Michigan Football: Young players make strides during bowl prep

Bowl preparation is always important for younger players and here is a look at how some Michigan football players are looking down in Orlando.

You hear constantly how bowl practices can help teams develop and for Michigan football, that’s a key part of what’s taking place down at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando this week.

Of course, the actual game against Alabama isn’t until Wednesday, when the Wolverines and Crimson Tide will meet in a top-15 matchup. However, getting the chance to continue the development of young guys on the roster is just as important and U-M continued its preparation for the game down in Orlando.

Unlike last season when Michigan football played Florida in the Peach Bowl, nobody is sitting out. Not only do players want the 10th win and to finish the season with a victory over one of the best programs in college football, but they also want to show out against a team loaded with NFL talent.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins, Lavert Hill, Ambry Thomas and Josh Uche are just a few that are looking to improve their draft stock. Uche has already decided he will leave for the NFL and Hill is graduating but the others all have decisions to make.

Departures are an expected part of college football and with Uche leaving, Michigan football is already looking to the future and one guy that has shown solid improvement, according to Aidan Hutchinson is David Objabo, a defensive end with a big upside: Here’s what Hutchinson said to The Michigan Insider ($):

"“(David) Ojabo, Mazi (Smith)’s coming along, Chris (Hinton), guys like that.  (Ojabo) He’s different. He’s a long strider. He was a track guys in high school, so his strides are so long. They’re definitely different rushers, but similar in some ways. Ojabo came in here as raw as anyone as I have ever seen. He’s developed his game and he’s building his craft and it’s really fun to watch.”"

Hutchinson wasn’t the only veteran defender that spoke to the media after practice in Orlando and another was Hill, a senior corner who will be playing his final game for Michigan football.

While Hill is gone for sure, fellow corner Ambry Thomas has a decision to make. He said he would decide after the Citrus Bowl and if he does leave, U-M would have two starting corners to replace. But according to Hill, those youngsters are coming along:

"“All of em are doing pretty good. D.J. Turner, Jalen Perry doing good. The twin brothers, and George Johnson just converted to corner, too. So we’ve got a good group of guys that will be ready in the future.”"

Obviously, guys aren’t going to say bad things about young players and the buzz needs to be kept in check. But there is a lot of young talent on this team and bowl prep offers a key look at how it’s coming along.