The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/262939
TOTAL PLAYERS SIGNED 1990-2014: 543. EARLY DEPARTURES: 156 (nine that left for the NFL) or 29.6 percent. BIGGEST CLASS: Over the last 25 years, Michigan has signed 20 or more recruits 19 times, including back-to- back 25-man classes in 1992-93. In 2010, the Wolverines set a new record, utilizing the Big Ten's allowance to over-sign by three to ink 27 recruits. Three years later, U-M did it again in the 2013 class. SMALLEST CLASS: The Maize and Blue has signed fewer than 20 recruits just six times in the last quarter cen- tury, but dipping to a low of 17 in 2003. That is, until this year's crop of just 16 signees. HIGHEST-RANKED PLAYER: Henson was Prep Football Report's No. 3 overall player in 1998, and that mark stood for 16 years until cornerback Jabrill Peppers signed Feb. 5. The five-star is Rivals.com's No. 3 overall prospect for the 2014 class. The entire breakdown of Michi- gan's 18 top-20 national recruits can be found in the sidebar. LOWEST-RANKED PLAYER: Since the arrival of Rivals.com in 2000, 10 dif- ferent players to sign with Michigan have been regarded as a two-star pros- pect, but the site actually used to hand out a one-star (it does not anymore) and bestowed that inglorious mark on both tailback Tim Bracken and line- backer Roy Manning in 2000. Lemming on wide receiver Da- vid Terrell, 1998: "The best wide receiver in the country." Burton on running back Chris Perry, 2000: "Michigan likes big backs and has a history of acquiring a lot of talented ones, and I think he may be the next in line. Not only does he have the size, but he's also got the explosion you're looking for. Can he be Anthony Thomas? Yes it's possible. Can he be that good? Yes, no question." Bill Kurelic on wide receiver Braylon Edwards, 2001: "He really solidified himself as a Michigan-type prospect early in his senior year. He has a nice combination of size and speed." Class of 1998 wide reciever David Terrell was touted by Tom Lemming of Prep Football Report as the best player in the nation at his position that year. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN