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Hoke Addresses Possibility Of Redshirting Jabrill Peppers

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Freshman defensive back Jabrill Peppers has played in three games for Michigan this season, and injuries have kept him on the sidelines for the other four. Head coach Brady Hoke will not discuss Peppers' status, though he has noted he would reveal if the player had suffered a season-ending injury.

Talking on the Big Ten conference call Tuesday, Hoke did not dismiss the possibility of redshirting the freshman, who has been a starter for the Wolverines when available.

"We would handle that when the time would come," Hoke said.

The Michigan defense looked solid against Penn State, even without Peppers. On offense, however, the team struggled, and the situation got worse when quarterback Devin Gardner had to leave the game with an injury in the third quarter.

Shane Morris had been the backup throughout the season, but after suffering a concussion and a high ankle sprain - and performing badly - in his one start, Morris has evidently been shuffled farther down the depth chart in favor of Russell Bellomy, who replaced Gardner in Saturday's game when Gardner came out with an injury. The Wolverines could not move the ball at all with Bellomy at the helm, however, and Gardner eventually reentered the game. Michigan has another backup option, freshman Wilton Speight, but the team will do its best to keep Speight off the field so he can be redshirted.

All that considered, the backup quarterback situation of the Wolverines looks questionable at best. The coach indicated Bellomy will be the go-to backup going forward.

"Number one, Russell did what we asked him to do, get in there and manage the game," Hoke said. "Didn't make any mistakes, almost had the one, but he had gotten a lot of snaps. Obviously Shane is progressing every day, so when you look at it, we're hoping that Wilton doesn't have to play this year, but if he did, we'd be confident in his ability."

Michigan has a record of 3-4 this season and faces No. 8 Michigan State after a bye this weekend.

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