University of Michigan freshman William Campbell has work to do before he's ready for Big Ten action, defensive coordinator says

“At the end of spring ball, in my opinion, he wasn’t game ready,” Robinson said. “Now, can he make a quantum leap from the spring to the fall? Time will tell. That’s his choice, but we have to do everything we can to try to inform him of what it takes.” Robinson said he wants at least 18 players in his defensive rotation, and Campbell is big enough (6-foot-5, 322 pounds) and talented enough (he was the nation’s 26th-ranked recruit by Rivals.com) to be in the mix. Sophomore Mike Martin is the projected starter alongside ends Brandon Graham and Ryan Van Bergen, but last year’s tackles, Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson, both graduated so playing time is available. Still, Campbell “has a lot of work” to do before he’s Big Ten ready, Robinson said. “He’s young,” Robinson said. “He’s a 12th-grader. And it was easy for him to dominate on the high-school level. Sometimes that can be a problem, too, because to find out really what it takes to play on this level, it’s different.” Cass Tech coach Thomas Wilcher, who played running back at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, said Campbell has the physical ability to be a dominant college lineman. “Once he learns how to do things at a faster pace he’s going to be good,” Wilcher said. “Real good.” Until then, Campbell might have to settle for a supporting role, one as a lane clogger on running downs or Martin’s sidekick in four-man fronts. “He fits the defensive scheme,” Wilcher said. “He can play the one (technique), he can play the three, he can play the zero. Whatever they need him to play. “He can go wherever he wants to go. You got a kid that’s big, strong. You got a kid that’s already almost bench-pressing almost 500 pounds. He’s going be put together. I predict he’s going to have a great future.”

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