What is the story about?
Michigan
head coach spoke to the media on Sunday afternoon after it was announced that the Wolverines will be facing the Texas Longhorns in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.
While it remains to be seen who will be suiting up and who will be sitting the bowl game out, Moore provided updates on a few key Michigan players in running back Jordan Marshall, running back Justice Haynes, and linebacker Ernest Hausmann.
- Moore on Marshall: “Jordan will be great. He fought through that. He had a shoulder that dinged up in the game before, toughed through it. Tried as much as he could. You wish he could have played the whole game, right, with six carries for 70-something yards. But really, he pushed as much as he could. And when he couldn’t, he couldn’t. But he’ll be ready for the bowl game.”
- Moore on Haynes: “It’s something we’ll look at. We’ll see. His progress is going really good. We’ll get more of an answer and clarity as we go through this week.”
- Moore on Hausmann: “Ernest is going through some things that I don’t really want to talk on or speak on,” Moore said. “Just things from a personal standpoint. He’s also been dealing with a thumb that happened in the Northwestern game. Just things that he’s been dealing with, and we’re just here to support him. That’s it.”
Analysis
- Haynes had surgery on his foot after suffering the injury in Michigan’s loss to USC on Oct. 11. Haynes hasn’t played since and even if he’s progressing, it still seems like an uphill battle coming back for Michigan’s bowl game.
- Jordan Marshall sounds like he’ll be ready to roll for the Citrus Bowl, which is a big deal. As admirable as former walk-on Bryson Kudzdal played against Northwestern and Ohio State, Marshall is on the cusp of being a marquee collegiate RB and his return would be huge for Michigan’s chances of beating Texas.
- Ernest Hausmann missed the last two games of the season, and this is the most Moore has spoken about the linebacker after previously calling him “day to day.” Hausmann’s availability for the Citrus Bowl really seems unknown at this point with Moore saying he’s “going through some things.”
