Since he enrolled early last winter, Michigan freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has been the center of attention - mainly because the position was going to be a battleground.

But yesterday's first official fall practice marked the first time the media got to see Forcier's main competition, Denard Robinson.

Regardless, Forcier couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm as he worked with the offensive skill players, jumping up and down after drills.

Across the field from Forcier, Robinson took his first snaps in front of the public as quarterbacks coach Rod Smith stood close by, watching his every move.

It's understandable why much of the attention at yesterday's practice fell on the quarterbacks. Part of the Wolverines' struggles last year were due to the inconsistency at the quarterback position.

Last year’s primary starter Steven Threet transferred to Arizona State in the offseason, leaving behind a void in a critical position. With Forcier an early favorite to take the spot and Robinson set to challenge him for it, it seems likely that a true freshman will be under center this fall.

And according to Rodriguez, that may not be a bad thing. He notes that the offensive players and quarterbacks in particular are “light-years” ahead of where they were at this time last season.

“I thought (the quarterbacks) handled things pretty well,” Rodriguez said of the first practice. “Tate is farther ahead mentally which he should be because he’s been here all spring. But Denard went in there and made a couple nice plays ... he’s a real quick learner.”

Forcier took a majority of the spring practice snaps with the first-team offense due to redshirt junior Nick Sheridan's leg injury. But that doesn't mean Robinson hasn't been impressing coaches. Rodriguez recognizes that Robinson has something that sets him apart from the others.

“He’s fast, fast,” Rodriguez said. “As a quarterback, he has a different level of speed that probably normal quarterbacks don’t have.”

Rodriguez acknowledged that he could use two or even three quarterbacks at any time this season.

But Rodriguez’s decision won’t come any time soon, with plans to let the three quarterbacks compete in camp. He says he’s not worried about making a decision on whether Forcier, Robinson or Sheridan line up under center until Sept. 5 when Michigan opens the season against Western Michigan.

RODRIGUEZ ON FEAGIN: Former Wolverine Justin Feagin has been in the spotlight over the past couple of weeks. He was released from the Michigan football team on July 25. Then, on Aug. 9, the Detroit Free Press reported why. The Free Press's investigation linked Feagin to a failed cocaine deal that directly led to an arson attack on his West Quad dormitory in March.

“As soon as we found out what he did, we dismissed him,” Rodriguez said of Feagin’s dismissal. “That instant ... that was the first time I found out."

Rodriguez added that he was unaware of any criminal behavior that Feagin had been a part of before he was recruited by Michigan. The Free Press article mentioned that Feagin was arrested for trespass and battery in two separate incidents prior to college.

ESPN reported on Aug. 10 that Feagin will not be transferring to Appalachian State as he had previously stated.

NEW SEASON, NEW PRACTICE FIELD: Fifth-year senior punter Zoltan Mesko has been constricted for the past four years.

In the Wolverines’ previous indoor practice facility at Oosterbaan Fieldhouse, Mesko was forced to kick with a ceiling that was far too low to punt or execute other special teams plays.

Former coach Lloyd Carr used to challenge Mesko to see if he could punt and knock out a light at Oosterbaan. But at the newly built Al Glick Fieldhouse, Mesko has enough trouble just grazing the ceiling.

“It’s no walk in the park,” Mesko said about punting with an 85-foot ceiling. “I have to emphasize pretty good technique, or I’m not hitting it.”

At 104,000 square feet, the practice facility gives Michigan the most practice space of any college football team in the country.

The $26.1 million project, included not only the state-of-the-art practice facility but also renovations to the team’s locker and weight rooms.

“I’ve probably been to most every locker room there is in this country,” Michigan Director of Equipment Operations Jon Falk said.