The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Brandon Watson had one goal in mind when he made the rounds on the camp circuit in the summer of 2013 — to make himself visible to schools and earn the offers he thought he deserved. He and his teammates played in only three games in 2012 after red tape limited his Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy squad's season, so expo- sure was nearly non-existent. Michigan coaches received what they'd consider a break when East- ern Christian Academy head coach Dwayne Thomas chose Ann Arbor as one of his team's stops. That gave them an opportunity to evaluate both Watson, a three-star cornerback, and his teammate, wide receiver and fel- low U-M freshman Freddy Canteen, up close, and they were so impressed with one aspect of their games in par- ticular that both received offers. "When they came into camp, we saw the competitiveness that those guys have," Michigan head coach Brady Hoke recalled. "Brandon and Freddy, we lined them up against each other and watched them go at it. Brandon's athleticism, the tough- ness — and for a corner, he's already a bigger guy." That was only part of the equa- tion, however. Character is as im- portant as ability at Michigan, and what Hoke saw in Watson's living BRANDON WATSON ENROLLED EARLY TO COMPETE Watson recorded 58 tackles, eight interceptions and two forced fumbles en route to first- team all-state honors as a senior. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM