Michigan football analyst Fred Jackson to fill in for Mike Hart; Michael Phelps honorary captain

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh left little to the imagination when it comes to Michigan's top 10 showdown with Penn State on Saturday.

"The biggest challenge of the year so far," he said. "They're just always good, always prepared, always ready. Always win a lot of games. Always good on all sides of the ball, always well coached, in great shape.

"Tough, physical, sound football team and exceptional in many areas."

A LOOK AT THE BIG TENMichigan football shows it can overcome major adversity while Michigan State sinks further

Among those "exceptional" areas, the Nittany Lions' run defense, which ranks No. 5 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten allowing just 79.6 yards per game. Michigan's run offense is 14th in the country averaging 5.35 yards per rush, but will have a new, yet familiar, face for its toughest test to date.

Fred Jackson to fill in for Mike Hart

Longtime running backs coach Fred Jackson will step back into his role in Mike Hart's absence. Hart, who collapsed on the side during Michigan's game Saturday and was hospitalized in Bloomington overnight, is still working his way back to health and it's unclear when he will return.

"Mike, I think he issued a statement today, but he is back in Ann Arbor, feeling better, hopes to rejoin the team soon," Harbaugh said. "We will make Fred Jackson, we've got a waiver to allow Fred Jackson to coach until Mike comes back.

"I don't know (if he will be back Saturday), doctors, that will be something they'll determine."

Jackson coached Michigan running backs from 1992 to 2014 under Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, turning out a number of stars including Hart, Tyrone Wheatley, Chris Perry and Anthony Thomas.

He also was the team's offensive coordinator in 1995-96, served as an assistant head coach from the 1997 championship season through 2002 and was associate head coach from 2003-07, before moving back to running backs coach from 2008-14.

Harbaugh, who added him to the staff in June as an analyst, said he's been important throughout the season and the two go back quite a ways.

"He's super cool," Harbaugh said. "I think my first start ever as a high school varsity player was Pioneer vs. Flint Southwestern, so I go way back with Fred Jackson. He's great, always has great insights, knows the whole game too.

"Offensive football, offensive coordinator type of mind, so he's been great."

Jackson was a Broyles Award finalist, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach, under Lloyd Carr in 2000.

Tunnel officially named after Lloyd Carr

Speaking of Carr, his name will forever be etched into Michigan Stadium's history, when the tunnel the team enters through is re-named the 'LLoyd Carr Tunnel'.

Michigan's Board of Regents unanimously approved dedicating the tunnel at a meeting last month, the official dedication will come during a pregame ceremony prior to Saturday's game against Penn State.

Carr led the Wolverines to five Big Ten championships and a national championship 25 years ago during his 13-year run as Wolverines head coach from 1995-2007. Prior to taking over, Carr was a defensive backs coach from 1980-86, defensive coordinator from 1987-90 and the associate head coach title from 1990-94.

Running through the tunnel has been a Michigan tradition for decades and one that Harbaugh said he cherishs.

"A lot of things have changed around Ann Arbor, Michigan football, the campus over decades," Harbaugh said. "But to me, one thing that hasn't is that tunnel. It's one thing that hasn't really changed, it's gritty, it's awesome. Just like the coach Lloyd Carr it's going to be named for, it's just great.

"We love it, we're really proud of our tunnel and couldn't be happier it will now have coach Carr's name on it."

Michael Phelps to be honorary captain

Another Michigan great is scheduled to be on campus for the weekend; the all time medals leader in Olympics history, Michael Phelps, has been named the team's honorary captain.

Phelps spoke to the team earlier this summer during team camp and Michigan's players said they haven't forgotten his message.

"It was really cool to see what kind of athlete he is, for him to come and talk to us and give us insight about how he recovered his body, all the training he does and how he didn't take any days off," said offensive lineman Zak Zinter. "Just kind of taking his mindset into this week and getting ready to go for a top 10 opponent.

Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @realtonygarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michael Phelps named Michigan football honorary captain