5-star OT Nicholas Petit-Frere visits Michigan's practice in Tampa

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Check out Michigan football's Outback Bowl practice in Tampa. Nick Baumgardner/Detroit Free Press

TAMPA, Fla. — The location of Michigan's Outback Bowl headquarters this week was not a coincidence. 

The Wolverines are working out at Berkeley Prep in Tampa, a private institution sitting on an 86-acre campus with world class athletic and training facilities. 

And also home to five-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. 

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Petite-Frere, a 6-foot-6, 272-pounder, ranks as the No. 17 player in the 2018 recruiting class — the No. 3 offensive tackle. Michigan's in the mix for his commitment. And Thursday afternoon, he took in the Wolverines' practice at his high school. 

By NCAA rule, Michigan is prohibited from making any in-person contact with Petit-Frere (or any other prospective student-athlete) while its on campus this week. It cannot have any contact with his parents either, as the recruiting calendar is in a dead period. 

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There are no rules against him attending practice, though, and there are no rules prohibiting the Wolverines from hosting postseason bowl practices at the high school of a prospective student-athlete. 

Michigan did this during Harbaugh's first season, hosting its Citrus Bowl prep at West Orange High School outside Orlando. That was the school of current Michigan sophomore receiver Eddie McDoom. 

"I thought it was pretty cool," McDoom said this week. "At that time I was committed to Oregon. That they came up to my school (for me), I felt special." 

Other practice notes: 

Hudson returns

Sophomore linebacker Khaleke Hudson was back out on the practice field after being limited Wednesday with an illness. 

Hudson went through drills with the rest of the Wolverine linebackers as normal. Also working with the linebackers this week, and for some time, is freshman Brad Hawkins. 

Originally recruited as a wide receiver, Hawkins (6-2, 204) switched to safety before the start of the season but has also seen time as a viper linebacker. 

He fits the mold of athlete defensive coordinator Don Brown looks for at that position. Time will tell how effective it is. 

Offensive line

Michigan practiced without starting offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Juwann Bushell-Beatty Thursday in Tampa. Bredeson started all 12 games at left guard for the Wolverines this season while Bushell-Beatty finished the year as Michigan's starting right tackle. 

Offensive coordinator Tim Drevno said earlier this week that Michigan has continued to tinker things along the offensive line throughout bowl prep. Senior starters Mason Cole and Patrick Kugler will be playing in their final games Monday in the Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina. 

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickBaumgardner. 

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