Are more conditioned,' says Michigan football players

Michigan players in fall camp say the new-look conditioning emphasis under head coach Kyle Whittingham is getting sharper. During the 11th practice, Whittingham ramped up a late-session drill that has the team working long drives when players are most exhausted. Junior running back and team captain Jordan Marshall described sequences of about 14 plays with no substitutions, designed to build stamina and mental toughness for third- and fourth-quarter scenarios. Marshall said the body wants to quit at “play 14,” but the mind pushes back because teammates still need production. The approach adds to Doug Elisaia’s offseason strength gains and end-of-practice “gassers.”