The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
ally found a home at Hampton, and in 2012 was fourth on the team with 57 tackles. Still a safety, Johnson has been named preseason All-MEAC honorable mention for this fall. Ricardo Miller — So dedicated was Miller to the cause that he moved from Florida to Ann Arbor for his senior year in high school. Unfortunately, he didn't find the same success at Michigan, failing to record a reception in three seasons between receiver and tight end. He did earn his U-M degree and with it is eligible to play right away in 2013 and is expected to start for his new team, Massachusetts. Marvin Robinson — Another one of Rodriguez's most-hyped recruits, the four-star safety out of Eagle Lake, Fla., was locked in a battle at safety his sophomore year before running into legal trouble and health problems. During his junior season in 2012, he vowed to come back stronger, but he couldn't beat out incumbent Jordan Kovacs and Thomas Gordon for playing time. Robinson has decided to transfer to Division II Ferris State and is eligible in 2013. Ray Vinopal — When U-M landed the two-star safety in December 2009, it sent shivers down the spine of Wolverines fans, who came to the conclusion Rodriguez's staff was in full-scale panic mode. It would get worse when the undersized 5-10, 197-pounder managed to start six games in 2010, recording 33 tackles. Homesick, Vinopal transferred to Pittsburgh, which is 160 miles closer to Youngstown, Ohio, than Ann Arbor, appeared in all 13 games in 2012, and is expected to compete for a starting safety job this fall. No longer in football: Defensive back Demar Dorsey; running back Stephen Hopkins; quarterback Conelius Jones; linebacker Antonio Kinard; offensive lineman Christian Pace; wide receiver Jerald Robinson; linebacker Davion Rogers; cornerback Terrence Talbott; defensive tackle Terry Talbott; running back Austin White; defensive tackle Ken Wilkins; and wide receiver D.J. Williamson. ❑ Report Card — A With the season just a few weeks away, the 2012 class is in the throes of competition to earn starting jobs, with seven frontrunners at their positions and another nine knocking on the door. That is an incredible 'hit' rate and speaks to both the talent procured and also the coaching championed early in the class' career. Devin Funchess is the most accomplished of his classmates thus far and the most likely all-conference performer this season, but players such as James Ross, Kyle Kalis, Amara Darboh and Jarrod Wilson could also be differencemakers for the Wolverines in 2013, earning accolades for their campaigns. This class is in position to play a big role now, and an even bigger role over the next few seasons. If it continues to meet expectations, the 2012 class may just go down among the best ever.