Michigan football health report: One defender questionable, but no 'long-term' injuries
Michigan Wolverines football is taking a healthy team into the 2022 season. Despite going through fall camp, which can be a grind, especially with the way the Maize and Blue run it like an NFL team in different ways, Jim Harbaugh‘s team doesn’t have any long-term injuries, the eighth-year head coach said on the Inside Michigan Football radio show Monday night.
There are some bumps and bruises, of course, but Michigan has been fortunate when it comes to health.
“That’s a real positive. Guys have built up a really good callous, and there are very few minor, not long-term, type of things,” Harbaugh said. “A few guys are working through a few things, but it’s the most healthy camp I can ever remember at anywhere I’ve ever coached. That’s a real positive. Had a really good practice today. We’re rolling. Everybody’s excited to play.”
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Michigan junior linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, who started six games and registered 50 tackles last season, is one dealing with a minor ailment. He has a “soft-tissue” injury, Harbaugh revealed, but there’s still a chance he’ll suit up this weekend against Colorado State (noon ET on ABC).
“We’ll see if Nikhai Hill-Green is able to play this week,” Harbaugh said. “Hopefully, mid-week we’ll find out where he’s at.”
Michigan has options at the inside linebacker position, starting with sophomore Junior Colson. Harbaugh is expecting big things from the 2021 Freshman All-American, and some other depth pieces have emerged there.
“Junior Colson continues to look like the real deal at inside linebacker,” Harbaugh said. “[Junior] Kalel Mullings — he looks a lot like Junior and the way he plays. Two really great inside ‘backers there.”
For the most part, the Michigan team is geared up and ready to go. Harbaugh mentioned on the In The Trenches podcast Saturday that the Wolverines were ready to play for a week, significant considering they still had one to prepare for the Rams.
“There are lots of guys that are champing at the bit, hungry, ready to play this game Saturday,” Harbaugh said.
Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert continues to make big impact
Harbaugh credited strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert and his staff for helping create a great vibe within the building. It’s their job to make sure the players are strong and healthy in the offseason, and they’ve passed the test with flying colors.
“Great energy around the building, on the practice field, in the meetings, in the weight room,” Harbaugh said. “Nobody better than Ben Herbert.”
Harbaugh raved about the Michigan strength coach, who’s currently in his fifth season with the Wolverines after coming from Arkansas.
“He is somebody that doesn’t look for attention, doesn’t seek it,” Harbaugh said. “There’s never any shameless self-promotion, but I have got to pay him a compliment. When I first hired Ben, he came in here and the energy, the enthusiasm, the attention to detail … it was literally laser focused — figuratively and literally. The weight machines, he lined them up as in a laser. That attention to detail … the extra effort of coaching and enthusing guys in a positive manner — like a syringe of confidence on a daily basis.
“I look now five years later, and there’s been absolutely no difference. He is the same guy every day. He does not take vacations. He does not observe major holidays. He has not gotten sick one time. He’s a human jackhammer. And it’s been infectious for his entire strength staff, and infectious for our entire team.”
