The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING school squad. However, he never got to reprise that act in Ann Arbor. He tore a pectoral muscle during his true freshman season and retired from playing — though he's a student as- sistant with the program still. Highland Park (Mich.) cornerback Raymon Taylor earned his Michigan offer late in the Rodriguez adminis- tration's final days, but didn't make the switch from Indiana to U-M un- til a week before National Signing Day 2011. The 5-10, 167-pounder was ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 14 athlete nationally. He played cornerback during his Mich- igan career, starting 32 games and leading the team in tackles as a junior with 86. The final two pieces of the class were Flint (Mich.) Northwestern run- ning back Thomas Rawls and San Di- ego Francis Parker kicker Matt Wile. Rawls had long been on the Michi- gan radar but had to post a qualify- ing test score before earning an offer. The three-star recruit graduated from Michigan in three years, and had a breakout season with Central Michi- gan this fall. Wile was a direct replacement for Goudis, but a good one. His father and grandfather graduated from U-M medical school — a solid con- nection for the two-star kicker. Wile made 20 of 29 kicks in his career, and was a perfect 33 of 33 on extra points. He also filled in at punter and kick- offs for Michigan. THE PRESENT Michigan doesn't looked poised to hire a coach that will usher in a major philosophical change — a welcome idea, given how poorly it worked out each of the previous two times. That should help maintain consis- tency across the roster, as well as in recruiting. Among those already on the roster in Ann Arbor, all were recruited to play in a pro-style offense or a hard- nosed, Big Ten defense. If Michigan sticks with those principles for its new head coach, those players will fit the new system. The same holds true in recruit- ing, though U-M only has six cur- rent pledges (see sidebar). Quarter- back Alex Malzone in particular is a strong fit for the pro-style offense, and the rest of his remaining fellow commitments fit in well with the type of offense and defense Hoke was planning to use in Ann Arbor. Michigan still needs to add sig- nificant manpower to the class, with only six pledges and room for about 16 signees come National Signing Day. The worst of the decommit- ments — eight total recruits so far have rescinded pledges to Michigan, though only one (Avon Old Farms four-star Chris Clark, the nation's top tight end) since Hoke was fired — is in the rearview mirror, and a new staff has an opportunity to add to the group without losing more. ❑ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football re- cruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com.