The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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CLASS REVIEW: 2011 2011 Class Overview Players In Class — 20 Rivals.com Ranking — 21st Players Still At Michigan — 14 Name terback this fall, but has shown enough to be considered a challenger to win the job in 2013. Russell Bellomy QB 6-3 202 3 Comment: Will be third-string quar- Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars side defensive end must prove a force off the edge for Michigan defense to excel. Brennen Beyer DE 6-3 252 4 Comment: Expected starter at weak- Comment: Penciled in as the backup at right guard to senior Patrick Omameh with eye on starting in 2013. Chris Bryant Frank Clark OL 6-4 318 4 minutes at weakside end before a sum- mer arrest put his season in jeopardy. Comment: Was slated to log heavy DE 6-2 262 3 be Michigan's first all-conference first- team cornerback since Donovan War- ren in 2009. Blake Countess CB 5-10 180 4 Comment: Possesses the potential to Justice Hayes tailback, Hayes could be the heir appar- ent to Vincent Smith as a third-down option. Comment: A bit lost in the shuffle at TB 5-10 183 4 should help at two or three positions along the defensive line this fall. Keith Heitzman DL 6-3 270 3 Comment: Versatile player that Name Delonte Hollowell CB 5-9 176 3 Comment: Another year away from Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars competing defensively, but a dynamic special teams performer who could lead U-M in coverage tackles. Jack Miller Ricky Barnum's backup at center and could fill in if needed at guard also. Comment: Will spend a season as OL 6-4 288 3 defense from his weakside linebacker position and could be both a big-play threat and consistent tackler. Desmond Morgan LB 6-1 227 3 Comment: Anchors the Michigan season with an injury after showing good instincts and development in the spring. ald Toussaint, adds a dimension of tough in-between-the-tackles running that could earn greater carries. Thomas Rawls TB 5-10 218 3 Comment: Likely backup to Fitzger- quickly, could vie for nickel back role this season, and more in 2013. Matt Wile punting or placekicking job, but has a better chance to win the punter gig. Comment: Won't cede either the P 6-2 214 2 Raymon Taylor CB 5-10 182 4 Comment: Raw, but advancing Antonio Poole LB 6-2 224 3 Comment: Is expected to miss the only promise to the team was that the best players would play, giving U-M its greatest chance for success. That message proved true last fall, with two true freshmen starting at key po- sitions for the Wolverines defensively — Blake Countess at cornerback and Desmond Morgan at linebacker. Additionally, five classmates con- B rady Hoke made no prom- ises to his upperclassmen that they would get first dibs on starting jobs in 2011. His BY MICHAEL SPATH tributed in reserve roles, with Matt Wile assuming the punting duties in the absence of Will Hagerup during the month of September. This season, Brennen Beyer is set to join the starting lineup, and 10 of the 14 members remaining from the class of 2011 should carve out a post on Michigan's two-deep. Barely into their sophomore year, this group is ahead of the curve, impacting more than most second-year collections. And they will be continually pro- vided opportunity over the next few seasons to contribute to an even greater degree. 180-pound former four-star recruit became the first true freshman to start at least six games at cornerback at U-M since Donovan Warren did so in 2007. Countess displayed a natural feel for the game, making plays — he had six passes broken up — even though his technique and discipline proved lacking. By early November, he was playing at such a high level, he may have surpassed veteran corner- back J.T. Floyd as the team's best. He struggled some late, going through growing pains, but should continue to evolve this fall into one of the confer- ence's best covermen. Delonte Hollowell — Though his de- Blake Countess — The 5-10, CONTRIBUTORS SO FAR THE TOP FOUR In the final six games of the 2011 season, Desmond Morgan racked up 48 tackles, includ- ing double-digit totals in wins over Ohio State and Virginia Tech. 54 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2012 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN fensive contribution was minimal, with a single appearance at corner- back, Hollowell blossomed into a key special teams performer for the Wolverines in his rookie campaign, amassing six tackles on punt and kick- off coverage. He came up with three stops against Nebraska and recovered a fumble against Virginia Tech, which led to a field goal eight plays later. Desmond Morgan — Impressive in fall camp, Morgan moved into the