The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING Games To Watch In 2014 Michigan's commitments will take the field for one final season (or, in the case of the juniors, with two years left). Some of the most exciting games for U‑M fans to watch are listed here. Aug. 28 Saginaw (Mich.) Heritage vs. Saginaw (Mich.) Arthur Hill Heritage's standout wide receiver, Brian Cole, has already committed to play for Michigan, but he'll be facing an opposing team that has some talented prospects of its own. Arthur Hill's strongest classes are 2016 and 2017, with ris‑ ing junior defensive end Lawrence Gordon cutting an intimidating figure at 6‑5 and 235 pounds, and sophomore end Will Rodgers standing 6‑3 and 225. That means Cole's quarterback will have to work quickly to get his star receiver the ball in space. If Cole lines up in the backfield, he'll have to make plays against a big, talented front. Aug. 31 Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep vs. Chicago Mount Carmel U‑M line pledge Jon Runyan Jr. and one of the East Coast's best teams (also boasting the country's No. 102 overall player in cornerback John Reid, a Penn State commitment) will take their show on the road, heading to the Midwest to face perennial Windy City power Mt. Carmel. Both are reigning state champs (St. Joseph's Prep in Pennsylvania's largest division AAAA, Mount Carmel in 7A, Illinois' second largest), and it should be a clash of the Titans. Sept. 26 Massillon (Ohio) Washington vs. Steubenville (Ohio) Two of Ohio's most storied programs face off, and although Michigan kicker commit Andrew David is no longer the starting quarterback for Massillon in ad‑ dition to his kicking and punting duties, it's an intriguing matchup. The Tigers had an uncharacteristic second‑round exit from the state playoffs in 2013, and squaring off against a smaller division power like Steubenville (winners of state titles in 2004 and 2006) should let them know where they stand this year. Oct. 3 Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's School vs. Fork Union (Va.) Mili- tary Academy U‑M cornerback pledge Garrett Taylor and his teammates at St. Christopher's didn't take well to their first‑round playoff exit last fall, and winning games like this one against a perennial prep powerhouse that has sent the likes of Michi‑ gan tailback Chris Perry (2000‑03) and Penn State sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg to the next level will help them improve their seed come November. Taylor is looking for big numbers with teammate Ricky DeBerry, who is the No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 123 overall player in the nation, pressuring opposing quarterbacks into mistakes. Oct. 25 Lawrenceville (N.J.) Prep vs. Princeton (N.J.) Hun School If U‑M pledge Grant Newsome hopes to improve his ranking by showing well against the best schools on the schedule, this should be his chance. The Hun