SP dOTanSadg 1O MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2003 www.michigandaily.com sportsdesk@umich.edu Jackson pleads not guilt, still practicing with team T By Gennaro A. Filice IV Daily Sports Editor Michigan defensive back Marlin Jackson was arraigned Tuesday on --charges of assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault, according to Washtenaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Burke. Jackson, who will be a junior in the fall, appeared in front of 15th District Court Magistrate Michael Gatti and pleaded not guilty. Along with a $2,000 fine, the Sharon, Pa. native faces up to four years in jail on the assault with a deadly weapon charge and one year of probation on the aggravated assault charge. Jackson stands accused of striking a 26-year-old man over the head with a glass bottle after leaving a party in the early morning of June 1. The victim suffered three cuts around his left eye, including one that necessitated 17 stitches. A preliminary hearing has been set for August 13. At media day on Saturday, head football coach Lloyd Carr supported his star defensive back. "Some of the leaks to the media have been inaccurate, and in my judgment, some of those leaks have been unprofessional, maybe worse," Carr said. "What I do know, what Marlin has told me, is that number one, he did not initiate the con- frontation. Number two, and in my judgment the most critical issue, is that he is adamant that he did not use, or did not have possession of, a bottle or any kind of object. I think there's compelling evidence that supports his position. "He is practicing and I will con- tinue to let this situation play its way through the justice system and we'll see how it resolves itself, and at that time I will make some decisions on his status on this team." This past spring, Carr moved Jackson from cornerback - the position he played in his first two seasons at Michigan - to free safe- ty. Although the shift was experi- mental at first, Carr recently announced that Jackson would start at the position in Michigan's season opener against Central Michigan. "(Moving Jackson to safety) gives us the advantage of putting our 11 See JACKSON, Page 11 Junior Marlin Jackson, pictured here in the Sept. 14 contest against Notre Dame, declared his Innocence on charges that he hit a man over the head with a bottle. Carr expects big things from freshmen class By Gennaro A. Filice IV Daily Sports Editor A mere glimpse at incoming freshman LaMarr Woodley causes jaws to plummet at an Enron rate. At 6-foot-2, 263 pounds, the 18-year-old speci- men who boasts a 4.5 40-yard dash time has turned many heads in his first week of practice with Michigan, especially with a position change to defensive end. After practicing the first three days of training camp at linebacker, the Saginaw native asked the coaching staff if he could move to the defensive line. On Saturday, Woodley completed his first day in a three-point stance. "In high school, (Woodley) played a position where he was called a linebacker, but probably 95 percent of the time he rushed," coach Lloyd Carr said. "You ask a young kid to come in as a true freshman and to grasp all that is (asking) a lot, so we're going to try to put him in a position where he can do things that he's capable of doing at this stage and we'll see how that goes the next couple of weeks of training camp." As one of 16 incoming freshman, Woodley isn't the only newcomer who's garnered attention in training camp. Michigan's recruiting class of 2003 was very highly regarded, making numerous national top 10 lists. "We have a number of (freshman) that will factor in there at some point," Carr said. "Ryan Mundy has impressed. He and Prescott Burgess are our two young kids that we're trying to get up to speed." Mundy, a safety from Wilkins Township, Pa., earned USA Today High School All-America sec- ond team honors as a senior. Hailing from War- ren, Ohio, Burgess was named the No. 1 high school safety in 2002 by Rivals100.com. It is entirely possible that both players will see signifi- cant game time as true freshmen, especially if junior safety Marlin Jackson is convicted of felo- nious assault. Another freshman looking to make an impact in the upcoming season is kicker Garrett Rivas. A bluechip recruit from Tampa, Fla., Rivas was named the No. 9 high school kicker in the nation by TheInsiders.com. Rivas will compete with jun- ior Adam Finley and senior Phillip Brabbs for starting at placekicker duties. "He's a confident guy," Carr said of Rivas. "I think he's what we thought he would be, but again, we're just in the beginning. He's kicked the ball very, very well and there's no hesitation in him. He's one of those guys that possess a kind of poise and confidence you need in a posi- tion like that." Carr's job of acclimating the freshmen into the Michigan program will be tougher this season because the NCAA eliminated freshmen orienta- tion - Carr says he used to meet with freshmen a few days before the rest of the team and "orien- tate them better academically and in terms of football." "I do think that was a mistake," Carr said. "I See FRESHMEN, Page 11 LAIGNOTHING TO BE !NWHR G THE VENMGINATION!VRS ~7ThTW OW HIRIN U EVERY WED. @ 1OPM ichigan Speedwa YOU MUST BE CH ECKED IN BY 9:30PM for NASCAR Race (August 161h and 17th, 2003) EERTTHURSDAYEarn $75 to $150 per DAY plus tips RECEIV FREE COVER FOR INFO GO TO WITH YOUR VALID EMSVENDING.COM COLLEGE I.D. 330-351-0765 COMMISSION + TIPS!!! mwe"YIT aM.NON-PROFIT GROUPS WELCOME 'Don't let you ahead of , ARBERS ESTABLISHED 1939 NEW LOCATION 304 1/25S. STATE ST. 2ND FLOOR ANN AROOR, MI148104 66889329 WWW.DASCOLABARBERS.COM * Y OPOITMN I