ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Mike Hart's teammates expect him to play this week.
Michigan defensive end Tim Jamison said Hart, who appeared to
hurt his right ankle in the first half Saturday against Purdue,
would be on the field for the Wolverines (No. 25 BCS, No. 24 AP) when they play
Saturday night at Illinois.
Offensive tackle Jake Long agreed.
"There's no doubt in my mind he'll play," Long said Monday.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, meanwhile, said he won't know until
later in the week whether the star running back will be healthy
enough to play. Hart didn't play in the second half Saturday.
Hart, Michigan's career rushing leader, seemed to be relatively
healthy in the second half as he smiled and laughed with teammates
while watching the game, walking on the sidelines without an
obvious limp.
On Monday, Hart was listed as the No. 1 tailback on Michigan's depth chart.
Brandon Minor, Hart's backup, limped off the field during the
first drive of the second half after he appeared to hurt his left
ankle. Minor was later carted off the field and left the stadium
with a protective boot covering his left foot.
Third-string running back Carlos Brown scored twice in the
fourth quarter of the 48-21 win over the Boilermakers.
Carr said Hart and Minor's work ethic would assist their
recovery.
"Both of them will leave no stone unturned to get back as
quickly as they can," Carr said.
In only a half, Hart scored twice and had 21 carries for 102
yards -- setting a school record with his seventh straight 100-yard
game.
The senior also moved past Wisconsin's Anthony Davis for fifth
among the Big Ten's career rushing leaders with 4,757. He trails
Wisconsin's Ron Dayne -- who ran for a conference-record 7,125 yards
-- Ohio State's Archie Griffin, Indiana's Anthony Thompson and
Michigan State's Lorenzo White.