College football: Michigan

ANN ARBOR -- Spring practice is never a mirror for what can be expected in the fall from a football team, and that was the case this spring for Michigan.

The Wolverines went through their allotted 15 days of spring drills, concluding with a final practice Saturday at Michigan Stadium, and there were not a lot of answers about what to expect this fall.

The Wolverines had fewer healthy players who could participate this spring, among them, top rusher Mike Hart, who is recovering from minor surgery to his left shoulder, fixing an injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl. Starting left tackle Jake Long and receiver Mario Manningham also were limited this spring.

Still, spring drills are a time for younger players to get noticed.

"I don't ever remember ever being 100 percent as far as putting a team together in the spring," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Saturday. "The emphasis is always on individual improvement."

Carr did, however, gain a sense of what this team's makeup might be.

"I like the attitude of this team," he said. "They've worked as hard as any team we've had. Practices have been very physical. I think we've made a lot of strides, but there's plenty of time for dramatic improvement at each position.

"With the young guys, you want them to come back stronger. If they're motivated and disciplined in the summer, they'll make strides. The stamina and conditioning factor is critical. So there's still a lot of ways to go, but I like what we are, I like what we see."

Brown moves back

Carlos Brown , who had asked to move to cornerback before spring practice, has returned to tailback. That switch adds much-needed depth to that position.

Backup tailback Kevin Grady will undergo surgery today to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Grady suffered the injury last Saturday in practice, and it is uncertain when he might return to football.

Hart returns as the starter for his final season, and Brandon Minor and Brown are the backups.

"Brandon Minor has had an excellent spring," Carr said. "He's much more confident because he's been around, and he got a lot of work.

"The disappointment, of course, is Kevin Grady. Kevin was having an outstanding spring, and he was developing the patience it takes to play at that position."

Off to a good start

Carr praised freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett , who enrolled early at U-M and practiced with the team this spring.

"(He) picked things up very well, and he got a lot of repetitions throughout the spring," Carr said. "I think his development is continuing. He's a talented guy, a very bright guy. He's done some things that's going to enable him this fall to come into training camp with confidence, knowledge, ability and his understanding of what we're trying to get done."

Extra points

Justin Boren will be Michigan's starting center this fall, replacing Mark Bihl .

Senior quarterback Chad Henne , junior defensive tackle Will Johnson and sophomore receiver Greg Mathews were named spring award winners for their performance during the 15-practice spring drills.

Carr offered no update on the status of receiver Adrian Arrington , who was not allowed to practice this spring for apparent disciplinary reasons.

Linebacker Shawn Crable suffered a sprained ankle during spring practice and missed about three weeks of practice.

See more at www.detnews.com