With Ojemudia done, U-M's depth chart shuffles

Mario Ojemudia's season and college football career are over.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed today that Ojemudia is done, two days after speculating that an Achilles injury suffered in Saturday's 28-0 win over Maryland would conclude his season as the starting Buck linebacker.

"That is the case," Harbaugh said today.

The senior was injured too late in the season to apply for a redshirt year, meaning his eligibility is up.

Ojemudia has played in the hybrid rush linebacker/defensive end role and was third on the Wolverines in tackles (19), second in tackles for loss (six) and had two sacks.

“He’s going to have a surgery and repair his Achilles, which is tough, because it’s a really tough rehab," Harbaugh said on his radio show, "Inside Michigan Football."

"That’s one of those really demanding, hard rehabs, one that once you have the surgery, you can’t move it. You can’t think about even trying to come back early or even walk around on it. It takes a lot of discipline to come back from an Achilles. But the good thing is you can come all the way back, especially for a guy as young as Mario is."

The show's host, Jon Jansen (Clawson High, University of Michigan), had the injury when he was playing pro football for the Washington Redskins.

“The hardest thing is the patience, after you have that surgery, not to do anything," Jansen said. "These guys are so active all the time. How do you tell a kid, don’t do anything?"

Harbaugh said there's a simple motivator for following the rehab procedure.

“It’s not life or death (but) your lifestyle depends on it, your lifestyle’s at stake here," Harbaugh said. "Do you want to be a pro football player? Because you can come back even better. You can come back stronger, faster, even smarter, better than you were before you had that injury."

Ojemudia hadn't produced enough before this season to be a high-level NFL prospect but at his size and speed, this season gave some evidence.

"He was really playing well, opening a lot of eyes," Harbaugh said. "Where he’ll go, if he goes through the tough, grueling rehab, he’ll continue to playing football (in the NFL) next year, the year after and for some time to come. Because he’s a very talented player."

Losing him is a significant blow to one of the nation's best defenses.

"We'll look deep within our roster and our defense," Harbaugh said. "I don't know exactly who yet."

Today's revised depth chart listed Royce Jenkins-Stone as the starter and Lawrence Marshall as the backup at Buck.

Depth chart: The other notable depth-chart change was running back Drake Johnson ascending to the No. 2 spot, behind starter De'Veon Smith. … Harbaugh said Smith and cornerback Channing Stribling will return to practice today after their injuries kept them out of the Maryland game.

Highlights from Harbaugh's news conference

On Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald: “Great competitor. Background would be starting when I was at Stanford, he was at Northwestern. First crossed paths on the recruiting trail. I sized him up and said this guy is a fine, fine coach, great competitor. He’s doing a fabulous job. He’s a great coach. I got to know him this summer, he came to our football camp. Did a tremendous job talking to our campers sharing football lessons and life lessons with them.”

On the depth in the secondary: “Doing a really good job, individually, collectively, playing as a defensive unit. I can’t say enough good things. It’s been impressive, congratulations ... Jourdan Lewis, an ascending player. Jabrill Peppers, just his versatility and goodness, the way he can line up at corner, at safety, at nickel. I haven’t seen too many things like that and also in the punt return game, he’s been valuable, really good. (Jeremy) Clark came up with another interception, doing a fabulous job.”

On Northwestern: “No doubt this is a heck of a good football team.”

On if U-M is more prepared than Utah game: “I like what we have, I like our team, I like the way we prepare to get better. They’ve gotten better, made improvements each week. They give everything they’ve got. All you can ask for as a coach.”

On if U-M will win: “I do not have a crystal ball.”

On the players feeling better than the early season with confidence: “I don’t know, I hope they’re feeling ready to work. Get back to work. Work and don’t worry. Impressive. Congrats. I hope that’s their mind-set.”

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.

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