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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We won’t know exactly how decimated the Michigan roster actually is until it takes the field this Saturday in Iowa City, but the team missed two weeks due to rising COVID-19 cases, which has kept a number of players out.
Many have focused on the numbers that Michigan has reported — without differentiation between sports, nine student-athletes tested positive last week, 14 the week before, and seven the week before that — without recognizing that multiple players are also unavailable due to contact tracing. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported that 45 players would have been out against Ohio State, had Michigan moved forward with that game.
247Sports’ Zach Shaw posted a picture from the practice field on Sunday while walking home from the basketball game at Crisler Center, and it showed just how thin the team might be at the moment.
Walking home from Crisler. Looks like Michigan football is doing some Sunday evening walkthrough work. pic.twitter.com/AErp8w14Wt
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) December 13, 2020
While it’s difficult to decipher just how many players are out on the field, it appears that there were only 30-something involved. Again, there’s no telling who will be available for the Iowa game, but all signs point to a shell of the rostered team.
“It’s definitely a different environment,” offensive lineman Andrew Stueber said. “We still have a few guys quarantined because of either positive cases or contact tracing, so it’s definitely a different atmosphere. A lot of young guys are starting to step into new roles which is something that we’ve been prepping them for all year. That’s definitely one of the defining aspects of the season — people can go down at any moment just by contracting it or being in contact with someone. So there’s been a heavy focus that everyone needs to be ready at any moment.
“It’s definitely been a different atmosphere at practice. Definitely smaller numbers. People have stepped into different roles, whether that be scout team or playing offense, defense, or special teams. So it’s been different, but it’s also great to see different guys step into different positions as well.”
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But the Wolverines aren’t looking at it as a ‘woe is me’ type of situation. Team captain Josh Ross says that they’re embracing the opportunity to get younger players work — players who might not otherwise have had the chance.
“We have a lot of guys out, but at the end of the day, with guys out it’s new opportunities,” Ross said. “It’s a blessing — guys stepping up, it’s young guys stepping up and it’s so much opportunity on that field to go and get it. And we’re excited to play and put our talents forth.”
Saturday night, we’ll know exactly how healthy the Wolverines are. But from the looks and sounds of it, Michigan won’t be anywhere close to full strength.
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