Michigan football: Broken clavicle ends Derrick Green’s season
By Joel Greer
Michigan Wolverines starting running back Derrick Green will miss the remainder of the 2014 season, Coach Brady Hoke disclosed at his Monday press conference.
Green, who was just establishing himself as Michigan’s No. 1 option, suffered a broken clavicle late in Saturday’s loss to Rutgers.
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“Derrick’s attitude is very good,” Hoke said. “He knows it’s an expectation of him to help coach those young guys and coach guys being integral in what we’re trying to get done. We’re going to miss him.”
Aug 30, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back De’Veon Smith will now be Michigan’s feature back.
Green had been in a battle with fellow sophomore De’Veon Smith for the top spot, so the running game should be in good hands.
Hoke confident
Along with Smith, Hoke has called on redshirt junior Justice Hayes and Pioneer High School’s Drake Johnson on a limited basis.
“I’m very confident in the three guys that will be doing most of the work at running back. I’m highly confident in what they bring and what they can do,” Hoke said.
Smith, a four-star recruit from Warren, Ohio, is Michigan’s most versatile back. He can break tackles while being both quick and elusive. He’s gained 282 yards on 47 carries for a 6.0 yards-per-carry average.
Hayes is both effective as a running back and a receiver coming out of the backfield.
Johnson, who missed all last season because of an ACL tear, was a State of Michigan prep hurdles champion while performing in the shadow of Michigan Stadium.
Before his injury, Green carried the ball 82 times this fall for 282 yards, three touchdowns and a 5.7 average.
The Wolverines (2-4, 0-2), who have been suffering through one of their most disappointing seasons in recent years, will host Penn State (4-1, 1-1) Saturday night (Oct. 11) at 7 pm.
A loss to the Nittany Lions, who were shredded by Northwestern 29-6 last Saturday, would be Michigan’s fourth in a row—not something which would aid Hoke’s job security.
In other injury news, well, Hoke’s policy is not to speak about it unless a player is out for the season. For what it’s worth, USA Today reports that both Jabrill Peppers and Shane Morris are questionable for Penn State, while Desmond Morgan is still out.
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