The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70101
2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Year No. Top Commit 2012 7 No. 3 James Ross 2011 4 No. 4 Justice Hayes 2010 1 No. 2 Devin Gardner 2009 2 No. 1 William Campbell 2008 4 No. 1 Boubacar Cissoko 2007 1 No. 10 Ryan Van Bergen 2006 2 No. 1 Brandon Graham 2005 4 No. 1 Kevin Grady 2004 5 No. 1 Alex Mitchell 2003 5 No. 1 Lamarr Woodley LANDED BY MICHIGAN IN-STATE RIVALS.COM TOP 10 PROSPECTS U-M landed nine of the 15 players that were named to the annual Detroit News Blue Chips list, including Orchard Lake St. Mary's linebacker James Ross. fensive lineman Matthew Godin, a 6-6, 265-pound end ranked No. 10 in the state and a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, earns the No. 6 posi- tion on the list, and tight end Devin Funchess comes in at No. 7. The 6-5, 220-pounder is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 9 player in the state by Rivals. Rockford offensive tackle Ben Braden is No. 10 on the list (No. 8 according to Rivals), while run- ning backs Drake Johnson (Ann Arbor Pioneer) and Dennis Norfleet (Detroit Crockett) close out the Michigan rep- resentation at Nos. 13 and 14. (a 6-2, 210-pound linebacker ranked a four-star and the No. 4 player in the state by Rivals.com) come in at Nos. 2 and 4, respectively, while 6-1, 205-pound Orchard Lake St. Mary's linebacker James Ross occupies the third slot. Ross is the most highly ranked player in the group according to Rivals.com, listing as the No. 172 player in the country, No. 3 prospect in the state, a four-star recruit and the No. 14 outside linebacker nationally. Novi Detroit Catholic Central de- ASSOCIATE EDITOR MICHAEL SPATH WR Jehu Chesson S Jarrod Wilson Defensive Line TE A.J. Williams LB Joe Bolden are not headed to Michigan, only a few had offers from the Wolverines. Farmington Hills Harrison wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (No. 5), Flint Powers defensive tackle Danny O'Brien (No. 8), and Southfield tight end Ron Thompson (No. 9) picked Michigan State, Tennessee, and Syra- cuse, respectively, over offers from Michigan. ❑ Among the players on the list who Position No. QB WR OL DE DB RB TE DT LB K ATH U-M UNITS IN RIVALS.COM'S POSITION RANKINGS Signees Position Rank 0 3 2 2 4 3 3 4 4 0 0 Rivals — t-31 t-10 3 4 5 t-12 t-4 15 — — THEWOLVERINE.COM EDITOR CHRIS BALAS DE Mario Ojemudia Offensive Line WR Amara Darboh DT Ondre Pipkins OL Kyle Kalis STAFF WRITER ANDY REID WR Amara Darboh DT Ondre Pipkins OL Kyle Kalis S Jeremy Clark Offensive Line PHOTO BY MICHAEL GENNARIA Willie Henry, Kyle Kalis, Kaleb Ringer, Tom Strobel, A.J. Williams, Jarrod Wilson and Christopher Wormley. Missouri (2): Jehu Chesson and Ondre Pipkins. California (1): Erik Magnuson. Iowa (1): Amara Darboh. Kentucky (1): Jeremy Clark. Tennessee (1): Blake Bars. Utah (1): Sione Houma. Funchess, Matthew Godin, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Drake Johnson, Den- nis Norfleet, Mario Ojemudia, Terry Richardson and James Ross. Ohio (9): Joe Bolden, Allen Gant, Michigan (9): Ben Braden, Devin MICHIGAN RECRUITS BY STATE MICHIGAN'S AVERAGE RIVALS.COM STAR RANKING SINCE 2002 Year 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Avg. Stars 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.6 3.7 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.6 RECRUITING EDITOR TIM SULLIVAN DT Ondre Pipkins TE Devin Funchess LB James Ross Linebacker OL Kyle Kalis MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 35