The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/262939
ern Christian Academy teammates attended, including Tennessee and — of course — U-M. It didn't sur- prise Thomas when his player still remained undervalued by scouts. "We don't do a lot of camps and stuff like that," Thomas said. "I just know that every camp he went to, he got an offer. Our program is just built on more stuff than that. He's from Wilmington, Delaware, which would be considered like a smaller Detroit. There were other things we wanted to focus on with him." Canteen's speed was what receiv- ers coach Jeff Hecklinski noticed the first time he saw him, noting the first impression was, 'Wow, he can move!' The competitiveness, too, and his de- sire to enroll early and get a head start on the competition also stood out. "He's a perfect slot guy for us," Hecklinski and head coach Brady Hoke both noted on National Signing Day, even if Thomas didn't necessar- ily agree. "I think he's an outside receiver," Thomas said. "They'll learn that, and a lot more about Freddy and Bran- don when they get up there and have to compete. The trend is to have a taller or bigger guy out there, but you can't get your hands on him, so it doesn't matter. "When you put him on the line, the guy trying to jam him or playing off him is at Freddy's mercy. If you jam him, he will run by you because you will never get a hand on him. If you give him too much room, he will just catch the ball in front of you." If you challenge him to move to the other side of the ball, meanwhile, he might just shut you down. His teammates jokingly called him "Re- vis" after New York Jets corner Dar- relle Revis, but few laughed when he lined up and did more than his share to hold opponents in check lining up on the opposite side of Watson. "That's his position," Canteen said of his roommate when asked how he compared. "But put me on anybody and I'll blanket them." He won't get the opportunity at U-M, but chances are nobody will be complaining if he lives up to his potential on the other side of the ball. — Chris Balas PERSONAL Frederick Canteen was born March 12, 1996 … Has run a 4.43 40-yard dash, clocked at the Tennessee camp over the summer … Hails from the same school as incoming freshman cornerback Brandon Watson, his roommate at Michigan FREDDY CANTEEN WIDE RECEIVER 6-1 • 170 EASTERN CHRISTIAN ACAD. ELKTON, MD. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 47 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 168 26 ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 24 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 31 3