Michigan tailback Fitz Toussaint is listed as the No. 1 tailback on the U-M depth chart for Saturday’s Alabama game.
But U-M coach Brady Hoke has not made a decision – at least one he’ll make public – on the status of Toussaint and defensive end Frank Clark, who both face legal problems.
He’s still evaluating but said “I probably have an idea” what he’ll do.
“Everyday how they come in every day, how they perform everyday, how they are true teammates everyday,” Hoke said. “They’re not done paying consequences on our level yet.”
The challenge of balancing having the best team for the game versus instilling discipline is a fine line.
“Whenever you’re in this position, you’ve got to make decisions that are best for the program,” he said. “That doesn’t mean for one specific team, it means for the program, for the identity and character of the program that you represent. Are they easy decisions? No. Are they decisions that you want to make because you love the kids? No.”
He said he doesn’t have a big problem with making the decision.
“I’m comfortable with what I want to do, very comfortable with that,” Hoke said. “Talking to all you guys (in the media) about it? No, that’s not comfortable because it’s talking about two kids who are sons to us and made bad decisions.”
Toussaint was suspended after his July 21 drunk-driving arrest but has been practicing since the second week of fall camp.
He has a pretrial/arraignment Tuesday in Saline’s 14a district court but Hoke said the result of that hearing will not affect his decision-making process.
The other player facing legal problems, Clark, who faces a felony charge for second-degree home invasion, is listed as the second-string defensive end on the depth chart. His next court appearance is Sept. 11.
Other items of note: Hoke said Will Hagerup won the starting punting job over Matt Wile but Wile will be the kickoff guy and handle “outlandish” field goals, those near 54 or 55 yards, long for regular kicker Brendan Gibbons.
• The biggest lineup change came on the defensive line, where the starters are defensive end Jibreel Black, defensive tackle Will Campbell, nose tackle Quinton Washington and defensive end Craig Roh, which Hoke said will fit better against Alabama’s big and talented offensive line.
• Elliott Mealer is the left guard starter.
• Recovering receiver Roy Roundtree, who had knee surgery during fall camp, is listed as the starter at wide receiver and said he’s 100%.
• Jeremy Gallon is at the other receiver spot and listed as the No. 1 punt returner. Josh Furman as the No. 1 kick returner.
Depth chart:
QB
Denard Robinson, Sr.
Devin Gardner, Jr.
RB
Fitz Toussaint, Jr.
Thomas Rawls, So.
FB
Stephen Hopkins, Jr.
Joe Kerridge, Fr.
WR
Roy Roundtree, Sr.
Jerald Robinson, So.
WR
Jeremy Gallon, Jr.
Drew Dileo, Jr.
TE
Brandon Moore, Sr.
Mike Kwiatkowski, Sr.
RT
Michael Schofield, Jr.
Erik Gunderson, Jr.
RG
Patrick Omameh, Sr.
Joey Burzynski, So.
C
Ricky Barnum, Sr.
Jack Miller, Fr.
LG
Elliott Mealer, Sr.
Joey Burzynski, So.
LT
Taylor Lewan, Jr.
Erik Magnuson, Fr.
DEFENSE
DE
Jibreel Black, Jr.
Frank Clark, So.
DT
Will Campbell, Sr.
Nathan Brink. Jr.
NT
Quinton Washington, Jr.
Richard Ash, So.
DE
Craig Roh, Sr.
Nathan Brink. Jr.
SLB
Jake Ryan, So.
Cam Gordon, Jr.
MLB
Kenny Demens, Sr.
Joe Bolden, Fr.
WLB
Desmond Morgan, So.
James Ross, Fr.
LCB
Blake Countess, So.
Courtney Avery, Jr.
SS
Jordan Kovacs, Sr.
Marvin Robinson, So.
FS
Thomas Gordon, Jr.
Jarrod Wilson, Fr.
RCB
J.T. Floyd, Sr.
Raymon Taylor, So.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK
Brendan Gibbons, Jr.
Matt Wile, So.
P
Will Hagerup, Jr.
Matt Wile, So.
KO
Matt Wile, So.
Seth Broekhuizen, Jr.
LS
Jareth Glanda, Jr.
Curt Graman, Jr.
KR
Josh Furman, So.
Dennis Norfleet, Fr.
PR
Jeremy Gallon, Jr.
Dennis Norfleet, Fr.
Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_snyder.