It has become pretty apparent in recent weeks that cornerback might just be the biggest concern on Michigan’s whole team heading into the 2017 season.
The position is filled with youth and inexperience, with only one player — redshirt junior Brandon Watson — having seen substantial playing time at the position.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich said there have been plenty of growing pains so far during fall camp, but he’s not ready to hit the panic button yet.
“I’m not concerned,” he said. “I have confidence in myself and in our guys. I don’t want to sound the alarm, but the youth aspect is no longer an excuse — these guys have had a spring to get ready, and now they’re two weeks away from a big game, so it’s time to go. I am very confident that within the next few weeks, one or two of these guys are going to step up.”
So who will it be?
“[Sophomore Lavert Hill] didn’t practice much in the spring,” Zordich explained. “He worked really hard this summer, though, but unfortunately got injured again — he’s come back now, and his arrow has been going up.
“Lavert has done very well against the run as well. B-Wat [Watson] knows how to do it too. The younger guys have to learn the technique, but B-Wat and Lavert are definitely solid there.”
Another player in the mix who probably shouldn’t be considered a youngster anymore is redshirt sophomore Keith Washington.
“He’s been playing corner mostly, but in other packages you could see him in different spots."
Michigan brought in several freshmen at the position, and Zordich touched on a handful of them as well.
“Ben [St-Juste] shows flashes of some really good things, but he’s just not consistent yet — he’ll be fine though, because he’s a really good athlete.
“Jaylen [Kelly-Powell] has been working with the safeties, the corners, VIPER, nickel — he’s been all over. We call him a little gnat, because he’s always around guys and covering them, and that’s a positive thing, especially when you play a lot of man [coverage].
“Ambry [Thomas] is a ‘want-to’ guy. He’s got energy and juice, but his inexperience is what’s holding him back right now. He’s just thinking too much — he wants to do the right thing so bad, but he overthinks things a lot. He just needs to relax and go play the game, and trust the technique that we teach. He’s been a bright spot for us though.”
Fans will learn a lot more about Michigan’s young secondary in two short weeks when it faces Florida in Arlington. If the Wolverines are able to shut down the Gators’ talented group of receivers, it could potentially be a sign of things to come.
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