Michigan’s 52-17 win over UTEP came with a few important health questions tucked inside the blowout.
The Wolverines shook off a messy first half and turned the game into a rout after the break, but the bigger takeaway for next week may be who came out of Saturday banged up. Starting running back Jordan Marshall left the game after appearing to limp, and starting right tackle Andrew Sprague and starter Zeke Berry both sat out.
Marshall had already taken a beating the week before against Oklahoma, and Kyle Whittingham said the issue Saturday was connected to that earlier wear and tear.
"Jordan exited the game with a little nagging thing that was actually residual from last week, last game," Whittingham said. "And so we hope to have him ready to roll next week. But both good backs, and great to see him be productive."
Marshall still managed 59 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown before leaving.
Sprague’s situation sounded less predictable. He wasn’t on the field in pregame warmups, with Blake Frazier handling his spot and Evan Link working at left tackle. Whittingham said the issue surfaced in the last 24 hours and caught the staff off guard.
"Well, we sure hope to have him back soon," Whittingham said. "It was a weird deal and was within the last literally 24 hours. And I won't elaborate on it, but it completely caught us off guard because he took every rep during the practice week up until yesterday.
"I thought the new configuration played out pretty darn good. Evan Link back to his usual spot at left tackle.
He played several hundred snaps last season at left tackle. We bumped Blake Frazier over to the right side, and I thought those guys did a nice job.
For having literally no reps as a unit in practice all week long, I thought they handled it pretty good."
Berry’s absence sounded more precautionary than anything else. Shamari Earls started in his place, and while Berry didn’t suit up, Whittingham made it clear Michigan likely could have used him if needed.
"He was a game-time decision, literally," said Whittingham.
"He had had something that was nagging at him during the week. Had we had to have him today, probably could have played him. The safer course of action was to try to sit him and get him completely healthy for next week and let Shamari Earls take over and get some reps there.
"So I believe that was the right decision. He should be good to go for next week.
Because of that, we didn't have any setbacks, obviously, he didn't play. So he's a really important part of our secondary, and we're hoping we get him back next week."
Michigan now turns to Iowa at the Big House, with the Hawkeyes coming in off a 55-0 win over Northern Iowa. Iowa has shown more pop on offense in two of its three games this season, and the defense will bring its usual toughness to Ann Arbor.
For Michigan, the focus is obvious: get Marshall, Sprague and Berry back on the field. Marshall and Sprague look like the two biggest pieces to watch, especially with the importance of keeping the top five linemen together and having the top option in the run game available.
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