Vladimir Emilien figures he'll be a little nervous when he makes his Michigan football debut Sept. 5 against Western Michigan.

"I know I'm going to have a little jitters playing in front of 110,000," Emilien said. "But I’m looking forward to just showing my aggression, just getting out there and playing to my full potential."

Part of Emilien's angst stems from the fact that he hasn't played a real football game in almost two years. He missed his senior season at Florida's Lauderhill Plantation High with a torn right ACL.

A January enrollee, Emilien is healthy now and has shown enough in spring practice and fall camp to crack the playing group at the thin safety position. Converted cornerback Troy Woolfolk and sophomore Mike Williams are the projected starters, with Emilien and Jared Van Slyke pushing for time as backups.

Emilien said he's not sure exactly what his role will be this year and doesn't really care. He's just happy to be back playing football again.

"I'm just trying to help this team win," Emilien said. "I don’t know where I’m at right now, I just want to get out there and show my talents. Wherever they put me."