Posted: Tuesday April 29, 2003 11:38 AM
Updated: Tuesday April 29, 2003 11:38 AM
SI.com's Luke Winn breaks down the Top 10.
9
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Chris Perry Getty Images
State of the Team:
One of Michigan's biggest changes in the spring wasn't positional, it was numerical. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards, the No. 1 target for quarterback John Navarre, is now wearing No. 1. Edwards switched from his old No. 80 to a digit with quite a history in Ann Arbor: Anthony Carter, Derrick Alexander and David Terrell were its most recent owners. Edwards had to convince coach Lloyd Carr to earn the jersey -- his 1,035-yard receiving season in 2002 couldn't have hurt. Michigan's spring game was cancelled due to sloppy field conditions, making it tough to estimate whether or not Chris Perry and the running game, which lacked any big-play capability in 2002, was making improvements. Cornerback Marlin Jackson, Michigan's top pro prospect, saw some action at safety in practice, but Carr insisted Jackson won't be changing positions in the fall. Carl Diggs and Zach Kauffman, the two starting inside linebackers, had to sit out with injuries, while Pierre Woods, formerly a defensive end, took on Victor Hobson's vacated role at outside linebacker with surprising effectiveness. The Wolverines are hoping Navarre, in his third year as a starter, can produce like Brian Griese did in his senior campaign, but are counting on the defense to key a run at the Big Ten crown.
Up-and-Comer:
Redshirt freshman wideout Steve Breaston probably would like to earn Edwards' No. 1 jersey down the road. For now, he'll just settle for getting playing time as one of Navarre's third or fourth options. Although he missed some of the spring with a hamstring injury, Breaston, an exceptional athlete who was the top Pennsylvania prep player in 2001 as a quarterback, could see substantial action on kick and punt returns in the fall.
Lingering Questions:
Perry proved to be a durable back in 2002, but will he be able to finally increase his yards-per-carry average above four and give the Wolverines the running punch they need? And who will emerge from the list of candidates at fullback to replace B.J. Askew? Sophomore Tim Massaquoi, the heir apparent to Bennie Joppru at tight end, wasn't in tip-top condition in the spring; will he come around and provide Navarre with a reliable target?
Chris Perry
