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Jim Harbaugh: Jabrill Peppers Is Elite, Other Wolverines Right There

Michigan redshirt sophomore safety Jabrill Peppers was one of 10 Big Ten players named to the league’s preseason honors list July 25 – head coach Jim Harbaugh helped explain why at Big Ten Media Day Monday.

Peppers will play outside linebacker this year, but Harbaugh believes he could be an elite nickel back at the next level. He could be U-M’s best player at several positions, he added.

“Professional football players are the greatest athletes in the world, and Jabrill is that kind of athlete … he has the ‘greatest in the world’ type of athleticism,” Harbaugh said. “He can play just about anywhere in the world and be effective. You can put him at safety, nickel, linebacker … ultimately nickel might be his best position, but as a returner of punts, kickoffs, a gunner, a hold up guy, offensively -- right now he could probably be our best slot, could give De’Veon [Smith] and our other running backs a run.”

He can run all the reverses and fly sweeps, too, Harbaugh added.

Peppers (USA TODAY)
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“You get the picture. He’s a tremendous athlete.

“The other thing is he is highly, highly motivated, very serious about being good. He’s seen a lot in his life from an early age. He’s felt people trying to put him down from an early age, even about where he went to high school. He’s taken a lot of racial and other directive hate toward him. He’s never let that get him down or put him down, always used it as motivation. He’s a fiery guy, highly motivated.

“With the type of athleticism he has, I truly believe if he keeps working and having the same intensity and focus and seriousness about being a football player, a student and a person, he can explode into a giant of a man.”

Harbaugh brought fifth-year senior receiver Amara Darboh, senior tight end Jake Butt and senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis with him for media days and had high praise for all of them, as well.

“We have a lot of top players but Jake Butt is an outstanding tight end, one of the most gung ho players I’ve ever been around,” he said. “He can sit through a three-hour meeting and be interactive … leave with a bounce in his step, put that gear on and be excited about getting back on the field. Whether it’s going out to hit a sled or rattle somebody’s fillings, he’s just as excited about doing that as running a post route or corner route and catching a ball. … He’s a guy with some pizzazz.”

Lewis has not rested on his All-American laurels, Harbaugh continued.

“He has been an every practice, every drill competitor who wants to get better every single day. He doesn't take time off or diminish his effort at any time,” he said. “He’s ascending, improving and then when he started to get the recognition, get the acclaim, he didn’t change a bit. He went through the entire spring practice wanting to get better, improve every single day.”

He’s respected by everyone on the team because of his personality and the way he works, Harbaugh said, never acting like the ‘big man on campus.’

Fifth-year senior Jehu Chesson missed spring with an injury but should be ready to go by fall, Harbaugh reported. Still, Darboh has since surpassed last year’s MVP as the team’s top receiver, the coach said.

“Amara Darboh, I’d say he’s our top receiver right now,” he said. “We went through the season last year and I thought it was Jehu. Amara surged during spring ball and is in a very good-hearted competition there to be our best receiver.

“As a gentleman, person he’s a class act, a winner, a champion all the way … respectful to all he comes in contact with. Not just of the people, but of the time, the game in all forms and fashions. I feel very proud to have brought those three youngsters to Chicago, and they’re very good football players … not just on our team, in the Big Ten, but also in the United States of America.”

Jim Harbaugh at Big Ten Media Day (Brandon Justice)
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