Four things to watch for in Michigan spring game

The first of the 13 B1G spring games will kick off on Friday night. Fittingly, the team that’s made the most offseason noise of anybody in the B1G will start the spring slate.

For each spring game, we’ll preview four things that fans should watch for in each game. Here are what Michigan fans will want to keep their eyes on:

-Quarterback battle

The question of Michigan’s offseason might get a little bit clearer on Friday. John O’Korn, Wilton Speight and Shane Morris will all get a chance to show why they deserve the starting quarterback job. Jim Harbaugh hasn’t and won’t favor one over the other, so expect them to get very similar reps.

O’Korn is the presumed favorite, but Speight and Morris have certainly helped their cases with solid springs. Speight, who filled in admirably for Jake Rudock last year at Minnesota, might be the best competition for O’Korn. Morris, based on how he was/wasn’t used last year, could have the biggest mountain to climb to put himself at the top of the depth chart. All three definitely have something to prove on Friday. And no, nothing will be set in stone.

-Jabrill Peppers at linebacker

It’s sort of unfair to peg Peppers into one position. He really wasn’t a true safety last year, and he likely won’t look like a true linebacker this year. Don Brown is going to have him line up in the box more than he did last year, but that isn’t to say that he’ll stay in the box.

You’ll see Peppers drop back and cover receivers, tight ends, running backs or whoever else is eligible. You’ll also see him rush the quarterback or blow up a bubble screen. Given the strength the Wolverines have in the secondary, it only makes sense to maximize Peppers’ versatility. Brown won’t show all of the plans he has for him, but the spring game should still showcase his ability to make plays all over the field.

-Early enrollees 

No, Rashan Gary won’t be suiting up, but there are plenty of talented players from Michigan’s 2016 class that will. Kareem Walker will have no shortage of eyes on him when he gets his first carry. Quarterback Brandon Peters and receiver Ahmir Mitchell have garnered the most attention so far. With Jehu Chesson out of contact drills this spring, Mitchell could have the best shot to impress and make an immediate impact.

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Harbaugh has also been complimentary of Devin Bush, who could also play as a true freshman with Michigan lacking depth at linebacker. Fellow four-star enrollee Carlo Kemp is transitioning to linebacker and he should get plenty of reps, as well. The Wolverines’ seven early enrollees will all have a chance to show that they transitioned well from high school to college. And with that, perhaps, they’ll get a nice early lift on the depth chart.

-Don Brown

If Michigan’s new defensive coordinator is anything like what he is in practice, it won’t take long to notice him. Brown, like his defense, is as intense as it gets. You get the feeling that, like Harbaugh, he’ll be animated even if Michigan’s defense is pitching a shutout. The camera will be on Brown plenty, hopefully not picking up the expletives he’ll drop. But it’s Brown’s style that helped Boston College become the nation’s top defense.

There’s hope that with even more talent in Ann Arbor, Brown’s defense will be able to stymie the playmakers of a Michigan State or an Ohio State. There’s nothing his unit can do on Friday night that will prove that. If nothing else, expect Brown to lead a disciplined, gap-control defense and make plenty of noise while doing so.

How to watch Michigan’s spring game:

On Friday night, Michigan’s spring football game will air live on BTN & BTN2Go from 6-7 p.m. ET with Matt Shepard and Jon Jansen on the call. At 7 p.m. ET, due to contractual obligations, BTN will offer live coverage of the previously scheduled Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships. Michigan’s spring game will continue live on BTN2Go, with the full telecast re-airing on the network at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET after the conclusion of the Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships. The entire game also will be available in the BTN2Go archives shortly following its completion. Below is a full re-air schedule for the game.

Michigan Spring Game Re-Air Schedule: