The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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CLASS REVIEW: 2009 leading Michigan to a 4-0 record, in- cluding last-minute wins over Notre Dame and Indiana. He finished his freshman year with 2,050 yards and 13 touchdowns, but an "I've arrived" attitude and a poor work ethic cost him the starting job in 2010, and he served as backup to Denard Robin- son. Forcier appeared in eight games Forcier signed a free-agent deal with the Hamilton Tigers of the Canadian Football League. This past summer, he was cut by the Tigers in training camp. Je'Ron Stokes — One of Rich Ro- in relief in 2010 and helped U-M to a triple-overtime win over Illinois, completing 12 of 19 attempts for 114 yards with two scores. That was the last good thing he did at Michigan, and in college foot- ball. He was dismissed from the team before the bowl game due to academics, and after committing to play for Miami and then San Jose State (he never suited up for either), 2009 Class Overview Players In Class — 22 Rivals.com Ranking — 8th Players Still At Michigan — 14 Name Comment: Will start at nose tackle for the Maize and Blue, responsible for oc- cupying blockers to free linemates and linebackers to make plays. William Campbell DT 6-5 308 5 Comment: Ideally a No. 3 receiver, be- gins the season the default No. 2 after making 31 catches for 453 yards and three scores in 2011. Jeremy Gallon WR 5-8 187 4 Comment: Has a lock on the placekick- ing job after converting 13 of 17 field goals a year ago, including the Sugar Bowl game winner. Brendan Gibbons PK 6-1 230 2 Comment: Lost his starting Sam line- backer job to Jake Ryan, but is pushing Ryan for playing time and will be a ca- pable backup. Cameron Gordon LB 6-3 236 4 Comment: Enters his second season as the starting free safety, but with strong competition will have to produce to keep his job. Thomas Gordon S 5-11 207 3 Comment: Started five games at weak- side linebacker in 2011 before ceding his post to Desmond Morgan. B. Hawthorne Comment: Has been plagued by the injury bug during his career and begins redshirt junior year (potentially his last) Mike Jones LB 6-2 226 3 S 6-0 220 3 Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars Comment: Should become Michigan's first offensive tackle to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors since Jake Long (2006-07). eager to play any role. Taylor Lewan OT 6-8 309 4 Comment: Looking to become the first U-M quarterback since John Navarre in 2003 to win a Big Ten title in his senior year. Denard Robinson QB 6-0 197 4 Comment: Playing a position that suits his strengths, he could equal his career production in sacks (6.5) in just one season. Craig Roh DE 6-5 281 4 Comment: Tired of living in class- mate Lewan's shadow, Schofield is ready for a breakthrough year at right tackle. Michael Schofield OL 6-7 300 4 Comment: Continues as Michigan's third-down back but will find it difficult to match last year's 447 rushing/receiv- ing yards. Vincent Smith RB 5-6 175 3 Comment: First U-M ball carrier since Mike Hart (2007) to eclipse 1,000 yards is eyeing 1,600 yards this fall, but likely begins the year suspended for a game or two. F. Toussaint RB 5-10 202 4 Comment: One of four 300-pound de- fensive linemen on the fall roster, Wash- ington will serve as a backup at nose and defensive tackle. Q. Washington DT 6-4 300 4 driguez's biggest "gets" during the coach's brief tenure — the four-star was a National Signing Day surprise in 2009 — Stokes spent two seasons in Ann Arbor before leaving in Au- gust 2011 for Bowling Green. He sat out last year per NCAA transfer rules, but is slated to compete for a starting job at wide receiver this fall. Justin Turner — The four-star re- losing the favor of his coaches. Turner responded with a solid spring as he vied to replace starting corner- back Donovan Warren, but he was dismissed from the team before the 2010 campaign. Turner announced last winter he would play at Hawaii in 2012. However, an Aug. 6 article on WarriorBeat.com said Turner did not fulfill his transfer requirements and will not be eligible in 2012. Adrian Witty — A teammate of De- cruit met resistance from Michigan's admissions department and did not participate in training camp. When he was finally cleared to enroll and practice, he was out of shape, quickly nard Robinson's at Deerfield Beach High School, Witty failed to qualify academically for Michigan and was forced to look elsewhere. He wound up at Cincinnati, playing in 12 games a year ago with one pass deflection, one forced fumble and 15 total tack- les. This fall, Witty enters his redshirt sophomore campaign hoping to win a starting job at safety after ending the spring second on the depth chart behind Arryn Chenault. No longer in football: Youngstown, Ohio, linebacker Isaiah Bell; Detroit running back Teric Jones; and Prince- ton, N.J., lineman Anthony LaLota. ❑ from the class of 2009 played key roles in their rookie year — Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson, Craig Roh and running back Vincent Smith chief among them — they largely get a pass for the 5-7 sea- son because a team shouldn't have to depend on its first-year talent for success. Over the last two seasons, the Report Card Even though numerous athletes class has a record of 18-8, with seven starting for the Sugar Bowl champion Wolverines in 2011. That of course includes Robinson, who could elevate this group's grade on his own. However, he doesn't need to because in Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield, Roh, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Thomas Gordon, Brendan Gibbons and Jeremy Gallon, the 2009 cohort features eight returning starters, all expected to play key roles this fall. And the backups will be in- valuable also. This class is central to the re- juvenation of the Michigan pro- gram, and is on its way to earning an "A" mark, but it will take a Big Ten title this fall to achieve that lofty grade going into 2013: B+ SEPTEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 49