TAMPA, FLA. — Michigan practiced at Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep again today, in shorts and helmets and in front of several special visitors.
Former Michigan kicker Garrett Rivas was there, as were Tom Crean (former Indiana basketball coach and head coach Jim Harbaugh's brother in law), Harbaugh's father Jack and Berkeley Prep Academy four-star lineman Nick Petit-Frere.
Petit-Frere remains one of the Wolverines' top 2018 recruiting targets, and the 6-6, 272-pounder (No. 67 player overall nationally) seemed to be enjoying his time at practice. Florida, Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State are all in contention ... he took an official to U-M in September.
There were some noticeable absences. We did not see redshirt junior right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty or redshirt freshman running back Kareem Walker. We did some digging, and we believe both are back in Ann Arbor. [Updated: we'll let Michigan comment as to why, if they choose]. We'll continue to work on this one, but it doesn't appear either will play Monday.
Fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac was out of practice today and on the bike ... redshirt freshman kicker Quinn Nordin, too, spent a lot of his time on the bike.
Harbaugh said he wasn't sure who would play at right guard between freshman Cesar Ruiz and sophomore Mike Onwenu (who is now healthy), but O.C. Tim Drevno said yesterday Ruiz would get the nod. Ruiz looks like he ate well over vacation and had a bit more girth around the waist. He still moved well, however. The offensive linemen as a group seemed to practicing against various twists and stunts, etc., an area in which they still need to improve.
Harbaugh raved about South Carolina's length, but U-M has plenty of its own. Freshman linebacker Drew Singleton, for one, is an incredible specimen. He's long, rangy and moves extremely well. Sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson was back out there today after sitting out yesterday. He said he just had a little cold, so he'll be fine.
Rough first 15 minutes for freshman receiver Nico Collins. He seemed to be fighting the ball and he dropped a couple, yelled at himself a bit after each one. Harbaugh pulled him aside and gave him some route advice after one of his drops, and he improved.
Freshman Oliver Martin was out there and looked solid as a route runner, and with his hands.
Teammates and Harbaugh said it was like someone lit a fire under freshman quarterback Brandon Peters when he found out Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson was transferring in, and Peters admitted it. His teammates said he was playing with more of a swagger, and Harbaugh commended him for his improvement. He still has a long way to go, but he's improving.
Redshirt junior defensive end Chase Winovich gave an interview (you'll soon watch for yourself) that made it seem as though he were leaving. He talked about seeing managers getting hurt on the field, etc. and while he's not in it for the money, he does seen an opportunity.
We were told by someone close to it that Winovich told some close to him within the program he was coming back next year. He has talked to Maurice Hurst, etc., but it's clear he's still struggling with this decision.
Finally, Devin Bush Sr. is coaching safeties, and the kids seem to love him. They wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at the job full time, though they acknowledged it wasn't up to them. Brian Smith talked to each of the safeties before he left, and they understood he was leaving for a D.C. position (Rice).
Watch for more from Tampa throughout the week.
Former Michigan kicker Garrett Rivas was there, as were Tom Crean (former Indiana basketball coach and head coach Jim Harbaugh's brother in law), Harbaugh's father Jack and Berkeley Prep Academy four-star lineman Nick Petit-Frere.
Petit-Frere remains one of the Wolverines' top 2018 recruiting targets, and the 6-6, 272-pounder (No. 67 player overall nationally) seemed to be enjoying his time at practice. Florida, Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State are all in contention ... he took an official to U-M in September.
There were some noticeable absences. We did not see redshirt junior right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty or redshirt freshman running back Kareem Walker. We did some digging, and we believe both are back in Ann Arbor. [Updated: we'll let Michigan comment as to why, if they choose]. We'll continue to work on this one, but it doesn't appear either will play Monday.
Fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac was out of practice today and on the bike ... redshirt freshman kicker Quinn Nordin, too, spent a lot of his time on the bike.
Harbaugh said he wasn't sure who would play at right guard between freshman Cesar Ruiz and sophomore Mike Onwenu (who is now healthy), but O.C. Tim Drevno said yesterday Ruiz would get the nod. Ruiz looks like he ate well over vacation and had a bit more girth around the waist. He still moved well, however. The offensive linemen as a group seemed to practicing against various twists and stunts, etc., an area in which they still need to improve.
Harbaugh raved about South Carolina's length, but U-M has plenty of its own. Freshman linebacker Drew Singleton, for one, is an incredible specimen. He's long, rangy and moves extremely well. Sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson was back out there today after sitting out yesterday. He said he just had a little cold, so he'll be fine.
Rough first 15 minutes for freshman receiver Nico Collins. He seemed to be fighting the ball and he dropped a couple, yelled at himself a bit after each one. Harbaugh pulled him aside and gave him some route advice after one of his drops, and he improved.
Freshman Oliver Martin was out there and looked solid as a route runner, and with his hands.
Teammates and Harbaugh said it was like someone lit a fire under freshman quarterback Brandon Peters when he found out Ole Miss sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson was transferring in, and Peters admitted it. His teammates said he was playing with more of a swagger, and Harbaugh commended him for his improvement. He still has a long way to go, but he's improving.
Redshirt junior defensive end Chase Winovich gave an interview (you'll soon watch for yourself) that made it seem as though he were leaving. He talked about seeing managers getting hurt on the field, etc. and while he's not in it for the money, he does seen an opportunity.
We were told by someone close to it that Winovich told some close to him within the program he was coming back next year. He has talked to Maurice Hurst, etc., but it's clear he's still struggling with this decision.
Finally, Devin Bush Sr. is coaching safeties, and the kids seem to love him. They wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at the job full time, though they acknowledged it wasn't up to them. Brian Smith talked to each of the safeties before he left, and they understood he was leaving for a D.C. position (Rice).
Watch for more from Tampa throughout the week.
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