MVN - Most Valuable Network

Wolverines Continue to Show Recruiting Muscle

Image details: Notre Dame Fighting Irish v University of Michigan Wolverines served by picapp.com

I am starting to wish away the upcoming 2008 Michigan football campaign so we can get onto the 2009 season.

Linebacker Jordan Barnes out of Fort Wayne, Indiana became the Maize and Blue’s 11th commit and chose the Wolverines over Big Ten rival Wisconsin and Alabama and recruiting king Nick Saban. The 6-1, 230 pounder felt that the tradition and family ties in Michigan, along with a chance to play right away made his commitment to the school and head coach Rich Rodriguez an easy decision.

“It’s one of the most traditionally great schools there is. It hasn’t completely hit me yet that I am going to be playing at the University of Michigan, but it will pretty soon. There have been a lot of great players to go through there and hopefully I can be one of them.

I’ve got my grandparents, my aunts and uncles all in Detroit. It’s just good because I can have my grandparents and my cousins come to my games whereas with Alabama, I don’t know if they’d ever be able to come see me play. I can probably go to my grandparents house after games on Saturdays and it’s just something that felt really comfortable.”

Michigan wasn’t done as on the same day, they also landed their 12th member of their already impressive 2009 class. Dewayne Peace, 6-0, 177, of South Grand Prairie, Texas will either play wide receiver or defensive back for the Wolverines. The coaching staff believes he has potential on both sides of the ball and will use the initial two seasons of his career to determine his best fit.

As is the case with all recruits, if the prove themselves to be the best at their positions, they will play, period. He chose Michigan over Kansas and Texas A&M. Happy that the recruiting process is over, Peace knows there is work to be done and is ready to contribute to the rich tradition of the winningest college football program.

“I ended up picking Michigan over Kansas because Kansas and Texas A&M were the two schools that were up there with them,” Peace said. “But Michigan ended up prevailing. It’s just Michigan. What can I say? It’s the most winning program in the country and it’s best fit for me. I (came to the decision) after talking to some players that came from Texas and seeing what they thought about the (offensive stats) from West Virginia because Rich Rodriguez came from there. Then it was just looking at the program.”

Rodriguez Wraps Another Prize Recruit

The late start in recruiting in 2008 is something that cannot be avoided when changing head coaches. But new Michigan head man Rich Rodriguez is already rolling for 2009.

The Wolverines have landed their tenth recruit of the 2009 class in offensive tackle Michael Schofield, 6-7, 275 pounds (up to 292 presently) out of Orland Park, Illinois. He is ranked number 16 in the country amongst tackles in the country by Rivals.com and is a four-star recruit.

After visiting Ann Arbor, Schofield was convinced that Michigan was the place for him to pursue his academics and play for a big-time college program. He wanted to come to a quick decision so he could relax and not feel the recruiting pressure.

“When you find the right school, why wait? That was the school I wanted to go to so I didn’t wait any longer,” Michael said. “It just takes away a lot of distractions. I don’t have to worry about calling a bunch of coaches and it allows me to focus. I feel relaxed, excited and just happy I got it done with and picked the right school. Academics is the reason why you actually go to college and Michigan has some of the best academics in the country. “It’s exciting that you have some of the best football in the country and the academics – it’s the perfect fit.”

Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming believes Schofield is the best recruit Michigan has landed out of the Chicago area in some time, While he passed up 15 other schools including Notre Dame, Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Miami (Fla.), and Boston College, Lemming believes the Wolverines have a potential star to follow in the foot steps of Jake Long.

“He’s the first good catch for Michigan out of Chicago in some time,” Lemming said. “In one or two years, he can really develop into an All-American. He has a lot of potential.”

Michigan Gets Verbal Commit from 8th 2009 Recruit

In a world where the attitude is very much “what have you done lately”, Michigan and head coach Rich Rodriguez may have to wait for their “atta boys”.

While the Maize and Blue garnered a very solid 2008 class despite the coaching change and transition in philosophy, they have added four-star recruit, wide receiver Bryce McNeal, wide receiver out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

At 6-2, 170 pounds with 4.45 forty speed committed while in attendance at Saturday’s “Barbecue at the Big House, which was McNeal’s second visit to Ann Arbor, and this time he was sure to bring along one of the most important critics, his mom.

“I showed my mom around campus, went into Coach Rodriguez’s office, asked a couple questions and the answers were right so I said I want to join the family,” Bryce boasted. “He paused for a second, said ‘Stand up and give me a hug. Welcome to the family!’ I told the other coaches and they all just gave me hugs and told me they were very excited.”

Although each recruit glows about the history and tradition of Michigan football, the entire experience that stretches well beyond the Big House and into the other aspects of the campus is often just as strong a lure to those looking for the complete life-changing college experience that prepares them for the working adult world.

“I finally just got a feel for everything and it just felt like home. I couldn’t find anything negative. The football, the academics, my major, the surrounding people, it just all felt good. It’s a great feeling. It’s all done and I can’t wait to get home, start working out, get a little bigger and prepare to come in and compete.”

McNeal is the fourth player from Rival.com’s Top 100 (#70) and as a junior wide receiver totaled 31 receptions for 705 yards and nine touchdowns. He snagged 57 receptions for 701 yards and four TDs as a sophomore while also  rushing 13 times for 94 yards and another score.

I know its tough, but patience will be needed to see the fruits of Rodriguez’s recruiting labors and in the coming seasons, we are going to see a new era of Michigan football. If all goes according to plan, there will be plenty of pats on the back for the regime.

Wolverine Wildcards

New head coach Rich Rodriguez is ringing in a new era of Michigan football in 2008 and it is going to be an initial bumpy ride. With such Maize and Blue notables such as offensive tackle Jake Long, quarterback Chad Henne, runningback Mike Hart, wide receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, and pass rusher Shawn Crable lost to the NFL Draft, there will be a nearly new roster to go along with a new offensive mindset (the spread offense).

At a glance, you would get the feeling the cupboard is bare. I am not about to insult anyone’s intelligence (or blindly get my own hopes up) and state that Michigan will win the Big Ten conference this season. But with RR’s first recruiting class (and a jump on an outstanding ‘09 class) and some talented holdovers from last year’s squad, the Wolverines should be an intriguing, and sometimes exciting, work in progress.

Here are some of the players I expect to step to the forefront this season with standout performances:

Morgan Trent, CB, 6-1, 190, Senior

Trent earned Big Ten honorable mention and has the potential, size and speed to go along with big game experience to excel. He is poised to follow Ty Law, Charles Woodson, and Marlin Jackson into the NFL and playing on Sundays. 

Brandon Graham, DE, 6-2, 276, Junior

Graham is a threat to break the school’s single-season sack mark of 12 after coming off a 2007 campaign in which he recorded 8.5 sacks and should have an expanded role in 2008 to maximize his talents.

Tim Jamison, DE, 6-3, 266, Senior

With 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, Jamison started all 13 games at defensive end and earned Big Ten honorable mention. With Graham, he gives Michigan an explosive pair of bookends on the D-line.

Terrance Taylor, DT, 6-0, 319, Senior

Taylor is an excellent athlete who has the strength and quickness to blow up opposing backfields and is a preseason Bronco Nagurski Trophy candidate, given to the defensive player of the year.

Carlos Brown, RB, 6-0, 213, Junior

Brown is who I would consider the front-runner in the three-way battle (Kevin Grady, Brandon Minor) for the starting tailback slot and has the speed and elusiveness needed for the spread offense.

Darryl Stonum, WR, 6-3, 185, Freshman

Stonum is one of the top playmaking wideouts coming out of the 2008 recruiting class and excels at the run after the catch. Pairing his 4.4 speed with his size and he is primed to play right away and step in as a big play waiting to happen for Michigan.

With so many positions up for grabs in Ann Arbor and a new coaching regime and philosophy, Michigan fans, for the first time in a long time, will be asked to show some patience as Rodriguez and his staff implement their style into the program as the Wolverines look to be retooling while they rebuild in getting ready for 2009’s reload for a run at the conference championship.