UM NOTEBOOK
Miller of St. John’s will start at center
Sophomore praised for intelligence
8/26/2013OBJECTc6c25fe4-0e1d-4a47-a5c8-642c0c7efa00ANN ARBOR — A week ago, Jack Miller wasn’t going to speculate whether or not he would start for the Michigan football team.
On Monday, the Wolverines released their first depth chart of the season — with Miller atop the list of players at center.
The St. John’s Jesuit graduate is penciled in to be the starting center for the Wolverines when they open at home Saturday against Central Michigan.
Miller was not made available to the media during Monday’s availability, but Michigan captain Taylor Lewan praised the 6-foot-4, 290-pound redshirt sophomore.
“Jack knows the calls really well, he plays hard every single snap, he’s quick with his calls, and Jack does a lot of great things,” Lewan said. “I’m excited he’s our center.”
Last week, Miller acknowledged the competition on the offensive line, but refused to project his team’s starting five.
“You’ve got to focus on doing your best, no matter what group you’re running with or where you’re lined up,” Miller said. “That’s got to be your focus. Not, ‘oh, I wish I was declared the No. 1 center.’ I don’t think like that.”
On Monday, Michigan put it on paper.
“The depth chart came out, so I guess we can talk about it now,” Lewan said. “Graham Glasgow’s playing next to me [at left guard] and Jack is at center and Kyle Kalis is at right guard, and with those guys, it was a huge, huge competition. It came down to who really wanted it more and who was going to play consistently.”
Miller and Glasgow entered the preseason as the top two candidates to start at center. Playing behind Elliott Mealer in 2012, Miller appeared in six games last season at center. Glasgow, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in five games in 2012.
“Both of them have played well, and I think they’ve executed well,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said of Miller and Glasgow. “Both of them are intelligent and that is huge, especially when you’re a center, because of the calls and the communication that you need to have. Both of them have been physical.”
AVERY UNDERGOES SURGERY: Courtney Avery underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee on Saturday, a day before his teammates voted him as one of Michigan’s four captains.
“My knee had been bothering me, and it swelled up a little bit, and I went and got an MRI,” said Avery, a senior safety. “I found out that I had to go in for surgery. It’s definitely frustrating, especially with it being my senior year.”
Avery was projected to be one of Michigan’s starting safeties. Neither Avery nor Hoke gave a timetable for Avery’s return at safety.
“It’s just taking it week by week,” Avery said. “I would hope to get back as soon as possible.”
WALK-ONS REWARDED: Michigan announced Monday that Glasgow, fifth-year senior wide receiver Joe Reynolds, and redshirt sophomore fullback Joe Kerridge — all walk-ons — earned scholarships for the 2012 season.