ANN ARBOR -- Since arriving together at Michigan last summer, the bond between sophomore running backs Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith has only intensified.

Both went through the same growing pains together on the field a year ago, each dealing with different aspects of adjusting to the speed and intensity of the college game.

And during the winter, both fed off each other in the weight room and on the field during conditioning and skill drills.

They compete, together, at everything. Video games. Sprints. Lifts. You name it.

So, it would only make sense that with less than one week remaining in fall camp, Green and Smith's on-field competition for the starting running back job is basically too close to call.

"We're really good friends, so we're competing at every little thing we do," Smith said of himself and Green. "I guess it just depends on who gets in (running backs) coach (Fred Jackson's) room the most to study film."

But aren't you two together in that room, at the same time, studying film?

"Yeah," Smith smiled. "So (it's tough)."

Entering fall camp, Michigan coach Brady Hoke estimated that Smith had the slight edge on Green due to his ability to ramp up his pass blocking game during spring drills.

A week into camp, things got flipped upside down a bit when Hoke said that Drake Johnson had pulled even with Smith, and Green was running behind. Less than a week later, Green was ahead of everyone, and Smith and Johnson were playing catchup.

Michigan closes fall camp, officially, this Saturday. From there, the Wolverines will go into formal game week prep for Appalachian State (Aug. 30) on Sunday.

And right now, the running back situation -- per Hoke -- features Green and Smith fighting for starter's reps, while Johnson and junior Justice Hayes are battling for the role of third-down back.

"All of them have done a nice job, I think they're improving, I think they're getting better," Hoke said. "In third down situations, Drake and Justice have done a nice job. Derrick and De'Veon, from a getting downhill (standpoint have done a nice job). Both of them have to keep improving."

At this point, both Smith and Green say they believe they've done everything Hoke, Jackson and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier have asked of them this offseason and during fall camp.

And they've done it together.

When Green was in the gym this winter and spring transforming his body and dropping weight, Smith was his lifting partner.

When film was being watched on Nussmeier's new running scheme or a new pass protection wrinkle, both Smith and Green were watching together.

They've challenged each other, they've encouraged each other, they've bonded with each other. Smith and Green now refer to one another as brothers. If one starts and the other comes in as a backup, they both say they're fine with that -- as long as the team is moving the football.

"Whatever happens, happens," Green said. "The coaches are going to put the best man on the field. If it's not me, it's not me. If it is me, that's great. But they're going to go with the person they feel will do the best job.

"I feel like I've done everything I've asked me, running the ball, pass protection. But at the same time, all of us have. We're all trying to bring a different energy to the position."

As far as on-field production has gone, none of the running backs had an overly productive day during Saturday's open scrimmage. Afterward, Hoke said he believed part of that issue fell at the feet of the offensive line -- but a lot of it fell on the backs, who needed to show better vision in the hole.

On Wednesday, Hoke stuck with that sentiment. He said the film showed that on a number of occasions, there were holes to be found. The backs just struggled to do so.

Both Smith and Green shouldered that load as well, saying the offensive line has done a better job in camp of opening holes. On Saturday, they didn't see enough of them.

Moving forward, though, Hoke remains encouraged by his situation at running back. He believes this is a good problem to have. During his first three years, he didn't have any downhill power backs to choose from. Now -- including Johnson -- he has three.

The competition continues, but each player says the team will be better in the end as a result.

"We're going to keep going hard," Green said. "We're making sure we're competing every day. At the end of the day, though, we're still brothers. We love each other.

"If one guy sees something that can help the other, we're going to say something."

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