The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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������ prep profiles California Wideout Is An Option For U-M Michigan fans are well aware of the Wolverines��� needs at wide receiver in the 2012 recruiting class. The current roster doesn���t contain many gamebreakers, and three receivers ��� Kelvin Grady, Junior Hemingway and Martavious Odoms ��� are slated to graduate following the completion of the 2011 season. Lakewood (Calif.) wide receiver Darius Powe is one of many options for the Michigan coaching staff to fill their need at the position. The Rivals.com four-star prospect has a top three of Oregon State, UCLA and Michigan. Each of his favorites has a different strength in Powe���s eyes. ���I like UCLA���s area,��� Powe said. ���I like their academics and their coaches, too. With Oregon State, I like their coaches, and my friend Malik Gilmore is going to go there and I am thinking about going with him. I like Michigan���s alumni and the fact that they are a Big Ten school. They also offer an outstanding education, and I like their offense.��� Powe initially planned to take his official visit to Ann Arbor when the Wolverines took on Notre Dame on Sept. 10, but had a scheduling conflict and will take that visit later in the season. He hasn���t decided if he will make the trip for the game ������ Darius Powe ��������������� Lakewood High School Lakewood, Calif. Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-2 ��� Wt.: 186 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 38 WR and No. 246 player nationally against Nebraska or the contest with Ohio State. Whichever school lands Powe will be getting an impressive physical specimen. Rivals.com���s No.��38 wide receiver in the nation is listed at 6���3 and 190 pounds, and is able to use his strength and body control to get into the proper position to make catches even when defensive backs have him well covered. He is not known for his blazing speed, but a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash displays that his explosiveness is underrated ��� as does his 19.1 yards per catch mark as a junior. He also starred on defense, making 40 tackles in intercepting two passes. Oregon State will play a big role in Powe���s recruitment, thanks in large part to the commitment of Gilmore. Powe has stated he would like to continue his playing career alongside his teammate and good friend. However, Powe admits that Michigan has much to offer,and could draw him away from the allure of playing with Gilmore. He plans to make a final decision at the Under Armour AllAmerican Bowl in January. ��� Tim Sullivan Four-Star Offensive Lineman Picks Up Michigan Offer Michigan has commitments from five offensive linemen in the 2012 class, but head coach Brady Hoke and his staff seem intent on taking one more. They extended another offer in ������ Alex Kozan ��������������� Valor Christian High School Castle Rock, Colo. Position: Offensive Guard Ht.: 6-4 ��� Wt.: 295 Rivals.com Ranking: No. 28 OT and No.��244 player nationally early October, this one to Castle Rock (Colo.) Valor Christian offensive lineman Alex Kozan. Closing this one, though, could take some work. Kozan grew up an Ohio State fan and already held offers from Iowa, LSU, Oregon and others before the Wolverines even got involved. U-M line coach Darrell Funk got a hold of Kozan���s senior year film in early October and decided he was willing to put in the work on the recruiting trail to try and catch up. ���The offer came out of the blue,��� Kozan recalled. ���I hadn���t even sent them my senior film, but somehow they got it. Then they called me and told me they were interested. The next week they offered me in my coach���s office.��� Though Kozan plays tackle in high school, Michigan is recruiting him as a guard. His film shows a powerful lineman who is at his best run blocking, making him a candidate to play on the interior no matter where he ends up. The depth chart at Michigan plays to the Wolverines��� advantage, Kozan noted, as does the university���s prestigious business school. He���s already visited Iowa and is slated to see LSU and Oregon in the weeks to come. Kozan has yet to schedule a Michigan visit, but it���s possible he���ll set one up after his season. Michigan���s already strong class of 2012 has caught his attention. ���I���m interested in a program that is competitive and where I can see the field earlier, and that as a program is going to be competitive for championships.��� Had Ohio State offered earlier than mid-October ��� or if OSU wasn���t in flux with a potential coaching change on tap ��� he might already be a Buckeye. He was still thrilled when OSU coaches decided they wanted him in their class. ���I am ecstatic about it,��� Kozan said. ���I have been an Ohio State fan my whole life, and it is something I have been working for since I was in fifth grade. I am definitely pumped about it. ���I want to get down there as soon ������ Alex Kozan ���I���m interested in a program that is competitive and where I can see the field earlier, and that as a program is going to be competitive for championships.��� ���It���s definitely something you look at, and having the opportunity to be in a great class is awesome,��� he said. ���But it���s not everything. You really have to look at all of the factors that play a part in your decision and make the best decision based on that. as possible. I���m going to set it up whether it���s the Wisconsin [Oct.�� 29] weekend or the Indiana game. If not one of those two weekends, playoffs are coming pretty quick, so I might have to wait until after the season.��� ��� Chris Balas November 2011��� ������ the wolverine��� 93