The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/544673
Jenkins-Stone said. "By week two or three, I was making big plays consistently, and the coaches' message to us was 'sooner or later the playmakers will stand out,' and I feel I proved I can be one of those guys." An individual Wolverine has not produced an eight-sack season since Brandon Graham had 10.5 in 2009 — Brennen Beyer 's 5.5 quarterback takedowns a year ago represented the most recent five-year high. If he becomes a true force off the edge, Jenkins-Stone could make an argument for inclusion among the top Cass Tech alumni. For Lewis, it's less about numbers and more about becoming the consistent lockdown corner the Maize and Blue have not truly had since Leon Hall graduated in 2006. "I wasn't great my sophomore year," he said. "But it was a stepping stone to the player I want to be. I showed progress. I made some big plays, but it's time now where I take it to the next level. I don't want to show up some of the time. I want to be there every time, like a No. 1 cornerback is supposed to be." "The Cass Tech guys on the team all do a little teasing with each other, but my motivation really isn't about being better than my teammates — I want to be the best player I can be and have a great senior year, for Michigan," Jenkins-Stone said. ❏ Top 10 Cass Tech Alums Of The Rivals.com Era (2002-present) 1. DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State: A four-star recruit in the 2004 class, Gholston was a 2007 first-team All-American and the 2007 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after setting an OSU single-season record with 14.0 sacks. He finished his Buckeye career fifth all-time with 22.5 quarterback takedowns. 2. CB Allen Langford, Wisconsin: A lowly two-star in the 2004 class, Lang- ford was the Badgers' team MVP in 2008 and a first-team All-Big Ten selection that year after recording two interceptions and 13 pass breakups. In his career, Langford started 44 games and recorded eight picks with 154 tackles. 3. OL Joseph Barksdale, LSU: Barksdale shunned the local programs in favor of LSU. The Class of 2007 four-star was a defensive lineman at Cass Tech but switched sides of the ball and started 39 games at right tackle for the Tigers. He was an All-SEC second-team selection as a senior in 2010. 4. S Thomas Gordon, Michigan: Classmates with Will Campbell at Cass, Gordon played above his Class of 2009 three-star recruit status. He started 38 games among 47 total appearances at Michigan from 2010-13, tallying 229 tackles, 11.5 for loss, six pass breakups and six interceptions. 5. DL Will Campbell, Michigan: The lone five-star to hail out of Cass Tech, Campbell experienced two lost seasons with the Wolverines before Brady Hoke found purpose for him in 2011. In his final two seasons, Campbell started 11