The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
and is competing to earn some playing time on the offensive side of the ball this fall. No longer in football: Tight end Chris Barnett; defensive back Greg Brown; offensive guard Chris Bryant (injury); defensive back Tamani Carter; linebacker Antonio Poole (injury); and offensive lineman Tony Posada. REPORT CARD — B- Three years in, the class has accu- mulated a record of 26-13 but has not won a Big Ten title. Plus its biggest contribution has come during 8-5 and 7-6 campaigns over the last two sea- sons, sullying its overall grade. There have been some strong in- dividual performances, and enough players that could cap their careers with impressive results — such as de- fensive ends Frank Clark and Brennen Beyer, linebacker Desmond Morgan, cornerbacks Blake Countess and Ray Taylor, and kicker Matt Wile — but this class needs to be responsible for a major accomplishment for the sum of the parts to warrant the grade the in- dividual parts cannot achieve on their own. ❏ 2011 Class Overview Players In Class: 20 Rivals.com Team Ranking: No. 21 Players Still At Michigan: 11 Name Pos. Stars Russell Bellomy QB 3 Comment: A year removed from ACL surgery, he is competing to be the No. 2 quarterback and most likely the No. 3 signal-caller. Brennen Beyer DE 4 Comment: Has bounced around a lot, but is settled in at strongside defensive end and is on pace to start. Frank Clark DE 3 Comment: Begins his senior season the starter at weakside end, capable of estab- lishing career-best marks in tackles for loss and sacks. Blake Countess CB 4 Comment: Begins his third season as a likely starter in the secondary, but poten- tially at nickel and not cornerback. Justice Hayes RB 4 Comment: Jockeying with sophomores Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith to be the starting tailback for the Wolverines. Keith Heitzman TE 3 Comment: Has moved over to tight end after three seasons along the defensive line and could start in the absence of Jake Butt.