Forcier, Robinson, Sheridan battling to start at quarterback

For now, three players are in the mix to start when the Wolverines open the season Sept. 5 against Western Michigan.

Tate Forcier is the betting man’s favorite, a true freshman who gave up the end of his senior year of high school to spend spring practice with the Wolverines.

Denard Robinson is the darkhorse, another first-year player whose athleticism is unmatched and who just might surprise as a passer.

And Nick Sheridan is the former walk-on turned incumbent, a junior who has experience but little else working in his favor. Sheridan was one of only two Big Ten quarterbacks - Indiana’s Kellen Lewis was the other - to attempt at least 50 passes and throw more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (two) last year.

Rodriguez said all three will get heavy repetitions when camp begins, and it’s possible more than one could play early.

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“I want them to feel it’s wide open because that’s what we said and we’re going to follow through on that,” Rodriguez said.

If Forcier or Robinson starts, it will mark the second time Rodriguez has turned his team over to a freshman this decade.

In 2005, a redshirt freshman named Pat White started most of the season at West Virginia. The Mountaineers went 11-1 and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

For Michigan, Chad Henne started 12 games as a true freshman in 2004. The Wolverines tied for the Big Ten title and lost to Texas in the Rose Bowl.

No one’s predicting that kind of success this year, but offensive lineman Mark Ortmann said both freshmen have impressed in summer workouts.

“It was unfortunate Nick got injured in spring ball,” Ortmann said. “But Tate came in and showed a confidence that we didn’t expect to see out of him. I think that confidence helped the rest of the offense build as well.

“I’ve seen (Denard) throw a ball a few times and run a few rollouts. You get him out in the open, I don’t know if you’re going to catch him.”

Rodriguez admits he was impressed with Forcier’s moxie this spring, when the 6-foot, 180-pounder took the bulk of the No. 1 snaps after Sheridan broke his right leg.

Still, he said it’ll be weeks before he decides on a starter.

“You get nervous as a coach when you talk about possibly playing true freshmen anywhere, particularly at quarterback,” Rodriguez said. “But I have all the confidence in the world that our coaches and Tate will put the work in to get ready.”

Dave Birkett covers the University of Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidbirkett@annarbor.com