DETROIT — At this time last year, Jim Harbaugh made a big position switch, taking wide receiver Mike Sainristil and converting him to nickel on the defensive side of the ball. The move paid off handsomely, and Harbaugh is hoping his similar move this offseason produces similar results.
The talk of spring ball was Michigan moving second-year wideout Amorion Walker to cornerback. The Wolverines need someone to play opposite Will Johnson. After being billed a unicorn by his headman, his play was inconsistent when fans and media saw him in action in the annual spring game. However, Harbaugh is confident that Amorion is on the right track.
“Great question. I thought he did really good, really well,” Harbaugh said. “Every day was a learning experience for him and really kind of epitomized better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today. Coach Clink is doing a great job with him. So really feel good. Really feel good about how he’s coming along.”
Harbaugh said Walker appears to be right on track to secure the starting job opposite Johnson, but he has some growing to do when it comes to playing the position.
The good news is, Michigan has time to work it out, as does Walker. As Harbaugh said, there’s no way to predict the future, but he likes Walker’s progress thus far.
“I don’t know,” Harbaugh said. “You plant seeds and see which ones develop. I think we’re gonna have quite a few guys with the best license and ability to do that. We’ll see. That’s always a good thing. By your talent and your effort you will be known.
“A lot can happen over the summer. There’s a lot that can happen in spring practice to the start of training camp. Where it left in spring ball, I was pretty darn pleased. This could be some of the best corners we’ve had, two of the best corners we’ve ever had. We’ll see. See how it goes the rest of the summer and in training camp.”
Michigan recently hosted UMass transfer and former team captain of the Minutemen, Josh Wallace, who could be another viable option — though he’d be a late arrival and could have growing pains of his own learning the playbook. However, Michigan’s nonconference schedule featuring three Group of Five teams gives the Wolverines some leeway to break in a new corner, regardless if it’s Walker, the current field or an incoming transfer.
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