Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh provides injury updates, discusses exciting position switch

Michigan Wolverines football has been without junior linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green for the first 2 games. The Maize and Blue also saw senior offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart, who’s considered the team’s “sixth starter” up front, go down with a sprained ankle in the opener against Colorado State.

Hill-Green did not dress for the tilt against the Rams, but he did suit up for the 56-10 win over Hawai’i this past Saturday night. Barnhart was not in uniform in the latter clash.

There appears to be good news on both fronts, with head coach Jim Harbaugh providing an update on the Inside Michigan Football radio show Monday night. His wish is for both players to see the field Saturday afternoon versus UConn.

“I’m really kind of hopeful that they’ll both be back for this game,” Harbaugh told host Jon Jansen. “So, we’ll see. What’s that, probable, questionable? Somewhere between questionable and probable.”

RELATED

• Michigan football News and Views: On ‘Boos,’ OL leakage and more

• Doug Karsch: From the broadcast booth

Hill-Green was an integral part of Michigan’s defense in 2021, starting 6 games notching 50 tackles, including 2 for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He’s set to have an even larger role this year, right in the mix for starting duties.

Barnhart got the start in the opener, in replacement of Michigan senior left tackle Ryan Hayes. When Harbaugh broke down the depth chart heading into the season, he revealed that Barnhart is the true backup at every offensive line position except center. His positional flexibility could prove crucial later this season. Barnhart has opened 7 career games.

Michigan saw senior left guard Trevor Keegan miss 2 early series with an apparent arm injury, but he returned to action. Senior tight end Erick All also entered the medical tent at 1 point, but he too came back into the game.

Senior cornerback Jalen Perry was helped off the field and into the locker room. Harbaugh said on the postgame radio show that he suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Sophomore running back Donovan Edwards rushed 3 times for 26 yards and a score and caught 1 pass for 33 yards. He didn’t return to the game after his 1-yard touchdown rush with 8:38 remaining in the 2nd quarter and wasn’t seen in the 2nd half.

Harbaugh said at his press conference earlier in the day that he didn’t have an update on Edwards other than to say he “is working through something.”

Jim Harbaugh excited about Michigan position switch

When Michigan emptied its bench in the 2nd half of Saturday night’s victory over the Rainbow Warriors, keen onlookers pulled out their rosters to check on who No. 56 on the Wolverines’ offense was. There’s not an offensive player with that number — it was sophomore defensive tackle Dominick Giudice.

He allowed 1 pressure in the game, per Pro Football Focus, but Harbaugh has been impressed with how quickly the move to offense has come together.

“He was playing defensive tackle completely since he’s got here,” Harbaugh said. “I just had the idea last Tuesday, ‘Hey, Dom Giudice could be a good offensive lineman. I remember recruiting him, he played center. Hey, Dom, you want to go to offense?’ ‘Yeah, coach, I really do.’ And then, Dom’s dad texted me saying, ‘great move.’

“Then, we went to the practice field, and in one day, it was like, man, I’m not a very smart guy. It took me a year to think of this. I’ve never seen a guy pick it up that fast. And then [he] played. Tuesday, he makes the switch; Saturday night, he’s pulling, he’s making calls from the right guard [spot]. Now, [sophomore center] Raheem [Anderson] was probably telling him what call to make, but he’s making calls and he’s pass protecting and he’s doing stuff.

“It’s like, yeah, I wish I would’ve been a little smarter and thought of that one a little sooner.”

Over 90 Michigan players saw game action Saturday. Harbaugh told the backups at halftime that, despite U-M holding a 42-0 lead, he was wiping the slate clean and expected the Wolverines to win the 2nd half. There was some doubt, but his Michigan team got it done.

“I think it’s really important,” Harbaugh said of how key it is to get young players and other reserves game experience. “They went through a training camp, and to get into the game action, really keep them engaged. Some will end up playing as true freshmen, some will only play in the 4 games — but more is more on that one, I’ve always thought.

“It was exciting as heck, because we we really were trying to say it was 0-0 coming out of the half. The second half score was [14-10], and Hawai’i’s driving and making some plays, and young guys are out there getting their first action. It was palpable, the intensity.

“They all know exactly … he didn’t know to cover this guy or that guy or to be in the right gap. That’s OK. Hey, it’s a learning experience, and we’ve gotta do a better job coaching. It’s just inspiring to see that guys are that into it, it’s that important to them. Coach them to make sure they do have it. May have told them a few times, but maybe we should tell them more. And you find out how guys learn — is it off the film, is it walkthrough, is it on the iPad, on the whiteboard? They’re learning about themselves. It’s just such a learning experience.”