The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS from the equation). Alabama has dominated the recruiting landscape since Nick Saban's arrival in 2007, but in 2002 and 2003 the Crimson Tide ranked 30th and 49th, respectively, in the Rivals.com team recruiting rank‑ ings. U‑M has pulled in, on average, the 15th best recruiting class since 2002, just a few points shy of 13th place ( Texas A&M). Poor classes hurt U‑M considerably in 2014 (31st) and 2015 (50th). If the Wol‑ verines' performance a year ago — when Michigan signed just 14 recruits, includ‑ ing six four‑stars, after the late arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh Dec. 28 — was removed and the 13‑year aver‑ ages were used instead, U‑M would have ranked 12th among the top recruiting schools in the country. The Buckeyes are the lone program outside of the Southeast, California or Texas to rank in the top 10, at No. 9, while Notre Dame ranks No. 12 and Oregon comes in at No. 20. Among Big Ten programs, Penn State is third, averaging the No. 27 class and Michigan State is fourth, with the No. 32 class. THEWOLVERINE.COM POLL RESULTS Each month, TheWolverine.com runs a new poll for its readers to vote on. If you would like to vote, go to www.the- wolverine.com. The poll is located on our premium message board, The Fort. Which early enrollee will contrib- ute the most in 2016? LB Devin Bush Jr. — 75 percent RB Kareem Walker — 10 percent OLB Carlo Kemp — 8 percent RB Kingston Davis — 5 percent WR Ahmir Mitchell — 3 percent 952 Votes MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK ARTZ, CHIARELLI PACING GYMNASTS Junior women's gymnasts Nicole Artz and Talia Chiarelli continue to perform at a high level for the Wolverines, and the Big Ten noticed again Feb. 9. Artz earned Big Ten Gymnast of the Week for the third time this year, with Chiarelli garnering Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week for the fourth time. Michigan posted a score of 197.425 — a season high — in knocking off Mary‑ land and Eastern Michigan Feb. 8. Artz earned the all‑around title (39.550), as well as the top spot on floor exercise (9.925). She was second on the beam (9.925) and tied for third on the bars (9.900). Chiarelli matched her season high score on the beam (9.950) to win that event. She tied for third on the floor (9.850) and tied for sixth on vault (9.825).