(Video courtesy NorthwesternScout)
Northwestern receiver Kyle Prater is starting to catch on.
The former five-star recruit who transferred from Southern Cal this spring continued to turn heads in practice as he starred in a scrimmage this weekend and showed little effects of a nagging knee injury. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder finished with two catches, including one for 27 yards on a deep ball. The ability of Prater to play through injury was especially impressive after he missed time at USC with hamstring and groin injuries and a broken bone in his foot.
“The expectations people set for me, I really don’t look at that,” Prater told the Chicago Tribune. “Right now I know I can produce and help this team win ballgames.”
Prater, who had only one career catch over two seasons in California, was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA because he transferred to Northwestern to be near his home in Marywood, Ill., and a sick family member. He redshirted in 2010 and has two years of eligibility left after this season.
"I come out here to make plays every day,” Prater told PurpleWildcats.com. “That's why I came here to Northwestern, to be a great receiver. I'm coming out here to be the best player I can be."
Blocking out: The Michigan offensive line is looking for a guard.
The unit could be one of the strengths of the team this season as it appears the only unsettled position is left guard. The lineup currently consists of left tackle Taylor Lewan, center Ricky Barnum, right guard Patrick Omameh and right tackle Michael Schofield. Michigan’s offense was powerful behind its line last season, finishing 13th nationally in rushing with nearly 222 yards per game.
"Someone's going to take that spot and make it crystal clear to myself and the staff -- it usually happens that way," offensive line coach Darrell Funk told the Detroit Free Press. "Very rarely do I go into that last couple days not knowing who that guy is."
The competition appears to be boiling down to senior Elliott Mealer, redshirt sophomore Joey Burzynski and true freshman Kyle Kalis to lineup between Lewan and Barnum. But that decision might not come until just before kickoff on Sept. 1 against defending national champion Alabama.
"Can they play fast? Can they play with poise? Can they play with great technique?” Michigan coach Brady Hoke told the newspaper. “All those things are a big part of it.”
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big Ten bloggers Dave Carey and Mike Singer, follow @CBSSportsBigTen.