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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It’s been a long while since, not only the players making waves by standing out in workouts or practices, but also hearing from Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh.
As the team was set to hit the field for spring ball in March, the coronavirus pandemic had other plans. Less than a week before the Wolverines were set to hit the practice field, it was all canceled, and the players were sent back to their respective homes with classes moving to an online format. Likewise, Harbaugh hadn’t met with the media since the postgame press conference following the Jan. 1 VRBO Citrus Bowl, a loss to Alabama. So there was little information to glean about where the team was trending with the 2020 season drawing nigh — barring any COVID-19 setbacks.
However, in June, the team finally returned to campus for voluntary workouts, overseen by the strength and conditioning staff. For Harbaugh, he noted that two players arrived in impressive shape — made more impressive given that they didn’t get the benefit of working out within the confines of Schembechler Hall.
And one is a player who has yet to put on a winged helmet in earnest.
“The guy that stands out the most is (safety)RJ Moten, who’s an incoming freshman that was — he must have a FitBit watch or something,” Harbaugh said. “He would text me especially his bike riding workouts. He had a workout where he was riding with a trainer (and had) a 52 or 53 mile bike ride. 3,100 and some odd calories that he burned, and he was doing it a couple of times a week. When he finally did show up, he just looked great.
“Another example is (fourth-year defensive tackle) Donovan Jeter. Donovan probably played last year at 290-295 and he’s up to 320-325 this year. And reports that he’s moving better. He’s moving faster, quicker, side-to-side and forwards. That stands out. There’s a lot (of) others.”
When it comes to staying in shape — or getting into football shape, which are two different things — Harbaugh notes that it’s wasn’t a chore to get his players to buy in.
Given the circumstances in the world, the maize and blue were eager and ready to get back to campus and restart their training, Harbaugh says. Of course, the spectre still lingers that either there won’t be a season this fall or that it could be postponed until spring. That remains to be seen, but Harbaugh says the team has approached this unusual offseason with a certain panache, knowing they can get ahead of the curve if they put in the work now.
“Just I think their attitude going into — it’s been 120 days, somewhat in that area,” Harbaugh said. “The things we suggested and I think they really bought into was the providence will favor the prepared and being prepared. Being prepared. And even the question will we have a season, better to be prepared and not have the opportunity than to have the opportunity and not be prepared. I think our guys have done a really good job, a really tremendous job from what I’ve seen.”
For now, the team will continue to work out on a voluntary basis, which means the coaches must remain uninvolved due to NCAA rules. However, as a precursor to traditional fall camp, Harbaugh says that the team will reconvene in a more conventional sense — somewhat — in a mere matter of weeks.
“We’ll get involved as coaches starting July 24. We’ll move to a 20-hour week. Walkthroughs will be incorporated. We’ll be on the field with them and be able to really be around those workouts. Right now, it’s been more safety oversight — of course. But to really get in there and start being around them everyday: meetings, walkthroughs, workouts — starts July 24.”