, and tomorrow I’ll do the same for the defense.

I’ve tried to include every notable scholarship player, including all the true freshmen. Because of this, and the uncertainty of many player’s positions heading into spring practice, I recommend taking the positions listed below with a grain of salt, especially along the offensive line and defensive secondary — at this point, it’s far too early to know who will be playing where. Instead, I wanted to do this to get a feel for the talent and depth of the team, and also be able to use this as a reference for player eligibility. For player eligibility, I’m using what MGoBlog has listed, and for player heights and weights I’m referring to last year’s official roster or Rivals’ recruiting data — I’ll do my best to note if a player has made reported weight gains or losses where applicable. Without further ado, let’s check out the depth chart:

Quarterback: No surprises here — Tate Forcier should head into the fall as the team’s starting quarterback, and I expect Rich Rodriguez and his staff will do their best to keep true freshman Devin Gardner on track to redshirt. Denard Robinson will remain the backup quarterback, and true freshman Conelius Jones will only see the field if the quarterback apocalypse occurs (nothing against Jones, but I don’t think anyone wants to see our second-choice true freshman athlete get forced into action).

Running Backs: The most interesting position battle on offense will be for the starting tailback spot, but with sophomore Vincent Smith sidelined for spring practice with a torn ACL, Michigan fans will have to wait for the fall to see how that one turns out. Smith appeared to be the probable 2010 starter until tearing that ACL against Ohio State, but by no means was he a shoe-in for the spot — junior speedster Michael Shaw, 2009 scout team standout (and former Rivals four-star) Fitzgerald Toussaint and athletic redshirt sophomore Michael Cox will all compete for snaps with the first team in the spring. Freshman Austin White is a solid pass-catching threat who could see situational time in the fall as well.

[UPDATE: Thanks to JC for bringing to my attention that Kelvin Grady is moving over to running back for the spring. That change is now reflected in the depth chart, as well as Teric Jones moving back to offense. For now, I've put Jones in the slot, but he may also see snaps at running back as well.]

At fullback, Mark Moundros returns, although he saw his playing time diminish as Michigan further implemented Rich Rodriguez’s offense last season. A player to watch will be true freshman Stephen Hopkins, a 6-0, 235-pound bulldozer who could see time at both tailback and fullback — the coaching staff has expressed interest in using him like West Virginia used Owen “Runaway Beer Truck” Schmitt, who lined up both as a traditional fullback and as the only back in single-back sets. Hopkins could be called upon in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

Wide Receiver: This would be one of those instances where you can basically ignore my guesses at position — I didn’t make much differentiation between X and Y, so treat all these players as simply outside receivers if you want to make things more simple. Darryl Stonum and Junior Hemingway both started at times (read: when healthy) last season, and should reprise their roles in 2010. Sophomore Je’Ron Stokes saw intermittent playing time as a true freshman, and should have a much larger role with the departures of Greg Mathews and LaTerryal Savoy. Of the incoming crop of freshmen receivers, I think Ricardo Miller has the best chance of seeing early playing time — both Robinson and Williamson could use a redshirt year to develop physically, while Jeremy Jackson could have a difficult time earning a role over more athletic receivers on the roster. If Cameron Gordon stays on the offensive side of the ball, he could be a guy to watch next season — he has great physical tools for a receiver.

Slot Receiver: Michigan has an abundance of talent at the slot, including arguably the two best receivers on the roster in Roy Roundtree and Martavious Odoms. Both players will see the field plenty in 2010, and I expect to see Michigan go to more four-receiver sets in order to get their best players on the field as much as possible. Kelvin Grady should show improvement after spending last season struggling with the offense, but he will be pushed for time by promising redshirt freshman Jeremy Gallon, a player who many thought would contribute immediately after stepping on campus. That didn’t happen, but the talent is still there — the only question is whether there is enough playing time at the slot to go around. Terrence Robinson appears to be the odd man out at slot receiver at this point — unless he shows better hands and a great deal more comfort with the knee injury he suffered as a freshman, he’ll have a hard time cracking the lineup. Drew Dileo could contribute on special teams, but expect him to redshirt unless he wins a job as a returner.

Tight End: It will be interesting to see how much the tight end position gets utilized in 2010 — starter Kevin Koger’s role diminished as the season wore on last year, and Rich Rodriguez hasn’t taken a recruit at the position since he took over at Michigan. Still, Koger finished fifth on the team in receptions last year, and early in the season appeared to be Tate Forcier’s go-to guy in the red zone, so I’d be surprised if the tight end position was phased out completely. That’s good news for Koger, but Martell Webb and Brandon Moore may have a tough time seeing the field in the fall, as I’m guessing Rodriguez would prefer playing one of his talented slot receivers instead of a backup tight end. This position group could be one of the keys to Michigan’s offense in 2010 or completely gone from the depth chart by 2011.

Offensive Line: Please, please don’t take these position groupings too seriously — there are several players on the line who could start at multiple positions, especially Patrick Omameh and Mark Huyge, who both could start at either tackle or guard. The wild cards along the line are Ricky Barnum and Quinton Washington, who could easily challenge for a starting guard spot over Huyge/Omameh. I expect Omameh, who showed a lot of promise at guard last season, to start somewhere along the line, but more experienced linemen like Huyge and Perry Dorrestein could be bumped from the lineup in favor of younger (but more highly-touted) linemen.  I don’t think the coaching staff would be very comfortable with a line full of freshmen, sophomores and Molk, but they’ve been steadfast in their assertions that the best players will see the field regardless of age. Other than Molk at center and Schilling at left guard, I wouldn’t be surprised to see any combination of players along the line in 2010.

Kicker: Redshirt freshman Brendan Gibbons has the inside track for the placekicker position, but he was supposed to win the position last fall before giving way to walk-on Jason Olesnavage. Olesnavage has graduated, but don’t rule out the possibility of walk-on Scott Schrimscher winning the job. Redshirt senior Bryan Wright has lost multiple battles for the placekicker position, and likely will be relegated to kickoff duties again in the fall.

Similar Posts:

• 2010 Official Depth Chart Breakdown: Offense
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It’s been a while since I posted any updates on football recruiting, and with the Feb. 3 national signing day less than a month away, I figured I’d catch up on everything before the class completely rounds out and renders my opinion entirely irrelevant. In part one, I’ll be looking at the six players who have enrolled early. Tomorrow, I’ll examine the other commitments to the Wolverines, and over the weekend I’ll be breaking down the recruits who could round out the 2010 class.

Six players were able to enroll early at Michigan. Unfortunately, for those hoping to see a three-way quarterback showdown in the spring, Inkster QB Devin Gardner was not one of the six. The athletes that were able to arrive on campus for the winter term, however, have the potential to be immediate contributors to a team in need of just that.

Jeremy Jackson, Ann Arbor Huron (Rivals 3*, #92 WR): Jackson, of course, is the son of Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson. Don’t let that convince that he is just a legacy recruit, however — his combination of size (6-3, 194) and hands give him the potential to be very valuable as a receiver. I was able to scout one of Jackson’s games this past season, and my impressions of him pretty much fall in line with those of the scouting services. He has great hands, and adjusts very well to the ball, allowing him to catch most everything thrown in his direction. However, Jackson takes a while to hit his top speed, and he lacks the high-end speed that one would desire in a Division I wide receiver. He could have trouble getting separation from defensive backs at the college level. Despite his lack of speed, I could still see Jackson having an impact at receiver (or potentially tight end, although he’s coming in at wideout) — his reliability separates him from most prospects at this level. I don’t think he’ll ever become a superstar, but Jackson fits the Jason Avant mold of a solid possession receiver.

Stephen Hopkins, Flower Mound, Texas (Rivals 3* RB): Hopkins immediately leaves an impression because of his size for a running back — at 6-0, 235 pounds, he looks like a linebacker in the backfield. This should give him a leg up on the other incoming running backs for playing time. With mighty mite Vincent Smith and the speedster Michael Shaw in line to share carries for Michigan in the fall, there’s an opening for a bigger back who can grind out carries in short-yardage situations. Hopkins was able to do just that in high school, rushing for over 1300 yards and 19 touchdowns on 211 carries in his senior season after a 1600+ yard, 22 touchdown season as a junior. Hopkins should get a crack at playing time as a true freshman, and could develop into a great complement to the speedier tailbacks that Rich Rodriguez has been known to recruit.

Ricardo Miller, Ann Arbor Pioneer (Rivals 3*, #67 WR): Miller, who moved to Ann Arbor from Florida for his senior season after committing to the Wolverines, has been rated as high as four stars from Rivals (and now is example 1A for message board conspiracy theorists who think there’s a southern bias in recruiting rankings) and boasts offers from Florida and Tennessee, among others. He’s another big wide receiver, standing at 6-2, 208 pounds, and while he also lacks elite speed, he boasts a tremendous pair of hands and great jump-ball instincts. Miller has always been somewhat of a personal favorite, as he transferred to my alma mater and has been instrumental in helping convince uncommitted recruits to come to Michigan. I see Miller as having Junior Hemingway (on a good, non-injured day) abilities, a guy with great size who can be a reliable deep threat without sprinter speed. He’ll get ample opportunity to contribute right away with the graduation of Greg Mathews and Laterryal Savoy.

Christian Pace, Avon Lake, Ohio (Rivals 3*, #7 center): Although Pace’s size — he’s just 6-3, 262 — limits both his potential position (he’s a center, and that’s that) and his recruiting rankings, he’s a perfect fit for Rich Rodriguez’s offense. Pace is a strong player for his size, but also boasts the athleticism to allow him to get to the second and third level on run plays, which should come in handy when he’s tasked with mastering the pulls and reach blocks that are so prevalent in the zone read. Pace almost certainly won’t be asked to play right away, as Michigan has a very good center in David Molk, but the spring practice time should allow him to learn technique and the playbook while apprenticing under Molk. It won’t be good for Michigan if Pace is forced into action early in his career, but he has the potential to develop into a very solid interior lineman.

Jerald Robinson, Canton South, Ohio (Rivals 3*, #47 WR): Robinson is a great athlete and another very solid deep threat — he amassed 756 yards and seven touchdowns on just 34 receptions as a junior — who could use to add a little weight to his 6-2, 175 pound frame. Robinson is known for his ability to go get the ball in traffic, and strikes me as a Roy Roundtree-like threat — not the biggest guy, and not the fastest guy, but a player who will make plays when called upon. We’ll have to see if Robinson can compete for early playing time with Miller and Jackson, who boast more college-ready bodies, but if he does see the field, you can expect to see a player who can make an impact both at outside receiver or in the slot.

Austin White, Livonia Stevenson (Rivals 3*, #10 all-purpose back): White is truly an all-purpose back, having lined up as a tailback, wingback, and wide receiver in high school and having an impact at all three positions. I was able to scout his game against South Lyon in the fall, and he didn’t fail to impress, rushing for 173 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries. White is a lanky back, at 6-0, 186, and he is more of a speed back than a power guy. He runs a bit high for my liking (think Brandon Minor, without all the crushing broken tackles), but shows very nice speed and shiftiness, and he also has great hands out of the backfield. White could have an immediate impact as a tailback who can also split out and catch passes, especially with a solid knowledge of the offense after he gets spring ball under his belt. The Michigan backfield is certainly crowded, but White’s ability to do a little bit of everything should open up the opportunity for him to see the field early.

Similar Posts:

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So, what did I miss? Only three basketball games, a College Hockey Showcase sweep, the beginning of the fallout from Sparty No! Part II (Glenn Winston Edition), and Charlie Weis getting fired? Oh, OK. Let’s turn it over to the blogosphere why I continue recovering from tryptophan poisoning and too much rest.

First, a few thoughts on Michigan hoops after an ugly 1-2 weekend in Orlando. I was able to catch the first two games in their entirety, but was forced to follow along with the Alabama game online, so if something seems off about these observations, blame ESPNU.

• Manny Harris is tremendous, and could be blossoming into an All-American before our eyes, but the guy needs more help than what he’s getting right now. DeShawn Sims is a very good player, but I’d like to see him stay on the block more — we have enough perimeter shooters, and Sims isn’t exactly a three-point gunner anyway. Forcing him to play down low could help his consistency issues — it seems like every game there’s a significant stretch where he disappears.
• Yes, Michigan is going to need a third player to step up in every game. I do expect that to be a different guy depending on the night — LLP took the role against Creighton, and then Michigan dropped two games when there really wasn’t a consistent third option.
• The free throw shooting over the weekend was terrible, to put it bluntly. However, I don’t think that issue will continue to plague Michigan throughout the season. There’s simply too many good shooters on this team for them to be shooting that poorly from the line. I’m not going to fret about free throws unless Michigan continues to shoot poorly for the next couple games.
• Never thought I’d say this, but can we see more Zack Gibson? He’s really developed as an offensive player, providing a threat in the post, and also is a presence on the defensive end. I’d like to see him and Sims get some time together when the Wolverines have to face bigger squads that are exploiting the team inside.

More coverage on hoops: MGoTim has his breakdown of the final two games posted, appropriately titled “Work in Progress“, and also takes a look at the Big Ten’s chances in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. UMHoops, as always, has game wraps, and Dylan also gets former co-captain David Merritt to answer five questions about the team. He has a lot of great insight about the team, and I look forward to hearing his thoughts as the season wears on.

On the football side of things, Dr. Saturday looks at Brandon Graham’s Heisman chances in an alternate reality. Honestly, if the guy isn’t a first-team All-American, it’s a crime. The Rivalry, Esq. put out a lot of great content over the holiday, including a discussion of what to do with Denard Robinson, why getting two BCS bids would hurt the Big Ten, and a look at how expansion could help the conference’s image.

Also, Bo Schemblogger has the most tremendously succinct denial of transfer rumors (these about Austin White) that I’ve ever seen. Funny how actually talking to a guy can really clear stuff up.

In national news, Michigan won’t have Charlie Weis to beat up at Notre Dame any more, which would be really sad if he wasn’t such a grating blowhard. The WLA has some suggestions for his next job, while Boiled Sports takes Weis to task for ducking the media and leaving his players to answer questions about his possible firing. You stay classy, Charlie.

In hockey, Puck Daddy looks at the problems of the NCAA against the major junior leagues after Robbie Czarnik quit for the OHL and Jack Campbell decommitted for the same reason last week, and The Blog That Yost Built has your weekend recap after Michigan took out Minnesota and Wisconsin in the College Hockey Showcase.

Regular content will resume tomorrow now that I’m through the post-vacation hangover and all caught up with school. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

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There’s not much left to say about the 2009 season, so I’m going to go ahead and take a look at what the 2010 team will look like. First up is the offense, which should see little turnover from a very young unit. Just a note: I’ll be referring to players by what class they will be in for 2010 (for instance, I’ll be calling Tate Forcier a sophomore).

Quarterback: There will be a lot of speculation about the quarterback position, especially with the way Tate Forcier finished his freshman campaign. Forcier obviously has the inside track at the starting position in 2010, with a full season as the starter in Rich Rodriguez’s system under his belt. Denard Robinson has shown value as a situational quarterback, but hasn’t shown the passing ability to be a full-time solution at the position. The wild card will be the presence of incoming freshman Devin Gardner, Rivals.com’s #1 quarterback in the Class of 2010 and a threat to start from the moment he steps on campus. Unfortunately, Gardner will not be able to enroll early, and will have a tough time learning the offense quickly enough to unseat Forcier. In all likelihood, we’ll see the same quarterback rotation that we saw in 2009 — I doubt Rich Rodriguez wants to put his job on the line with another true freshman starting at the most important position on the field. Forcier should be an improved player when we see him next fall, and hopefully the rookie mistakes that marred the Ohio State game will be largely absent from his game a year from now.

Running Back: Michigan loses two talented (but oft-injured) tailbacks in Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown, but there is still a lot of talent returning at the position. Junior Michael Shaw and sophomore Vincent Smith should provide a solid one-two punch similar to how Michigan rotated Minor and Brown when they were healthy. They could be pushed for playing time by redshirt freshman Fitzgerald Toussaint (a highly-regarded four-star who put up very impressive numbers in high school) and redshirt sophomore Mike Cox, who at the very least will provide some depth at the position. Smith showed flashes of real promise in the second half of the season, and scored Michigan’s only touchdown against Ohio State on a nice 18-yard reception — he has showed an ability to run between the tackles despite his small stature, and could turn into a workhorse-type back. Shaw is more in the Carlos Brown mold (right down to the consistent nagging injuries), a guy with track-star speed who is a threat to take any run the distance. The Wolverines will also add Livonia Stevenson running back Austin White, a three-star tailback who is a very good receiver out of the backfield, and the large (6-0, 235 lbs.) Stephen Hopkins in the freshman class, although both will have an uphill climb for playing time. Despite losing two senior backs, Michigan looks to be in good shape at running back in 2010.

Outside Receiver: Michigan only loses two players, Greg Mathews and LaTerryal Savoy, from a unit that couldn’t consistently produce in 2009. Juniors Darryl Stonum and Junior Hemingway are your likely starters for 2010, and have the potential to provide Forcier with two solid deep threats if they continue to develop as players. Michigan will also return sophomore Je’Ron Stokes and redshirt freshman Cameron Gordon, a couple of four-star players from the Class of 2009, and will add some young talent in incoming freshmen Ricardo Miller, Jerald Robinson, D.J. Williamson, and Jeremy Jackson. Miller, an early commit who moved to Ann Arbor after playing his first three high school seasons at Dr. Phillips (FL), has the best chance to see the field early, although Jerald Robinson is the highest-rated player (Rivals.com four-star, #45 wide receiver) of the true freshmen and could also have an impact early on. The issue with the outside receivers isn’t talent — Stonum, Stokes, and Gordon were all four-star recruits, and Hemingway has been impressive when healthy — but consistency. Expect to see a lot of rotation at receiver until somebody steps up and establishes themselves as a consistent threat.

Slot Receivers: An injury to Martavious Odoms gave Roy Roundtree an opportunity to show his ability at slot receiver, and Roundtree may have edged out Odoms as the starter with his performance over the latter half of 2009. Both players should see ample playing time in 2010, and Roundtree’s emergence as Forcier’s go-to guy could mean Michigan shows more four-receiver sets next fall. Before his injury, Odoms had established himself as Michigan’s most consistent receiver under Rich Rodriguez, and also garnered praise for his downfield blocking and knowledge of the offense. Each player brings a different set of skills to the table, and Michigan will likely utilize both with regularity in 2010. There is a lot of depth at this position, with junior Kelvin Grady, sophomore Terrence Robinson, and redshirt freshman Jeremy Gallon all returning, to be joined by incoming freshmen Drew Dileo and Tony Drake. Grady, who saw his playing time decrease as Roundtree’s role expanded, could see more playing time as his transition from basketball to football continues. Many thought Gallon would contribute this season, but a late start because of academic clearinghouse issues forced him to redshirt — he’s a dark horse guy who could have a breakout season if he gets the opportunity. Overall, there’s a lot of talent in the slot, and Michigan should once again see the majority of their receiving production come from the position.

Tight Ends: Big things were expected from the tight end position, especially junior Kevin Koger, in 2009, but a strong start from Koger was followed by a disappointing string of drops as the position became more of a non-factor as the season wore on. However, there is still a lot of talent at tight end, with Koger joined by senior Martell Webb and redshirt sophomore Brandon Moore. The position will be one to watch in 2010 — Rich Rodriguez rarely utilized tight ends at West Virginia, but Koger has shown the potential to be a huge weapon in the spread. Along with Webb, who also struggled with drops this season, Koger may just be playing for the survival of the tight end position at Michigan next season. If he can catch the ball, Koger could be an All-Big Ten player next year, and a great safety valve for Forcier.

Offensive Line: The unit with the most turnover is the offensive line, which loses starters Mark Ortmann and David Moosman, as well as backup Tim McAvoy. However, Michigan returns five players who earned starts in 2009 in Steve Schilling, David Molk, Mark Huyge, Perry Dorrestein, and Patrick Omameh. Schilling (right guard) and Molk (center) will likely hold down their current positions, but the other three spots on the line are up for grabs, with a bevy of talented linemen all competing for playing time. Omameh performed well at right guard in the last few games of the season, and will likely earn a starting spot somewhere on the line. Huyge is another player that can play multiple positions, and should compete with Dorrestein and redshirt freshmen Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield for a shot at one of the tackle positions. On the interior of the line, redshirt sophomores Ricky Barnum, Rocko Khoury, and Elliott Mealer, as well as redshirt freshman Quinton Washington, will provide depth and push for playing time. Regardless of who earns starting spots on the line, the experience and talent at every position should mean an improved unit for 2010.

2010 Outlook: The 2009 offense improved drastically from a disastrous unit in Rich Rodriguez’s first year at Michigan. With Tate Forcier having a full year at Michigan under his belt — and hopefully with a greater appreciation for holding on to the football — the Wolverines should once again have an improved offense in 2010. Forcier will be the key — the offensive line should be better with experience, and there is a lot of talent and depth at all the skill positions. If Michigan can get more efficiency from the quarterback position — and they should — we could be seeing one of the nation’s most potent offenses next season.

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This week is the second week of a new feature on The Wolverine and The Wolverine Blog: I will be traveling each week to a high school game featuring a 2010 Michigan commit, with highlights and interviews being posted here on the blog and over at The Wolverine. This past week, I went to Livonia Stevenson High School to see Austin White and the Spartans take on South Lyon. Video highlights of White’s performance are now posted at TheWolverine.com.

RB Austin White and Livonia Stevenson looked to improve on a 1-2 start in their intra-conference contest against 0-3 South Lyon, and the Michigan commit and his team came through with dominating performances en route to a 37-0 blowout victory. White, who lined up at tailback, wingback, and wide receiver, carried the ball eight times for 173 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, as Stevenson amassed 315 rushing yards in the game. White electrified the crowd with an 87-yard dash down the sideline for a score, and also hurdled a defender en route to his final touchdown of the game. For highlights from the game, a breakdown of White’s play, and a video interview with Austin, hit the jump:

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