Harbaugh: Knee braces now mandatory for all UM linemen
Ann Arbor – In the aftermath of Michigan left tackle Grant Newsome’s knee injury, all of the team’s linemen must wear knee braces.
“No longer optional,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday at his weekly news conference.
Newsome was badly injured during the Wisconsin game and remains hospitalized.
“He still has more surgeries to go,” Harbaugh said.
Offensive lineman Kyle Kalis said he has always worn a knee brace and said many linemen don’t like wearing them because they feel restricted.
“Guys think they can play more free without them,” Kalis said, adding he thinks it’s more of a mental thing. “With Grant’s injury, it’s hard to tell if it would have made a difference. But it doesn’t hurt to wear them.”
Michigan at MSU kicks off at noon
The brothers Glasgow
Last season, the three Glasgow brothers were on Michigan’s team. Graham Glasgow is now playing for the Detroit Lions, while Ryan Glasgow, a starting nose tackle, is a senior and Jordan is a redshirt freshman safety.
Kalis described Graham as “meticulous” and Ryan as “more edgy on the field.” And then there’s the youngest Glasgow.
“Jordan kind of reminds me of a serial killer,” Kalis said. “He’s really quiet, he has that side of Graham, but also on the field he’s crazy. He’s going to be a really good player.”
Tis the season
With time off since Michigan didn’t play last Saturday, Kalis went to Pittsburgh for some home-cooked meals and fun. He carved a pumpkin and went to a haunted house, where he was spooked.
“I actually jumped,” he said. “There were the clowns with the chainsaws and they were chasing us. I was freaked out. It was pretty scary.”
Extra points
Harbaugh said running back Drake Johnson, out early this season with what was described as a soft-tissue injury, will play this season.
… While Harbaugh last week said Kenny Allen would have taken the first field-goal attempt at Rutgers, he said Monday there’s an ongoing kicking competition. Michigan missed three field goals against Wisconsin.