The Wolverine

March 2012

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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similar situation were to arise where those interested in committing are too good to pass on. Cornerbacks 2012 Scholarship CB: 6 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 1 Signees: 1 2013 Need: 2 Summary: Michigan signed four 2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Safeties cornerbacks in 2011, but even then the position was a concern because U-M's returning veterans didn't in- spire confidence. Arguably, no unit on the team pulled a bigger 180 in the past 12 months, with fifth-year senior J.T. Floyd, junior Courtney Avery and sophomores Blake Countess and Ray- mon Taylor proving they can handle the short- and long-term needs at the position. With an abundance of depth and skill, the Wolverines looked to add one or two cornerbacks in this class. At one point, they had two — four-star Terry Richardson and three-star Anthony Standifer — but U-M and Standifer parted company in December. Moving forward, Floyd will depart, fensive back haul in 2011, U-M desig- nated only Tamani Carter for a future at safety, and there wasn't a need for more thanks to the presence of return- ing starters and ample depth. Michigan saw Carvin Johnson exit 2012 Scholarship SS/FS: 5 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 1 Signees: 3 2013 Need: 1 Summary: Among its five-man de- Recruiting Targets That Got Away Michigan before the conclusion of his sophomore campaign this fall, but even with his unexpected departure, the Wolverines are stocked at the position with five re- turning players in 2012, including fifth- year senior starter Jordan Kovacs and redshirt junior starter Thomas Gordon. The Maize and Blue signed three Michigan's No. 1 target at the position, the Auburn com- mitment has regressed from a five-star to a three-star re- cruit in Rivals. com's f inal 2012 rankings. Tailback Bri'onte Dunn: U-M Quarterback Zeke Pike: Once PIKE safeties, largely because they didn't want to say no to the high-impact po- tential of Jarrod Wilson, and because they see great promise in Allen Gant and Jeremy Clark. In 2013, Michigan will have seven and while six cornerbacks should re- turn in 2013, only Avery and Countess have thus far shown the requisite abil- ity to start, so Michigan could afford to bring in two top-tier covermen to begin competing for jobs in their first or second year. able-bodied safeties, barring a de- parture, and do not need to sign one. However, Dymonte Thomas, who may be the top player in Ohio in 2013, has already committed and he's the kind of talent a program cannot say no to. Specialists 2012 Scholarship P/PK: 3 Need on Feb. 3, 2011: 0 Signees: 0 2013 Need: 0 Summary: Michigan signed Matt spent six months trying to woo Dunn away from Ohio State, and with black clouds hanging over OSU it certainly looked like the four-star would change his mind, but Urban Meyer's arrival revital- ized the Buckeye commitment. Wide Receiver Jordan Pay- ton: The four-star loved his visits to Midwest rivals Michigan and Notre Dame, but couldn't see himself moving so far away from his Westlake Village, Calif., home, ultimately choosing to play for UCLA. Offensive Lineman Josh Gar- nett: U-M was in the final two for the four-star, but lost out to Stan- ford, which sold Garnett on aca- demic opportunities in Palo Alto slightly better than Michigan. Linebacker Vince Biegel: One Wile last year to compete for the start- ing placekicking job immediately, af- ter the Maize and Blue went 4 of 14 on field goals in 2010. To their sur- prise, redshirt junior Brendan Gibbons needed no help, converting 13 of 17 this season, and he will be given ev- ery opportunity to continue as U-M's starter. Wile started at punter for four games while junior Will Hagerup was sus- pended, and then took over for Hag- erup in the Sugar Bowl. The competi- tion there should be fierce throughout the offseason and into preseason camp. But with those three in place for Michigan needed to sign one cornerback in the 2012 class and got its man in Under Armour All-American Terry Richardson of Detroit Cass Tech. 30 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2012 of the top five linebackers nation- ally and the top recruit in Wis- consin, Biegel visited U-M in the spring and subsequently listed Michigan with favorites Wis- consin and BYU. UW was clearly No. 1, though, and he committed to the Badgers in April. Cornerback Armani Reeves: Originally a Penn State commit- ment, the four-star would choose between Michigan and Ohio State, and went with the Buck- eyes after best friend Camren Williams pledged to OSU. Tight End Sam Grant: A team- PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM at least two more seasons, Michigan could pass on a specialist in 2012 and can do so again in 2013. At the earliest, the Wolverines would need either a punter or a kicker in the 2014 class, but Wile, a senior that year, is capable of being both. ❑ mate of U-M signee Kyle Kalis at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, Grant was expected to choose Michigan after decommitting from Boston College. However, he ultimately went with Oklahoma. — Michael Spath

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