The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ers to contribute in their true fresh- man campaigns, and that axiom has held true at Michigan, where a po- sition-high 51 defensive backs have seen the field for U-M in 41 years of freshman eligibility. Tailback is second with 36 while receiver is third with 33, including 10 that have started at wide receiver. After enrolling early, Canteen en- joyed a dynamic spring, and should be the 34th true freshman to line up at wideout while he could be the 11th to start (and the first since Darryl Stonum and Martavious Odoms in 2008). "Freddy has had a very good spring," head coach Brady Hoke said. "He came in with a great ma- turity that you don't see in a lot of guys who come in early. I would say the same thing with [defensive back classmate] Brandon Watson. "Part of that is his development at his high school, and part of it is his development in his home life. But Freddy is very talented." The 6-1, 170-pounder was a four- star recruit, but was largely brushed aside and designated by many the third-best receiver U-M signed. It took only a few days in player- only workouts for his teammates to become excited. When they put on pads, the Wolverines were convinced Canteen was legit. "For a freshman, he is comfort- able," sophomore cornerback Jour- dan Lewis said. "He is pretty fast — really fast. I am just glad we have a weapon like that on offense. He puts pressure on us defensive backs in practice, and he will definitely help us in the game." "He is a deep threat," Funchess added. "He gets down the field really fast, and he is always that guy who Devin Gardner can throw to when they're doubling me because he is going to be open." While a number of true freshman receivers have made instant contri- butions, rarely have rookie class- mates starred. A year ago, Da'Mario Jones and Csont'e York became just the eighth pair of receivers to see the field as true freshmen, but neither had a catch. Odoms (49 receptions) and Stonum (14) are one of only two pairs of true freshman receivers to each have 10 catches in their rookie year (see chart). This fall, however, Canteen will likely have some company in the YEARS A PAIR OF TRUE FRESHMAN WR PLAYED AT U-M Year Receivers Rec. 1992 Amani Toomer 16 Mercury Hayes 10 1998 David Terrell 14 Marquise Walker 4 1999 Ron Bellamy 0 Tyrece Butler 0 2005 Mario Manningham 27 Antonio Bass 8 2007 Toney Clemons 1 Zion Babb 0 2008 Martavious Odoms 49 Darryl Stonum 14 2010 Jeremy Jackson 4 Drew Dileo 1 2013 Da'Mario Jones 0 Csont'e York 0