Michigan football emphasizes grueling end-of-practice drills to boost conditioning

During the 11th session of Michigan's fall camp, head coach Kyle Whittingham implemented a demanding drill that requires the offense to execute a 14-play drive without substitutions at the very end of practice, when players are already exhausted. Junior running back and captain Jordan Marshall described the drill as a test of mental stamina, saying it prepares the team to endure long drives in games and to perform despite fatigue or injuries.

The exercise builds on offseason strength work led by strength coach Doug Elisaia, which has already increased the players' conditioning. Senior defensive tackle and captain Trey Pierce echoed the sentiment, noting that the relentless “gassers” push him to discover greater capacity than he thought possible. Together, the coaching staff believes these practices will enable the Wolverines to maintain a high level of play into the third and fourth quarters of upcoming games, starting with the season opener against Western Michigan.