But this week, the MI football team got positive reports on some key players, which means the Wolverines are just about at full strength.
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Saturday afternoon, 2-1 Penn State travels to Ann Arbor to open the Big Ten schedule against the 3-0 Michigan Wolverines. But that was against a Penn State defense that was down to its third- or fourth-string middle linebacker for most of the game and came into the game ranked 92nd nationally against the run. In receiving, Chris Godwin posted 117 yards and a touchdown in seven receptions while Mike Gesicki added 62 yards in two receptions. Trace McSorely entered the game with more passing yards than any player in the league, but he didn’t reach 100 yards until the fourth quarter and finished 16 of 27 for 121 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
It’s not a secret that while the Nittany Lions have lost starting linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White for the season and could still be missing their other two starting linebackers in Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell, Michigan may have star corner Jourdan Lewis at full health alongside defensive end Taco Charlton for the first time this season.
Peppers can also be used by MI on special teams and has returned a punt for a touchdown already this season.
They were coming hard from the beginning.
On the other side of the ball, the MI offense looks to continue to build steam in both the run and pass game.
Asked about his versatility during his weekly press conference Monday, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said he’d have trouble listing all the positions Peppers could possibly play.
Beathard had runs of 14 and 12 yards on the drive and hit four passes, the last to a wide-open Kittle, who just got across the goal line with 34 seconds left in the half. Penn State’s no-huddle spread offense had such quick-strike success last week against Temple – Saquon Barkley had a 55-yard TD run, and QB Trace McSorley had pass completions of 52, 52 and 45 yards. In one of the football statistical oddities due to sack yardage, his team only had 121 yards at the time. Kicking game: U-M kicker Kenny Allen missed two field goals last week.
After the first ten minutes of overtime, in which Wisconsin again was unable to produce a decisive chance, Penn State ended the game with less than two minutes to play in the second overtime period.
MI football players raise their fists up in protest during the National Anthem, before an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines have had a relatively easy run to their 4-0 start, but losing Clark would be their first real blow on their road in the Big Ten.
MI will likely have standout senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis on the field for the first time this season. Linebacker Noah Furbush and running back Drake Johnson dressed for the first time but weren’t involved.
MI fell behind Colorado early last week but rebounded to dominate the final few quarters in the game. He was helped up by trainers and put on the back of a cart and taken to the locker room.
The inexperienced linebackers will face quite a test, trying to defend tight end Jake Butt. The Nittany Lions are 16-point underdogs according to most Vegas oddsmakers.
Freshman Collin Hill, making his second start at quarterback for the Rams (2-2), cut Colorado State’s deficit to seven points with a 15-yard toss to Michael Gallup with 6:24 remaining.
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