Michigan DBs Will Johnson, Rod Moore 'getting closer and closer' to returning from injury

Michigan Wolverines football was without two of its best defenders in a 30-3 season-opening win over East Carolina. Both junior safety Rod Moore and sophomore cornerback Will Johnson were listed as ‘questionable,’ warmed up but did not play in the blowout win. Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale provided an injury update Wednesday ahead of the team’s game against UNLV.

“They’re getting closer and closer every day,” Clinkscale noted. “I kinda stay out of the training room with them, so when they’re out there on the field, I coach them. Yesterday, they were both practicing, so that was awesome. I think they’re getting closer and closer every day.

“A big thing with those guys having the issues that they had is not to rush them back, make sure they’re comfortable, especially when you’re a DB and you’re out on an island. If you rush a guy back, it can really set him back. So I think [Michigan head] Coach [Jim Harbaugh] has done a great job and our training staff has done a great job of bringing those guys back the way they need to be, right on time — not too fast, not too slow. I’m excited about seeing them out there this year.”

Graduate cornerback Josh Wallace, a UMass transfer, made his Michigan debut by starting on the outside, opposite graduate Keshaun Harris, a walk-on. Michigan sophomore Keon Sabb, meanwhile, started in Moore’s place at safety. Sabb finished with 5 tackles, including a team-high 3 solo stops, and 2 pass breakups, while Wallace had a pass breakup of his own. Clinkscale liked how both played.

“How did you guys think they did?” Clinkscale said. “I thought they did pretty good. They defended the deep ball pretty well.”

Wallace’s pass breakup was initially ruled an interception but was overturned because the ECU receiver touched the ball out of bounds before the Michigan defensive back secured it.

“That was a heck of a play Josh made,” Clinkscale said. “That rule is a little different — that guy was out of bounds when he touched it — but that was great reaction. We haven’t seen that for a couple of years, other than DJ Turner and Will Johnson, guys turning around and finding the ball, so that was really good to see. Really pleased with that.

“Want to continue to build on some things with both of those guys, and just the more exposure they get against top-end receivers will really be the test. That was a good start. This week with a quarterback who’s got a strong arm, and they’ve got really fast receivers, will be more of a test for us outside at the corner spot. They’ll be isolated a lot, so they’re gonna have to win their one-on-one quite a bit.”

Michigan junior safety Makari Paige was limited, playing 10 snaps early in the game, and he’s still working to be back full-go. His presence was felt, though, Clinkscale pointed out.

“Having Makari for a few plays last week made a big difference,” the Michigan assistant said. “It helped some of those younger guys get their feet wet, with an older guy, a veteran out there on the field, with a physical player on the field. He kind of set the tone, and then I let the rest of the guys play the rest of the game. Getting those guys closer and closer, helping us get them a few plays here and there, until they’re 100-percent ready.”

Amorion Walker still out with injury

Michigan sophomore cornerback Amorion Walker, a converted wide receiver who switched over to defense before spring ball, has been out with a lower-body injury since the middle of fall camp. It doesn’t seem like he’s all that close to returning at this point, given that he hasn’t been practicing. He’s still taking mental reps, though, and has impressed Clinkscale.

“Amorion is a special talent — we all know that,” Clinkscale said. “The spring doesn’t matter, the summer doesn’t matter. What I see from him now is he’s locked in. He’s in here — he’s not able to practice — but he’s watching film, he’s taking notes. You should see his notes. I take his notes and show them to everybody. He’s taking notes — everything. If I burp, he’ll write down, ‘burp.’ He’s taking notes, he’s listening to everything.

“He’s being a sponge, and that’s what you want from your players. If they’re not able to do it physically, do it mentally. And that way, now when the younger guy wants to talk to him, he can give him the right answer.”

Added the Michigan coach: “So, I’ve been proud of him about how he’s handled this. It hasn’t been an emotional deal where he disappears and you don’t see him while he’s injured. He’s here every day, all the time. We text and communicate every day, so I think that when he does come back, it’ll help him catapult to where he was and maybe even surpass it. So looking forward to big things from all those guys. I think they’ve done a great job.”