The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE three more receivers in the 2013 class, preferably top-20 types. Tight Ends 2012 Scholarship TE: 2 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 2 Signees: 2 2013 Need: 2 Summary: Perhaps the first big re- cluding four-stars Erik Magnuson and Blake Bars, and five-star Kyle Kalis. However, Michigan lost commitment Caleb Stacey to hometown Cincinnati and was unable to fill his void. U-M's task is not complete, and cruiting coup in the Hoke era occurred when Michigan slipped into Texas to grab four-star C.J. Barnett with the time dwindling on the 2011 recruit- ing clock. Barnett had the body and pedigree to be an outstanding blocker, and the speed, hands and agility to be a dynamic receiver. However, Barnett would not survive won't be for a while. The Maize and Blue will lose another four scholar- ship linemen after 2012, and will have just eight in 2013 (counting the sign- ees). Michigan could use seven more bodies to hit the desired 15 count, but shouldn't sign that many just to fill a quota. Five will suffice for now. Defensive Tackles his first preseason camp, leaving just two scholarship tight ends on the ros- ter for 2012 — fifth-year senior Bran- don Moore and redshirt sophomore Ricardo Miller — with the departures of Kevin Koger and Steve Watson. U-M had to have two tight ends in 2012 Scholarship DT: 5 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 3 Signees: 2 2013 Need: 3 Summary: Perhaps no position is unless senior Craig Roh moves from the weakside. U-M signed six defensive linemen overall, with versatility being a com- mon theme. However, Mario Ojemu- dia will likely end up at weakside, with Matthew Godin, Tom Strobel and Chris Wormley on the strongside to start their careers. Ondre Pipkins and Willie Henry are tackles. The Wolverines have begun the pro- cess of restocking the shelves at end, but could probably still use at least one more at each position in the 2013 class to build depth and competition. Linebackers this class, and succeeded, grabbing Devin Funchess and A.J. Williams. Funchess was a proven receiver during his prep career while Williams excelled as a blocking tight end turned offen- sive lineman. Combined, they would be the perfect athlete at the position. Separately, they must improve their weaknesses. With Moore departing after next year and Miller new to the position in 2011, coming over from receiver, Michigan would greatly benefit from signing two do-it-all types at tight end. Offensive Linemen low a team to build a three-deep at every position. The need for 15 of- fensive linemen and 10-12 defensive linemen is greater at those positions because they are often the most dif- ficult to project. This past season, Michigan could 2012 Scholarship OL: 8 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 6 Signees: 4 2013 Need: 5 Summary: Ideally, a roster would al- just barely go two-deep with 10 schol- arship offensive linemen on the roster, and U-M would be down to eight in 2012 — center David Molk and right tackle Mark Huyge have exhausted their eligibility — without a heavy in- flux of freshmen. The Wolverines responded to the challenge, signing four linemen, in- cause for greater consternation than defensive tackle. With the move from the 3-3-5 to the 4-3 defense under first- year coordinator Greg Mattison, Mich- igan needed both bodies and play- makers at tackle, and had neither in the 2011 recruiting haul initially. Since then, redshirt freshman Chris Rock has moved inside from end. However, U-M was still down to five tackles for 2012 with Will Campbell set to finish off his eligibility, and needed to sign two or three recruits. The Wol- verines landed a five-star in Pipkins, the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle na- tionally, and also secured the signature of Henry, who has the raw skills to be a difference-maker someday as well. Michigan still isn't where it needs 2012 Scholarship LB: 10 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 1 Signees: 4 2013 Need: 1 Summary: At the end of the day on Feb. 2, 2011, Michigan had 12 lineback- ers on its roster for 2011, an absurd number for three starting spots. The talent level, though, wasn't what it needed to be, so U-M remained ada- mant it would bring in at least two linebackers in 2012. The Wolverines would take four be- cause they were four players worth taking, increasing the ability of the linebacker corps immediately. It is likely at least one or two line- backers will move to different posi- tions this spring, but Michigan's roster balance still would not support adding more than two again in 2013 unless a to be, though. It will have seven tack- les in 2012 and six in 2013, but U-M's veterans — redshirt junior Quinton Washington, and redshirt sophomores Ken Wilkins and Richard Ash — do not project as multi-year, impact start- ers, putting the onus on the Wolverines to bring in two or three more of those types in 2013 to battle with Rock, Pip- kins and Henry. Defensive Ends 2012 Scholarship DE: 4 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 2 Signees: 4 2013 Need: 2 Summary: Michigan breaks its defen- sive ends into two categories — weak- side and strongside. Heading into 2012, the Wolverines were in need of both, though redshirt freshman Keith Heitzman is the only strongside end Detrot Cass Tech standout Royce Jenkins- Stone, the No. 184 overall player in the land according to Rivals.com, was among four linebackers signed by the Wolverines. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 29