Michigan football's Daxton Hill warms up for Orange Bowl; all other starters accounted for

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The drama surrounding Michigan football’s Daxton Hill came to an end shortly after 6 p.m. Friday when the defensive back strolled onto the field during early warmups at Hard Rock Stadium for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.

He returned in full pads shortly thereafter.

For much of the week it seemed like Michigan would be without Hill, a potential first-round pick and a first-team All-Big Ten performer, Friday's Orange Bowl. Rumors spread across social media on Tuesday that Hill had remained in Ann Arbor when the Wolverines traveled to Fort Lauderdale.

Athletic department officials and players declined to elaborate on Hill’s whereabouts and referred those questions to coach Jim Harbaugh, who spoke to the media Thursday for the first and only time this week.

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It was then that Harbaugh confirmed Hill hadn’t boarded the flight to Florida because he was “working through something” in Michigan. Harbaugh did not elaborate on the nature of Hill’s absence but said there was a chance he could travel in time for kickoff.

And sure enough, that’s what Hill did. He is expected to play his normal role as nickelback for defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Hill’s presence at Hard Rock Stadium means U-M will enter the game missing only one starter on either side of the ball: wide receiver Ronnie Bell. Michigan’s ability to maintain a clean bill of health this season has been as pivotal to the program’s turnaround as the record-setting performance of edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, the emergence of tailback Hassan Haskins or the steadiness of quarterback Cade McNamara. There’s a reason football coaches often say the best ability is availability.

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Running back Blake Corum (foot/ankle) was the only other potential question mark for Michigan after he played in the Big Ten championship at what he described as 85% healthy. But Corum and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis quelled concerns earlier this week when both said the team’s second-leading rusher had returned to his normal self. Corum needs 61 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

All other starters and primary contributors were in uniform for the padded portion of warmups.

Contact Michael Cohen at mcohen@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Cohen13.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football's Daxton Hill warms up for Orange Bowl