Brady Hoke won't accept anything less than full cooperation and genuine dedication. Players are either in or they're out, and he made that clear while opening Michigan's fall camp.
Announced Sunday, via a press release, the fourth-year Wolverines coach has shelved wideout Csont’e York. According to the statement, due to rules violations, the 6’3”, 180-pound sophomore wasn’t invited to fall workouts.
“Csont’e York is suspended indefinitely for failing to meet team standards and will not report for fall camp,” Hoke said (via media contact Derek Satterfield). “We demand that every person in our program represent the University of Michigan and the Michigan football program the right way on and off the field. When people fall short of that, there are consequences.”
As of Sunday night, details of York’s transgressions hadn’t been made public. However, he’s allegedly "subject to an Ann Arbor Police Department investigation," according to Kyle Feldshrer of the Ann Arbor News (via Joshua Henschke of Maize n Brew).
Bouncing a likely contributor for who knows how long was the right move; eliminating the potential or probability of larger issues is the smart approach. Hoke needs his players and staff—not to mention the fans—to be focused on the guys on the field, not the ones screwing up away from it.
If you were looking for someone to immediately set the tone, look no further than Hoke, who is clearly all business as his team prepares to rebound from a disappointing 7-6 slide in 2013. By emphasizing the fundamentals, such as responsibility and chemistry, Hoke has the Wolverines in the position to move forward.
His players are developing, and he has Doug Nussmeier, the new offensive coordinator, to assist in jumpstarting Team 135. Plus there’s Greg Mattison’s defense.
This could be Hoke’s year.
Devin's the Dude (at WR)
By now, you’re aware that Devin Funchess is now a full-time receiver and no longer a tight-end-turned-receiver. In terms of the swap, the 6'5", 230-pound junior says he's all-in when it comes to his new post, per MLive.com’s Brendan F. Quinn:
Game on. With 748 yards in 2013, Funchess returns as the team's leading receiver and has two more years of destroying defensive backs ahead of him. However, his collegiate future has been the subject of rampant speculation for months.
He's a projected first-rounder. Will he decide to enter the 2015 NFL draft? If he chooses to do so, Wolverines fans should sit back, enjoy the ride and expect their team to get the most out of the former Farmington Hills Harrison star.
While the onus is on Funchess to produce, he's not the only one who's in line to flourish: Freddy Canteen, a true freshman, seems like the best option for the slot position; Amara Darboh, a redshirt sophomore, could be a breakout contributor; and Jehu Chesson could get some serious playing time this fall, too.
Dig Doug
The video is dated, but it reinforces the idea of getting more in 2014.
After falling flat during its 31-14 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Kansas State, Michigan turned to Nussmeier, then Alabama's OC, for guidance.
Renowned for his touch with quarterbacks, not to mention his success with the Tide's Grade-A running game, Nussmeier faces the task of turning Devin Gardner into a reliable leader and pushing the backfield to new (old Michigan) heights.
To say that Wolverines fans expect the world from him would probably be accurate. After watching Team 134 struggle mightily just to score a few touchdowns, fans want to see Team 135's Nuss-infused offense properly utilize its talent and blow the doors off the opposition.
During Big Ten media days, Gardner was praised by opponents as one the Big Ten's best. On top of that, Nussmeier has two highly rated running backs (maybe a third if Ty Isaac is cleared), a group of solid but generally untested receivers and a bunch of big guys up front.
Needless to say, fighting just to get 17 or 21 on the board should be a thing of the past under Nussmeier, who has streamlined things in Ann Arbor.
Want to hear Nussmeier at work? MGoBlue recently provided an inside look at one of his practices.
O-Line
It's still under construction. What's new? With freshman left tackle Mason Cole in the mix, expect to see healthy competition for one of college football's storied positions. There are certain responsibilities that come with being a Wolverines blindsider. Whether Cole gets the job is entirely up to him.
After serving his one-game suspension for a violation of team rules, Graham Glasgow should be the No. 1 center. Kyle Kalis and Kyle Bosch are likely in line for the guard posts.
There will be more as camp rolls along. However, tying up loose ends and tightening up all the moving parts prior to full immersion seems to be Michigan's No. 1 priority.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
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