​Ann Arbor — Defensive lineman John Henry Daley and safety Rod Moore were back on the field Wednesday for the first day of Michigan football practice.Both players are working their way back from injury and are on a pitch count, meaning their playing time on the field is restricted, but defensive coordinator Jay Hill has high hopes for the two if they continue in the right direction to a full recovery.“It was pretty fun to see Rod Moore out there again today,” Hill said. “I think it was his third play, and he got an interception, so hopefully that’s a phenomenal trend for him.”Moore only played three games last season after an ACL injury in 2024 spring practice. While playing for Utah last season, Daley had a season-ending injury after a ruptured Achilles tendon in November. More: Michigan safety Rod Moore healthy, ready to go“He’s about as far along in this progression as I’ve ever seen anybody with this injury, which is a tribute to John and how he works and the toughness he has,” Hill said. “We’re going to have him on the field the way he looked and moved today.”With the positive trend in Daley’s recovery, Hill said it’s going to be a “dogfight” between the positions.The four defensive rookies — tackles Titan Davis and Alister Vallejo, and ends Tariq Boney and Carter Meadows — have bright futures. They have a lot to learn about their defense and techniques, but Hill is glad to bring them on and is looking to get them on the field immediately. The linemen aren’t the only position group Hill is going to have fun solving a puzzle with this season. Smith Snowden, Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill were getting reps in as nickelbacks, and it sparked excitement in Hill’s eyes when talking about their performance after practice.Nickelback is a multifaceted position. It requires players to be intelligent and skilled in man-to-man coverage along with tackling, and Michigan uses those players in disguises, blitzes, and even zone coverages. Adaptability is key to being a strong nickelback, and it is a premier defensive spot in Hill’s eyes. “This is the only school I’ve ever been at where I really believe we could have three great nickels, and I can put different guys in there based on mismatch,” Hill said. “I’ve never had three interchangeable guys that are so different at that position. It’s a fun luxury to have, and I’m kind of excited to see how I come up with how we do it.”Back in the day, Hill mentioned how head coach Kyle Whittingham used the same defense for 30 years, but the defensive coordinator is looking for evolution this year. It’s been said that Michigan will have a complicated defense, and Hill admits they’re not there yet, but they are picking it up. The team is at about 60% of grasping the install and game plan he has in store for them, and there is a possibility they may not make it to 100% this season. They’ll be good this year, and better next year, but the goal for Hill is to see them get bette