The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/100794
������ michigan recruiting Michigan Commitments Receive Acclaim From Area Newspapers P receding the start of the high school football season, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer and The Detroit News unveiled their rankings of the best players in Northeast Ohio and the state of Michigan, respectively, and a number of current U-M commitments for the class of 2012 made the cut. The Plain-Dealer ranked the Top 50 prospects in its area, and the list included future Wolverines Kyle Kalis, Tom Strobel, Jarrod Wilson and Pharaoh Brown. The players��� rankings and comments from the Plain-Dealer follow: 4. Kyle Kalis, St. Edward: ���Michigan recruit who is ranked in the Top 20 nationally by Rivals is an athletic big man but needs a healthier campaign than last season as the Eagles go for a Division I state title repeat. Garnered five stars from Rivals and Scout.��� 5. Tom Strobel, Mentor: ���Michigan recruit mustered six sacks last season despite being double- and triple-teamed. He garnered four stars from Rivals and Scout.��� 6. Jarrod Wilson, Buchtel: ���Michigan recruit returns after intercepting eight passes and making 55 tackles, including seven behind the line. His performance in the state title game ��� two interceptions and a fumble recovery ��� kept the Griffins in the game. Garnered four stars from Rivals and Scout.��� 13. Pharaoh Brown, Brush: ���Michigan recruit compiled 50 tackles, including 13 for loss, and nine sacks in making the transition from quarterback. Garnered four stars from Rivals and three from Scout.��� The Detroit News, meanwhile, ranked Cass Tech cornerback Terry Richardson ������ 2012 Football Commitments Name Pos. Blake Bars OL Joe Bolden LB Ben Braden OL Pharaoh Brown DE Devin Funchess TE Allen Gant DB Matthew Godin DT Sione Houma RB Royce Jenkins-Stone LB Kyle Kalis OL Erik Magnuson OL Mario Ojemudia DE Ondre Pipkins DT Terry Richardson DB Kaleb Ringer LB James Ross LB Caleb Stacey OL Anthony Standifer DB Tom Strobel TE A.J. Williams TE Jarrod Wilson DB Christopher Wormely DE Ht. 6-5 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-2 6-6 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-3 6-3 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-1 6-6 6-6 6-2 6-4 Wt. 275 225 285 220 205 210 270 211 215 302 275 215 325 160 219 209 275 178 245 260 190 255 Hometown (High School) Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell Academy) Cincinnati (Colerain) Rockford, Mich. (Rockford) Lyndhurst, Ohio (Brush) Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison) Sylvania, Ohio (Sylvania Southview) Novi, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central) Salt Lake City, Utah (Highland) Detroit (Cass Tech) Lakewood, Ohio (St. Edward) Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon) Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison) Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill) Detroit (Cass Tech) Clayton, Ohio (Northmont) Orchard Lake, Mich. (St. Mary���s) Cincinnati (Oak Hills) Crete, Ill. (Crete Monee) Mentor, Ohio (Mentor) Cincinnati (Sycamore) Akron, Ohio (Buchtel) Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer) 2013 Football Commitments Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Jeremy Clark DB 6-4 205 Madisonville, Ky. (Madisonville N. Hopkins) Shane Morris QB 6-3 183 Warren, Mich. (De La Salle) Dymonte Thomas DB 5-11 167 Alliance, Ohio (Marlington) as the top player in the state of Michigan, while six of his future teammates in Ann Arbor ranked among the top 12. The players��� rankings and comments from The Detroit News follow: 1. Terry Richardson, Cass Tech: ���Richardson is 5-9 and weighs 165 pounds. He committed to Michigan and likely will play cornerback there. For coach Thomas Wilcher at Cass Tech, Richardson also will start at receiver and return kicks. He received 30 scholarship offers. The first came from Nick Saban at Alabama and the second came from Louisiana State. Richardson also turned down scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Southern California.��� 2. James Ross, Orchard Lake St. Mary���s: ���Ross is a three-year starter who committed to Michigan. As a sophomore Ross had 16 tackles in the Division 3 title game. He has a nose for the ball and fills the gaps well. ���He���s a natural football player,��� coach George Porritt said.��� 3. Mario Ojemudia, Farmington Hills Harrison: ���Ojemudia is one of the quickest (4.6 in the 40-yard dash) linemen in the state. Last season, he was named to The Detroit News Dream Team. He had 86 unassisted tackles, 41 assists, 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.��� 4. Royce Jenkins-Stone, Detroit Cass Tech: ���Jenkins-Stone has tremendous upper body strength. He averaged nine tackles a game last season and had eight sacks. Jenkins-Stone had scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama and Oklahoma before committing to Michigan.��� 8. Matt Godin, Detroit Catholic Central: ���A three-year varsity player, Godin committed to Michigan. He likely will play defensive end in college. Fast for his size, Godin runs the 40 in 4.92 seconds. ���He���s in peak shape,��� coach Tom Mach said.��� 9. Devin Funchess, Farmington Hills Harrison: ���Funchess has great hands and is able to use his big frame to outjump defenders for the football. ���I���m bigger and stronger this year,��� he said. ���I���ve spent more time in the weight room. I���m going to improve this year by being better on the blocks.������ 12. Ben Braden, Rockford: ���Braden didn���t play football as a freshman; he played hockey. He started at nose tackle, switched to right offensive tackle last season and now he���ll move to left tackle. ���He���s very athletic and has good speed,��� coach Ralph Munger said. ���He���s a big ol��� boy.��� Braden committed to Michigan.��� ��� October 2011��� ������ the wolverine��� 65