Michigan Wolverines

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan wide receiver Jerald Robinson appeared in court Monday morning for his pretrial hearing, which his lawyer requested to have adjourned to June 4 at 9 a.m. Judge Elizabeth Pollard Hines granted the request.

Robinson was charged in February for a misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of property. After failing to appear his March 23 arraignment hearing he had a bench warrant issued for his arrest. That warrant was dismissed on April 20 after Robinson appeared for his arraignment.

Robinson declined further comment following the proceedings.

If convicted, Robinson could face up to a year in prison and a fine of $2,000.

Michigan

2011 overall record: 11-2

2011 conference record: 6-2 (2nd, Legends Division)

Returning starters

Offense: 6; defense: 8; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Denard Robinson; RB Fitzgerald Toussaint; WR Roy Roundtree; WR Jeremy Gallon; LT Taylor Lewan; RT Michael Schofield; DE Craig Roh; LB Jake Ryan; LB Kenny Demens; LB Desmond Morgan; CB J.T. Floyd; CB Blake Countess; S Thomas Gordon; S Jordan Kovacs.

Key losses

WR Junior Hemingway; WR Darryl Stonum; WR/KR Martavious Odoms; TE Kevin Koger; C David Molk; RT Mark Huyge; DT Mike Martin; DE/DT Ryan Van Bergen; DT Will Heininger.

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Denard Robinson* (1,176 yards)

Passing: Denard Robinson* (2,173 yards)

Receiving: Junior Hemingway (699 yards)

Tackles: Kenny Demens* (94)

Sacks: Ryan Van Bergen (5.5)

Interceptions: Courtney Avery* and J.T. Floyd* (2)

Spring answers

1. Quarterback accuracy: Denard Robinson played one series in the public spring scrimmage, but coaches raved about his improved leadership, decision-making and accuracy throughout the spring. The latter two were major issues for Michigan last season. While it is unknown whether Robinson will truly be more accurate until Sept. 1 against Alabama -- Michigan closed all of its practices to the media this spring -- offensive coordinator Al Borges was very confident in Robinson’s potential for his senior season.

2. Cornerback has depth: Two seasons ago, cornerback was the biggest question on Michigan’s team because of youth, inexperience and a lack of talent. That is no longer an issue. The Wolverines have as many as six players they could feel comfortable with come the fall, and that doesn’t include incoming freshman Terry Richardson (Detroit/Cass Tech), the highest-ranked player in Michigan's incoming signing class. Sophomore Blake Countess could turn into a star, and fifth-year senior J.T. Floyd is the most consistent corner the Wolverines have. They’ll be the likely starters.

3. A featured back is set: Borges made no hesitation: Redshirt junior Fitzgerald Toussaint is going into the fall as his top tailback -- a marked change from what the Wolverines endured last spring and through the first half of last season. Toussaint rushed for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns last season, giving Michigan a dynamic dual running game with Robinson. With major questions at wide receiver and tight end, expect a lot of running from Toussaint and Robinson, especially early in the season.

Fall questions

1. Who is catching the ball: Michigan’s coaches spoke highly of Jeremy Gallon, Jerald Robinson and Roy Roundtree during the spring as their top three receivers, but Robinson has never caught a pass, Gallon has had one season of consistent productivity, and Roundtree saw his numbers plummet last season, where he had 19 catches for 355 yards. Tight end isn’t much better, as the position group has two career catches. Denard Robinson’s two best safety valves -- Junior Hemingway and Kevin Koger -- graduated so even if Denard Robinson is improved, he might need to hunt to find a reliable receiver option. Incoming freshman Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) could be an option at tight end.

2. Who is pressuring the quarterback: Michigan took its biggest hits on the defensive line, which saw three starters graduate -- Mike Martin was a third-round draft pick, Ryan Van Bergen signed a free agent contract and Will Heininger graduated -- and its fourth starter, Craig Roh, switch positions. Michigan insists it’ll be OK there. Will Campbell and converted end Jibreel Black will likely start inside, and either sophomore Brennen Beyer or sophomore Frank Clark will start at rush end. The success of Michigan’s defense last season relied on pressure the front four created. With an almost completely new group there, how they fare against opponents will be interesting to see.

3. Punting problems: Somewhere along the way last season, Will Hagerup lost his mojo, much like kicker Brendan Gibbons the year before. A strong-legged punter, Hagerup wasn’t connecting with the ball well and eventually lost his job to freshman Matt Wile. Now entering his junior year, Michigan hopes either Hagerup regains his form or Wile becomes more consistent. The Wolverines’ offense should be fairly prolific, but with a defense searching for pressure early on, it needs to be able to control field position with the punter.

Freshman defensive end Chris Rock has left the Michigan football team, a Michigan spokesman confirmed Thursday night.

Rock, from Columbus, Ohio, redshirted and did not play last season.

The 6-foot-5, 267-pound lineman was rated by ESPN as the No. 34 defensive end in the Class of 2011. He had 15 sacks as a junior in high school.

The three-day NFL Draft came and went over the weekend with few surprises for Michigan players. Three players -- Mike Martin, David Molk and Junior Hemingway -- were drafted.

Many more were not.

The three players drafted equaled the 2010 NFL Draft, which had Brandon Graham go in the first round, Zoltan Mesko in the fifth round and Stevie Brown in the seventh.

In this year’s draft, Martin went to Tennessee in the third round, while Molk and Hemingway were selected in the seventh round by San Diego and Kansas City, respectively.

Hemingway, the last Michigan player taken, joins Steve Breaston as a wide receiver in Kansas City.

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He spent most of his career playing in an offense ill-fitting to his skills. But Junior Hemingway, the comfortable safety valve at receiver for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, has a place in the NFL.

Hemingway was selected by Kansas City in the seventh round with pick No. 238. He'll join former Michigan receiver Steve Breaston in Kansas City.

The Conway, S.C. native caught 88 passes for 1,638 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career, including two touchdowns in his final college game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, where he was named MVP.

Previous five players picked at No. 238: 2011 -- David Ausberry, WR, USC (Oakland); 2010 -- Ricardo Mathews, DT, Cincinnati (Indianapolis); 2009 -- Stoney Woodson, CB, South Carolina (N.Y. Giants); 2008 -- Cory Boyd, RB, South Carolina (Denver); 2007 -- Abraham Wright, LB, Colorado (Miami)

More on Hemingway:

• Junior Hemingway has a good NFL Combine
• Junior Hemingway goes out a high note as Sugar Bowl MVP
• Junior Hemingway had an eventful career at Michigan

The Rimington Award winner has a professional home.

Former Michigan center David Molk, who was named the best center in college football last season, was selected by San Diego with the No. 226 pick in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft on Saturday.

“There are always obstacles that I’ve had to face," Molk told Chargers.com. "There’s always limitations that people put on me and there’s always something that people can say that I don’t do well enough and something that I don’t have that sets me back, and it’s just proving them wrong over and over and over again until finally there’s nowhere else to go.”

Three of the last four players drafted from Michigan have gone to San Diego, joining Jonas Mouton and Stephen Schilling last year.

Molk, one of Michigan’s captains, anchored an offensive line that had one of the best rushing offenses in college football in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Molk’s experience helped the Wolverines transition to more of a hybrid offense under new offensive coordinator Al Borges.

Previous five players picked at No. 226: 2011 -- Greg Romeus, DL, Pittsburgh (New Orleans); 2010 -- George Selvie, DE, South Florida (St. Louis); 2009 -- A.Q. Shipley, C, Penn State (Pittsburgh); 2008 -- Chaz Schilens, WR, San Diego State (Oakland); 2007 -- C.J. Wilson, CB, Baylor (Carolina)

For more on Molk:

• David Molk's exit interview
• David Molk goes after combine record
• David Molk at the center of Michigan's offense

Former Michigan defensive tackle Mike Martin is in the NFL.

Martin, who was a three-year starter for the Wolverines and a team captain in 2011, was the first Michigan player taken in the 2012 NFL Draft, going to Tennessee in the third round at pick No. 82 overall.

Martin had 172 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his career. As a senior, he had 64 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

The last time Michigan had a player drafted in the third round was 2008, when Shawn Crable went to New England with the No. 78 pick and Mario Manningham went to the New York Giants at pick No. 95.

Last five No. 82 selections: 2011 -- Vincent Brown, San Diego State (San Diego); 2010 -- Emmanuel Sanders, SMU (Pittsburgh); 2009 -- Derrick Williams, Penn State (Detroit); 2008 -- DaJuan Morgan, N.C. State (Kansas City); 2007 -- Tank Tyler, N.C. State (Kansas City)

Prior stories on Mike Martin:

• Mike Martin's Exit Interview
• Mike Martin soaking it in before going to the NFL
• Through YouTube, Mike Martin helped make his senior year memorable
• Mike Martin pleased with combine showing

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Troy Woolfolk will likely be in New York City on Saturday, but he won’t be anywhere near the NFL Draft. Actually, the former Michigan defensive back is going to New York to escape the pressure of this weekend.

Unlike former teammates who will likely be drafted this weekend, Mike Martin and David Molk, Woolfolk has no idea whether or not he’ll be selected. That uncertainty has left him like many of the Michigan seniors who will graduate from the university this weekend -- wondering about their future.

The difference is the process for Woolfolk, Ryan Van Bergen and others plays out publicly.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Even as the Crimson Tide practiced in shells and shorts this April, coach Nick Saban had opening day on his mind.

While the rest of the country waited on a groundhog to usher in the start of spring, the University of Alabama coaching staff prepared for a pack of wolverines.

The colossal Alabama-Michigan matchup at Jerry Jones’ equally enormous Cowboys Stadium won’t be left wanting for anticipation or, as it turns out, preparation. Tickets for the 80,000-seat venue are nearly sold out (a handful of $30,000 suites remain if you’re into that sort of thing), hotels are slammed and travel routes are already being arranged as two of the country’s most storied programs go head-to-head for the first time in more than a decade.

Saban, who has ties to the Great Lakes where he spent 10 years as both an assistant and head coach at Michigan State, isn’t doing anything to stall the hype machine. Several times during spring practice he said he’d begin introducing next year’s opponents, specifically citing the Michigan game.

In fact, following Alabama’s A-Day scrimmage, the fiery coach let it be known just how serious he’s taking the season opener. If anyone expected a glimpse of the game plan that day, they were wrong.

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