The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/70101
2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 6-2 • 205 • Defensive Back • Southview High School • Sylvania, Ohio ALLEN GANT ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ on Oct. 6, 1993, in Toledo, Ohio … Performed a maximum bench press of 305 pounds and a maximum squat of 405 pounds … Has been timed in 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Sports a 33-inch vertical jump … First Southview player to sign with a Big Ten team since three-star wide receiver Jimmy Hall committed to Northwestern in 2010 … Just the third player from Sylvania, Ohio, to play for Michigan (Jim Pickens 1975- 77, Jeff Del Verne 1997-2000) … His father, Tony Gant, played safety at Michigan from 1982-86. Rankings: Ranked as a three-star Personal: Allen Trail Gant was born prospect, the No. 57 recruit in Ohio and the No. 45 safety in the country by Rivals.com … Rated as a three- star recruit, the No. 72 player in Ohio, the No. 162 player in the Midwest and the No. 150 safety nationally by ESPN.com … Listed as a three-star player and the No. 20 safety nation- ally by MaxPreps.com … Tabbed as a three-star performer, the No. 42 player in Ohio and the No. 66 ath- lete nationally by 247Sports.com … Rated as the No. 86 player in the Mid- west by SuperPrep. Brady Hoke's Comments: "That name might be familiar. Allen is a big safety. He's a guy who has got a knack for the football." Allen Gant "I'm really excited. I've been waiting for this opportunity for a really long time. I'm just counting down the days until it happens, until I can put on that helmet. I just thank God for letting me be able to be a part of Team 133." Report: "He's better than I thought. He's a big, physical DB who can grow into a linebacker, just like his dad. He's a tough guy, is quick to the ball and more of a run stuffer that shows some pass defense skills. He's very good against the run." Career Totals: Started two seasons Tom Lemming of Prep Football Coaches Association North-South Classic April 20. Other Sports: Earned three varsity ceptions and two forced fumbles … On offense, caught 21 passes for 413 yards and a touchdown … Was named to the Division I all-district team defense and third-team all- state. All-Star Games And Camps: Went to the 2010 Ohio State football camp … Will play in the Ohio High School at safety and wide receiver for the Cougars … Notched 135 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles … Caught 52 passes for 754 yards (14.5 yards per catch) and three touchdowns … Carried the ball 19 times for 110 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and one score. Senior Season: Started all 11 Gant, who notched 135 tackles and four interceptions as a two-year starter at Sylvania (Ohio) Southview, is listed as the nation's 45th-best safety by Rivals.com. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM games for a Southview team that went 9-2, posting a 7-0 conference record … Had a career-best 159 yards receiving, on nine catches with a touchdown, in a 49-21 loss to McKin- ley in the first round of the playoffs … Recorded 79 tackles, seven stops for loss, one interception, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles … On offense, ranked second on the team in receiving yards (441) and first in receptions (31), while scor- ing four touchdowns … Also carried the ball 19 times for 110 yards and two scores … Fumbled just once in 50 touches… Named Division I first-team all-state by The Associated Press as well as first-team all-league and all-district. Junior Season: Started at safety for a Cougars team that went 10-1 … Recorded 56 tackles, three inter- letters in basketball … Was named all-conference first team and all-dis- trict third team as a junior … Aver- aged 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior … Was averaging 12 points and eight rebounds this sea- son … Performed shot put for the track team … Tallied a personal best 48-0 in shot put. High School GPA: 3.1. Planned Major: Kinesiology. Favorite Michigan Athlete: Des- mond Howard. Favorite Pro Player: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Other School Considered: Ohio State. Date Of Official Visit To Michigan: Dec. 9, 2011. Why Gant Chose Michigan: "It was a dream come true. It was seven months ago when I committed, and I just couldn't wait until signing day. It's been a long seven months. Now that it's finally here, it's such a relief. I'm just glad I got it off my chest. I'm glad to be a Wolverine now." Southview Head Coach Jim Mayzes' Comments: "Allen is just a terrific young man. He developed into a great leader for us, on and off the field. I know he's going to suc- ceed at Michigan, because he's one of the hardest workers on the team. He understands defenses, and what offenses are trying to do. He's going to be a great addition up there." MARCH 2012 THE WOLVERINE 51