Michigan Football: Jim Harbaugh Says At Least 10 Frosh In Two Deep

Michigan has had a “good, productive training camp,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said, and it’s continuing through this week in preparation for Hawaii. The freshman class will contribute heavily to the 2016 Wolverines, Harbaugh added …

“It’s been a good class from the very beginning,” he told MgoBlue.com. “What we really wanted to look at was who would be on track athletically to be good enough to be in the two-deep … starting, a back-up or contributing on special teams. … Right now 10 easy have shown they’ll be in the two deep as a starter or backup.”

And it could be more. Those who have earned praise include (but aren’t limited to) defensive end Rashan Gary, wide receivers Eddie McDoom and Nate Johnson, linebacker Devin Bush, safety Khaleke Hudson, kicker Quinn Nordin, running back Chris Evans and offensive linemen Ben Bredenson and Michael Onwenu.

“We said, ‘let’s look at that first two weeks,’” Harbaugh said. “They are all in summer school, going to school and in summer camp. That’s a lot on a plate. I wasn’t as much concerned if they were picking up the offense, 10 difference coverages or 50 different pass concepts. We said we were going to look and see if they would be athletically good enough to be in the two deep … then we will catch up on coverages, blitzes and protections.”

We predict as many as 15 see the field in the Saturday opener against Hawaii, a 51-31 loser to Cal Friday night.

Other notes:

• Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown continues to impress his players and his boss, and he’s happy with how his group has responded in camp.

“We can hit you with the base looks and then shift over in personnel packages, things are happening,” he said. “It’s organized chaos, and it’s all hitting. The one trait I know when things are really going well is they [opponents] can’t run the ball.”

Harbaugh said from the beginning it wasn’t Brown’s scheme, but his teaching ability that got his attention.

“He’s giving the players tools to be successful. That’s what the really great ones do,” he said. “Any coach or teacher can tell somebody what they did right or wrong. The real gifted ones can give them tips, pieces of advice, tools the person they’re teaching can use to get better. That separates a very gifted coach and teacher.”

• Fifth-year senior tackle Erik Magnuson called this camp “exactly the same as last year.” Senior running back De’Veon Smith disagreed.

“This year was a little bit harder,” he said. “But I can’t complain. I will say the days are long, and you have to maintain focus.”