Fargas may face spread at Purdue

By David Den Herder

Daily Sports Editor

Mention hitting to new Michigan defensive back Justin Fargas, and he'll give you a grin.

The junior can't talk about this aspect of the game without exposing a bias.

"I love hitting," Fargas said.

And after making the switch from tailback last week, Fargas will have plenty of time to do it.

"There's only one ball, and a lot of hungry mouths to feed," Fargas said of the Michigan offense. "I want to help Michigan win."

Fargas may get what he wants soon. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said yesterday that he expects Fargas to see action against Purdue.

"He's very close," Carr said. "I anticipate he'll play this week."

In just his first week on the defensive side, Fargas was already listed in the two-deeps at free safety. Purdue's four-receiver spread this Saturday will offer a perfect opportunity for experience.

"Safeties get to come and make more hits, and that's something I like," Fargas said.

The Wolverines could use that mentality Saturday at Ross-Aide Stadium, where the Michigan secondary will face its toughest test of the season.

"Nobody in this conference, in my opinion, has ever thrown the ball as effectively as they have," Carr said of Purdue. "They can run what normally would be considered a high-risk offense and make it low-risk."

Carr called Michigan's upcoming game a tremendous challenge and said that West Lafayette is one of the toughest Big Ten venus for visiting teams.

"You always expect Purdue to be at the top of the stat sheet offensively," Carr said. "They've been there for hundreds of years, it seems like.

June back for bowl? Michigan free safety Cato June, sidelined thus far with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, may yet return this season to the Wolverines' defensive secondary.

"Hopefully, I should be ready for the bowl game," June said after the game Saturday.

The junior played all 12 games last season and started the final four at safety, recording 17 solo tackles. Seven of those were against Ohio State, where June also recovered a fumble.

The free safety slot has been filled this season by fourth-year letterman DeWayne Patmon and Fargas is now second string.

Del-icious: Fifth-year man Jeff Del Verne made Michigan's first field goal in five attempts last Saturday against Wisconsin. That, along with another chip shot for good measure, earned Del Verne Big Ten special teamer of the week honors yesterday.

The light-hearted Del Verne was a little surprised, but said he appreciated honor.

"I just wanted to be ready to play," said Del Verne, who talked about what ran through his head after missing the first attempt of the game Saturday.

"I was pretty ticked off that I shanked that one," he said. "I apologized to the guys after that one."

Del Verne took over place kicking duties for junior Hayden Epstein half way through the Illinois game Sept. 23. Epstein had gone 1-for-5 to that point, and Carr said he was "pressing a little" - overanalyzing every motion of his approach.

"You can get in those situations," Del Verne said. "So you hit the reset button, go back to square one."

Epstein, who has exceptional distance ability, has still been tending to kickoffs and punting.

"I'm not going to go up to the coaches and tell them I can make a 56-yarder," Del Verne said. "That's not my bag. Hayden - he's the Tiger Woods.

ALEX WOLK/Daily

Down the middle: Senior kicker Jeff Del Verne was named Big Ten special teams player of the week after converting two field goals against Wisconsin.