Harbaugh Breaks Down Starting Position Battles, Outstanding Freshman Class
8/27/2019 11:35:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Many of the questions posed to Jim Harbaugh had to do with who had won starting position battles for his University of Michigan football team. The Wolverines open the season Saturday night (Aug. 31) against Middle Tennessee State at the Big House, and inquiring minds wanted to know.
Harbaugh, wearing neither his usual block M baseball cap nor glasses, stood and gripped the top of the wooden lectern with both hands while answering those and other queries Monday (Aug. 26) at Schembechler Hall.
He said that, yes, Shea Patterson was the starting quarterback but didn't back away from his mid-July comment about Dylan McCaffrey also taking snaps.
"All options are open in terms of that," said Harbaugh. "We'd definitely like to play both."
Hart
Harbaugh noted that picking between placekickers Quinn Nordin and Jake Moody was difficult, and he said that there was "still a competition there" between two standouts. Nordin, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2017, has made 30 of 40 field-goal attempts as the starter in 23 games. Moody came on to make 10 of 11 field goals late last season, and he had a Big Ten record for a conference game with six against Indiana.
The school's fifth-year head coach noted that Will Hart, the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year in the Big Ten and a Sports Illustrated second team All-American, "will be doing the punting" after averaging a program-record 46.98 yards per punt with 15 of 43 punts downed inside opponent 20-yard lines.
Normally, there would be little competition for a punter with those accolades and statistics, but Brad Robbins was Big Ten honorable mention as a freshman in 2017 before missing last season after back surgery. He averaged 40.4 yards per punt two years ago and was considered the nation's top punter recruit by many as a senior at Westerville (Ohio) High.
Harbaugh said of Hart: "He was great last year and had a great offseason. He's continued to be really good in camp and is getting better and better."
Kelly-Powell
He wouldn't name the starter at tailback, where incoming freshman Zach Charbonnet from Camarillo, California, has been impressive along with elusive sophomore Christian Turner and sparkplug senior Tru Wilson.
Harbaugh listed sophomore Vincent Gray ("He's ready to play ball. I'm excited for him.") and junior Jaylen Kelly-Powell as strong possibilities to start opposite Lavert Hill at cornerback should Ambry Thomas not be ready after recently returning to the team after recovering from colitis.
Harbaugh clarified that Thomas, the fleet junior corner from Detroit King High, is participating in "position meetings" and "portions of practices" since getting healthy.
"Whether he plays or not will be decided by Ambry Thomas," Harbaugh added.
Then there was the right tackle battle that ended up decided by a bad twist of fate for Andrew Stueber (6-foot-7, 334 pounds), the junior who started the last two games in 2018. He tore the ACL in a knee recently in practice and was declared out for the year. Jalen Mayfield (6-5, 319 pounds), who turned heads last year as a true freshman, will start against the Blue Raiders.
"He's ready," Harbaugh said of Mayfield. "He was right there (with Stueber). Neither was giving an inch at any time. It was so important to both of them. You feel for Andrew Stueber because of that. But he will be back.
"They were both there the whole time. I didn't know which way it was going to go."
Mayfield was rated the top high school player in Michigan by 247Sports, which also rated him a four star and the No. 9 offensive tackle nationally in the 2018 class. He played on consecutive state championship teams at Grand Rapids Catholic Central and participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Wolverine defensive tackle Aidan Hutchinson, named the top incoming freshman defender last season and now expected to start, was asked about going against Mayfield and Stueber in practices.
"They were both really good competitors and working their tails off," said Hutchinson. "Unfortunately, Stueber fell to an injury. Then it's Jalen's time to step up; that happens in football. It's next man up, and you've just got to go.
"Now that Stueber is out, Jalen has adopted the 'starter' attitude. He's very agile, and he's quick for an offensive lineman. He brings power to the table as well."
Hutchinson
Harbaugh added that sophomore Ryan Hayes (6-foot-7, 299 pounds) of Traverse City (Michigan) West will back up both Mayfield and All-Big Ten first team left tackle Jon Runyan.
Seniors Devin Gil (13 starts in 2018) and Jordan Glasgow, juniors Jordan Anthony and Josh Ross, and sophomore Cameron McGrone ("Really ascending and coming on like a freight train") have all impressed Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Don Brown at the middle linebacker (mike) and outside linebacker (will) spots.
"Devin Gill's there," said Harbaugh. "Jordan Glasgow's right there. Jordan Anthony continues to be there. Those are the major players at the mike and will with Josh and Cam."
Freshmen Making Their Mark
Harbaugh said of freshman safety Daxton Hill, a five-star recruit from Tulsa (Oklahoma) Booker T. Washington: "He's as good as advertised. He's doing a great job. He's going to play a lot on special teams and is going to play and work into that safety position. He's really done extremely well."
Incoming freshmen defensive linemen Mazi Smith and Christopher Hinton also figure to play significant minutes, according to Harbaugh. Defensive back DJ Turner is working his way into playing time and special teams action.
This appears to be an exceptional freshman class, and Harbaugh expects about a dozen to play either offense or defense.
"Zach Charbonnet has stood out," said Harbaugh, "and done extremely well. There have been others. (Tight end) Erick All will play quite a bit. Receivers Cornelius Johnson and Giles Jackson are playing special teams and working their way into the playing position. I feel really good about the offensive linemen. All have done a good job. I don't know how many will play this season. (Defensive lineman) David Ojabo was coming on very strong. Caden Kolesar is contributing on special teams and is going to be very good at playing. Mike Sainristil, I know we talk about Mike a lot, but he's going to play a lot at the receiver position and is in a returner battle right now as a punt returner and kickoff returner.
"We'll have six or so on offense and six or so on defense."
Ojabo
Kolesar, who played at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, is the son of John Kolesar, a big-play receiver for quarterback Harbaugh in the mid-1980s, and the grandson of the late Bill Kolesar, a Wolverine tackle in the mid-1950s. Caden will wear No. 40, just like dad.
Harbaugh on Other Topics
On Middle Tennessee State of Conference USA: "They're conference champions, and (Coach) Rick Stockstill's done a great job with the program. They are one of nine bowl teams we play this year. ... I have great respect for them." Stockstill, 61, is a member of the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame and started for legendary coach Bobby Bowden at quarterback. He also coached under Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, and he has taken the school from Murfreesboro to eight bowls in 13 seasons.
On sophomore receiver Ronnie Bell: "Ronnie was our most improved player on offense. His body (has) been changing from a basketball physique to a football physique (6-foot, 184 pounds). Really made great, ascending strides, very positive."
On the readiness of this team: "I really feel like we're ready to play, but really happy to have another week to practice and get everything tighter and better."
