The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70101
2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE statement, regarding points of emphasis, ability to attract star potential, etc. The same can be said regarding recruiting at Michigan over the past two decades. Here is a look back at the first classes brought in by former A Look Back At The First Full Classes By Past U-M Coaches Any head coach's first complete recruiting class makes a U-M head coaches Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr and Rich Rodri- guez, along with the present group produced by Brady Hoke and his staff: Barry, RB Ed Davis, RB Che Foster, DL Jason Horn, OL Trezelle Jenkins, OL Joe Marinaro, LB Jamie Mignon, DL Walter Reggans, DL Trent Zenkewicz. Top Five Performers: Wheat- • Gary Moeller, Class of 1991 Top Recruit: RB Tyrone Wheatley Most Lauded 10: Wheatley, OL Paul ley, Zenkewicz, Marinaro, QB/TE Jay Riemersma and Jenkins. Comments: Wheatley proved pre- cisely as advertised. He came to Michi- gan a consensus prep All-American out of Dearborn Heights, Mich. He was the No. 1 prospect on The Detroit News Blue Chip list and the Detroit Free Press Fabulous 50. More than two decades later, Wheat- in U-M history, and his per-game average of 144.4 yards in 2000 has never been matched by a Michigan running back. This class featured some high-profile offensive line recruits, He also scored more rushing touchdowns (55) than anyone such as Mossa and Brooks, that never contributed much, but also boasted overlooked defensive backs, including Patmon and William Peterson, who (with Whitley) played big roles early on Michigan's 1997 national championship squad. • Rich Rodriguez, Class of 2009 Top Recruit: DT William Campbell Most Lauded 10: Campbell, DB Jus- tin Turner, QB Tate Forcier, DE Anthony LaLota, WR Jeremy Gallon, OL Taylor Lewan, QB Denard Robinson, DL Craig Roh, WR Je'Ron Stokes, OL Quinton Washington. Top Five Performers: Robinson, Le- wan, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, DL Craig Row, WR/KR Jeremy Gallon. Comments: This is an interesting ley still ranks fourth on Michigan's all-time rushing list with 4,178 career yards. He scored 47 rushing touch- downs, more than all but one player in U-M history, and the 7.34 yards-per- carry average he established in 1992 has never been matched in a single season by a Michigan back. The class also produced multi- group, many of whom provided the heart and soul of U-M's run to an 11-2 record and Sugar Bowl victory. But there are surprises both ways among Rodriguez's initial recruiting class. Campbell and Turner were the five- stars. Turner is now gone, trying to establish a career at a lower level of football, and Campbell hopes for his first full-time starting job as a senior in 2012. Forcier started as a freshman and is gone, along with LaLota and Stokes from that top-10 players list. Robinson, meanwhile, drew decent ple-year offensive line starters in Marinaro and Jenkins, and a multi- ple-season defensive line starter in Zenkewicz. Perhaps the surprise of the class wasn't that Riemersma enjoyed some success, but that he went from a regionally recognized quarter- back to a very effective Michigan tight end to get that accomplished. Quarterback Denard Robinson, who will be a senior this fall, was part of then-head coach Rich Rodriguez's first complete recruiting class, in 2009. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Michigan career statistical lists. recruiting notice, but wasn't consid- ered a top-100 national prospect by anyone. He's not only one of the coun- try's most dynamic performers, he's well on his way to the top of a host of Brackins, OL Jason Brooks, OL Ben Mast, RB Patrick McCall, OL Todd Mossa, FB Demetrius Smith, DB James Whitley, OL Maurice Williams. Top Five Performers: Thomas, Williams, Anderson, Whit- • Lloyd Carr, Class of 1996 Top Recruit: RB Anthony Thomas Most Lauded 10: Thomas, LB/OL Kurt Anderson, LB Eric ley, DB DeWayne Patmon. Comments: Just like Moeller, Carr landed a running back in his first class that would rewrite the Michigan record books. Consensus prep All-American Thomas, "The A-Train," rolled all the way from Winnfield, La., to the top of Michi- gan's all-time rushing list at 4,472 career yards, before Mike Hart eventually surpassed him. Thomas still stands second on that list. Bolden, WR Amara Darboh, OL Erik Magnuson, DB Terry Richardson, LB James Ross, DE Tom Strobel, DB Jarrod Wilson. Top Five Performers: TBD Comments: There exists no lack of opportunity for those • Brady Hoke, Class of 2012 Top Recruits: OL Kyle Kalis, DL Ondre Pipkins. Most Lauded 10: Kalis, Pipkins, OL Blake Bars, LB Joe at key positions, whether they were the most hyped in re- cruiting or not. Kalis and Pipkins could make the initial two- deep on the year, with Pipkins expected to contribute in the middle of a depleted Michigan defensive line. Darboh should certainly get a shot at early contributions as a wide receiver, while tight end Devin Funchess is big (6-5) and versatile enough to quickly become a jump-ball specialist in the red zone. Bolden is definitely one to watch for the future, as a rugged linebacker with great instincts and a nasty streak on the field. — John Borton MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 23