The Wolverine

March 2020 Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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nior nationally. He didn't treat that one like a big deal either. His reaction wasn't a surprise to Rivals.com Midwest recruiting ana- lyst Josh Helmholdt, who's seen enough of Seldon to know the Wol- verines are getting a good one. "Andre thrives on people doubt- ing him," Helmholdt said. "That has been his fuel throughout his career. He seems like he should be a guy with limited upside, yet he continues to get better, continues to raise his game to another level. "That's encouraging. That's im- pressive, and why his rating keeps rising and is the highest now. He just keeps elevating his play." It takes incredible physical gifts to thrive at corner while being his size, Helmholdt continued, along with one other quality. "You've got to have big stones," he said. "Andre has that. If you're going to man up wide receivers that could be 6-4 or 6-5 — which is what you're going to get in the Big Ten … guys who are 215, 220 pounds — you've got to have that 'never back down, never say die' mentality. "Andre has that. He has that swagger that you want from the cornerback po- sition, from a guy you're going to put on an island out there and ask to lock down another team's playmaking wide receiver." You've got to be smart, too, and Seldon has found ways to mitigate his height disadvantage, Helmholdt continued. Whether it's the subtle things he does so receivers can't get off the ground or his hand place- ment, he's proven time and again he's more than just the nickel back some have made him out to be. "He can be an every-down outside corner," Helmholdt said. "He does not just have to be a nickel corner, though he can play that role and can be very effective in that role because of his ability to stay with receivers through routes. "Where the size things come in to play is a jam at the line of scrimmage or jump balls, and he doesn't have a problem with that. What you really need is top-end speed and fluidity to stay with routes and not lose mo- mentum. Andre has that. The most important aspects of the position he has in bulk, and the things he lacks he makes up for with 'want to.'" The proof is in the product Seldon puts on film every time he takes the field. Whenever someone doubt him, he just keeps elevating his play. "Everyone says after each time they see him, 'I expect he's hit his ceiling.' Some players couldn't han- dle that," Helmholdt explained. "A lot of people at Under Armour ex- pected to feel that way." And when it was over … "He didn't just compete with them; he might have been the best cornerback there," Helmholdt noted. P ro v i n g o n c e again that size doesn't always matter when it comes to be- ing elite. ❑ Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt "If you're going to man up wide receivers that could be 6-4 or 6-5 … you've got to have that 'never back down, never say die' mentality. Andre has that. He has that swagger that you want from the cornerback position." Seldon's little brother, 2022 cornerback Myles Rowser, has already committed to Michigan, meaning the two will reunite in Ann Arbor, after helping Belleville (Mich.) High reach the semifinals of the Division 1 state playoffs in 2019. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND MARCH 2020 THE WOLVERINE 51 DID YOU KNOW? • Had one interception return for a touchdown and four punt return touchdowns in his senior year. He averaged more than 25 yards a punt return. • Also scored two touchdowns (one defensive, one via kick return) as a sophomore. • Participated in the Rivals100 Five- Star Challenge. • Ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. • Enrolled early and got to partici- pate in three December U-M practices ahead of the Citrus Bowl. • Older brother of 2022 U-M corner- back commit Myles Rowser. THEY SAID IT • Former 12-year NFL veteran cor- nerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, who coached the defensive backs for Seldon's team at the Under Armour All-American Bowl (via MLive): "He's very coachable. He's a good kid. He reminds me a lot of me, you know? A smaller corner who's will- ing to compete every play. He was one of the smartest guys we had here as far as football knowledge. The size doesn't mean nothing. It's about the fight in the dog — not the size." • Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt: "Seldon is 5-foot-8. That's the knock on him. Ev- erybody knows that, but we had an- other guy at the Five-Star Challenge six years ago, by the name of Jourdan Lewis, who is similarly undersized. He went to Michigan and now is in the NFL. Seldon has all the rest of the tools you look for at the cornerback posi- tion. Most impressive is his attitude and his competitiveness. He's got that kind of mentality you look for in a cor- nerback to lock down one half of the field." 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE

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