Fitz Toussaint, Frank Clark held out of Michigan football team's first practice

Fitz Toussaint led Michigan's tailbacks in rushing last year, but has yet to return to practice after an offseason drunken-driving arrest.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

The Michigan football team opened its fall camp without two key players.

Wolverines coach Brady Hoke said Monday that suspended tailback Fitz Toussaint and defensive end Frank Clark did not practice with the team during its initial workout. He gave no timetable for when they would return to action.

"Don't know that," he said.

Hoke said he has not yet determined whether either will play in the season opener Sept. 1 against Alabama. When will that decision be made?

"When I make it, I guess," Hoke said. "When? I don't know."

Toussaint, a junior who was arrested last month in Ann Arbor on a drunken-driving charge, is Michigan's starting tailback. He crossed the 1,000-yard barrier in his first season as the starter.

Quarterback Denard Robinson, the other half of Michigan's prolific running attack, said Toussaint told him he's determined to rejoin the team.

"He knows he wants to be out on the field, and he's going to do whatever it takes to get back on the field," Robinson said.

Hoke has not outlined publicly what Toussaint or Clark must do to join the team.

Sophomore Thomas Rawls and senior Vincent Smith are expected to vie for the starting spot if Toussaint is held out against the Crimson Tide. The pair, along with redshirt freshman Justice Hayes, received the bulk of the carries in practice.

Clark, a sophomore, was expected to contend with former linebacker Brennen Beyer for the starting job at weak-side defensive end.

If Clark is held out against Alabama, Beyer is expected to start. Hoke said sophomore strong-side linebacker Jake Ryan and true freshman end Mario Ojemudia could fill a backup role behind Beyer at the position.

Another player who had a run-in with the law, receiver Jerald Robinson, did practice with the team. The sophomore pleaded guilty earlier Monday to a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property.

His punishment is complete, Hoke said.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.