When redshirt sophomore left guard John Ferrara described his biggest play of the season Monday, he almost sounded like a freshman.

Junior running back Brandon Minor rushed for a 45-yard touchdown on the Wolverines’ first offensive drive of the game last Saturday against Purdue. And for the first time in his collegiate career, Ferrara was on the field.

“I think I might have ran a 4.2 down to the end zone,” Ferrara said. “I was just really excited because he ran behind my side, and I made a nice block and got to run up the end zone.”

With the Wolverines now out of bowl contention and trying to build for next season, players like Ferrara and redshirt junior defensive end Carson Butler will likely get more playing time during the season’s last three games.

This season, both players switched to the other side of the ball - Ferrara to the offensive line and Butler to the defensive line. Though Ferrara played in all 13 games last year for the Wolverines, he was a backup defensive tackle.

And Butler, who moved to defensive end midway through this season after losing his spot in the tight end two-deep, was one of Michigan’s most experienced offensive players before the season with 24 games played in two years.

Ferrara switched from defensive tackle in late August. After redshirt junior guard Cory Zirbel suffered a season-ending knee injury and redshirt freshman guard Mark Huyge sprained his ankle during fall camp, the Wolverines asked Ferrara to fill the spot on the offensive line. The redshirt sophomore’s previous experience on offense was limited to some playing time as a tight end in high school, where he was more of a receiver than a blocker.

“I’m trying to work on Coach Rodriguez, a little throwback screen or something like that, you know?” Ferrara joked during Monday's press conference.

Though Rodriguez originally said Ferrara could start in the team’s first game against Utah, he eventually debuted Sept. 27 against Wisconsin. He was pulled in favor of redshirt junior Tim McAvoy at halftime, when Michigan trailed 19-0, and didn’t get another chance to start until last Saturday.

Ferrara said the toughest part of his new role is pass protection, which he said will come with experience. He said run blocking is easier for him because it is more physical than based on technique.

“It’s a tough spot, going from the defensive line which is a completely different stance, totally different way of taking in a game, to the offensive line where you really stay out there and are really adapting and reading and all that kind of stuff,” redshirt freshman center David Molk said.

Butler was the starting tight end for the first three games this season before he was benched for the Wolverines’ 27-25 victory over Wisconsin. Rodriguez confirmed after the game that Butler was not injured. Freshman Kevin Koger nudged Butler out of the tight end two-deep the next week. As a tight end, Butler had two catches for 17 yards this season.

"He ain’t playing tight end, because Kevin Koger’s the starting tight end and Mike Massey’s the backup," said Rodriguez sharply, two days after Michigan’s 45-20 loss to Penn State Oct. 18.

That’s when Butler made the switch to defensive end. After wearing No. 5 in early games this season, Butler switched to No. 85 before the game against the Nittany Lions, the first time where he warmed up on the other side of the ball. Fifth-year senior safety Charles Stewart currently wears No. 5 on defense, and players with the same number cannot be on the field at the same time.

“It was more of my choice,” Butler said. “I went and asked Coach, ‘Can I play over there?’ I wasn’t playing much on offense. I just wanted to go and play defense.”

He recorded three tackles against Purdue last Saturday while playing behind junior Brandon Graham, and Rodriguez said Butler did “OK” in his Michigan defensive debut.

“He has the body type and the athletic ability to help us at end, which we need some more pass rushers,” Rodriguez said. “He had never played the position until three weeks ago, so he's a work in progress, but we've been encouraged by what we've seen in the three weeks."