The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE host of other impact players, such as safety Jamar Adams, wideout Adrian Ar- rington, defensive lineman Alan Branch, defensive lineman Will Johnson and cornerback Morgan Trent. 2. 2012 — This class, ranked No. 7 in the nation by Rivals.com, is still produc- ing some big contributors to Jim Harbaugh's football team. It included the 2015 Most Valuable Player, fifth-year senior wideout Jehu Chesson, and a tight end that just played in the Super Bowl — Devin Funchess. It also included linebacker Joe Bolden, fifth-year senior offensive lineman Ben Braden, fifth-year senior wideout Amara Darboh, NFL early entry defensive line- man Willie Henry, fullback Sione Houma, fifth-year senior running back Drake Johnson, tight end A.J. Wilson, fifth-year senior defensive lineman Chris Worm- ley, and two other potential 2016 offensive line starters in fifth-year seniors Erik Magnuson and Kyle Kalis. 3. 2016 — It's always dangerous to project a class highly before it takes the field, but the number of new Wolverines on board (28) and the ranking (No. 4) gives great reason for optimism. National No. 1 recruit Rashan Gary is every- body's impact player on defense, a lineman with size, quickness and a high motor. His classmates include a top quarterback in Brandon Peters, running backs Ka- reem Walker from New Jersey and Kingston Davis from Alabama, the No. 2 tight end in the nation from California, Devin Asiasi, and potential impact players up and down the roster. 4. 2009 — Rivals.com had that group No. 8 in the nation. It produced a pair of starting quarterbacks in Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, the latter becom- ing one of the most electrifying players in Michigan history. Robinson raced away to 4,495 rushing yards, second-most ever by a Wolverine, 6,250 passing yards, and easily the most total offense (10,745 yards) in the annals of Michigan football. The class also featured a record-setting receiver in Jeremy Gallon, a first-round NFL Draft pick in Taylor Lewan, a 1,000-yard rusher in Fitzgerald Toussaint and a host of others who started for Michigan. 5. 2013 — This group will supply plenty of power for a Harbaugh-led crew that will open the season among the nation's 10 best teams, and top five for some. It produced senior All-America tight end Jake Butt, senior All-America cornerback Jourdan Lewis and 2015 senior lead tailback De'Veon Smith. A host of others are expected to contribute in 2016, including defensive linemen Taco Charlton, a senior, and Maurice Hurst Jr., a redshirt junior; se- nior defensive backs Channing Stribling, Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas; linebackers Ben Gedeon, a senior, and Mike McCray, a redshirt junior; redshirt junior tight end Khalid Hill and others. — John Borton