Junior defensive tackle Will Campbell has his weight down and is finding his game, Michigan players and coaches say.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

If anyone knows how dangerous Michigan defensive tackle Will Campbell can be, it's sophomore safety Thomas Gordon.

High school teammates at Detroit Cass Tech, Gordon saw how Campbell became one of the country's highest-rated recruits.

"If he comes in low," Gordon says, "you can't stop him."

As teammates on the Michigan football team, though, Gordon's also witnessed how the 6-foot-5, 322-pounder has turned in a largely disappointing college career to this point.

Campbell entered this season with just five tackles. He also drew criticism from the Michigan staff in the spring for reporting to camp out of shape.

Since then? A different tone. Hoke praised Campbell for entering fall camp in better shape. And though he's been relegated to reserve duty, Campbell's production on the field has gradually increased.

Improvement for sure. But for Michigan coach Brady Hoke, it hasn't been enough.

"I'm glad Thomas is coaching him up," Hoke said, smiling. "I really am. And Thomas is right. And this happens to a lot of guys that were really big in high school. … It's one of those things where he just has to play lower, and he just has to be more consistent with that part of it.

"His get-off-the-football (attitude) is something that he has to be conscious about and make good habits with."

The discussion of Campbell's habits is nothing new. Hoke asked him to lose weight, and Campbell obliged. He was listed at 331 pounds; he now weighs 322. He's been asked to play with more enthusiasm, and at times, he's accomplished that.

"I thought that when he went in, he gave us a spark and played with a lot of passion," Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said following the Notre Dame win.

The weight is down, the interest is up but the poor habits haven't totally vanished. If they ever do, Michigan's oft-maligned defensive line will receive a boost.

If they don't, then Campbell will continue to be the team's most imposing athlete that doesn't make an impact.

“Will does a good job at the point of attack, but sometimes he stands up (too much) and looks for the ball,” Michigan senior defensive tackle Mike Martin said. “It’s something that coach always talks about, the block is going to take you to the ball and you’re going to feel it.

“He needs to break that habit of looking for the ball, and (be better at) finishing plays.”

Martin explained that some of Campbell’s issues are things the entire defensive line struggles with from time to time.

And if anyone thinks Michigan’s first-year coach is giving up on his most massive defensive weapon, they’d best think again. Hoke clearly showed interest in the first quarter of last week’s victory against San Diego State, removing Campbell from the game before spending an extended amount of time giving him a one-on-one sideline tutorial.

Hoke’s message at the time, per the Michigan Sports Network, was simply to quit thinking and start playing.

“Will did some real good things in there,” Hoke said of the SDSU game. “And he’s improving.”

The Will Campbell reclamation project continues to march on.

Hoke’s not giving up, Martin and the defensive line aren’t giving up, and neither is Campbell’s old high school teammate.

Gordon’s seen him at his best, and at his worst. And four games into the 2011 season, he says he’s starting to see more of the former than the latter.

"You see some flashes here and there," Gordon says. “It comes from when he stays low. If he does that, he’ll be good.

“(Because) when he stays low, he stays in the backfield.”

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.