Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier is finding his way as a leader

When Chad Henne became the first true freshman to start a season at quarterback for Michigan in three decades, it took half a year before he felt comfortable enough to assume the position’s natural leadership role.

"Around the fourth or fifth game is when I really felt set in stone and kind of understood my job of being a leader and tried to be more vocal and set an example," Henne said earlier this fall. "In those first games I had some great seniors around me to help me through. They kind of took care of the huddle for me and got everybody in and out once the play was set."

Five years later, Tate Forcier is following the same leadership learning curve.

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said his freshman quarterback is starting to play a more vocal role five starts into his college career.

"I think that’s natural,” Rodriguez said. "I don’t think you got to force it on a true freshman and say, 'Hey, you take charge of them just because you're a quarterback.' I think you got to let that happen naturally, and a lot of times it happens more throughout the course of a ballgame because they’re out there on their own without coaches standing behind them."

Even with Forcier speaking out more, Rodriguez said he's counting on seniors to provide most of the leadership this week as Michigan (4-1, 1-1) looks to rebound from its first loss of the season against undefeated Iowa (5-0, 1-0).

After last week’s overtime tumble against Michigan State, defensive end Brandon Graham challenged a silent Michigan locker room to “remember this feeling.”

Graham, one of only two senior starters on Michigan’s defense, hasn’t spoken out much among teammates, and defensive tackle Mike Martin said players took note of his speech.

“When it comes to (this) week when we're at Iowa, we’ll remember him saying it,” Martin said.

As for Forcier, Rodriguez said he’ll be the one making speeches in the future.

"Tate has some natural leadership qualities," Rodriguez said. “When (he has) a chance to be with these guys year round, take them through spring practice, take them through the offseason program, get to know them a little bit more, I think that’s where freshmen grow the most from their first to their second year."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.