The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/262939
135 total tackles with one sack, and recovered one fumble … Rushed 31 times for 441 yards (14.2 yards per carry) and six touchdowns … Caught 17 passes for 267 yards (15.7 yards per reception) and one touchdown, while adding one two-point conversion catch … Completed 1 of 5 passes for 10 yards. Freshman Season: Starter at linebacker for an 8-3 team that lost in the first round of the Division 4 state playoffs … Recorded 118 total tackles with two sacks and added an interception … Scored one touchdown on offense. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS Participated in the Rivals Camp Series in Pittsburgh April 28 … Attended the Columbus Nike Camp June 2 … Selected to the Rivals Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour in Chicago June 7-9 ... Selected to the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game, but did not participate due to injury. OTHER SPORTS Ran track as a freshman and sophomore, participating in the 4x100-meter relay … Played JV basketball as a freshman. NOTABLE Other Rankings: Listed as the No. 21 prospect in the Midwest by Scout.com. High School GPA: 4.0. Planned Major: Pre-med. Favorite Michigan Athlete: Sophomore linebacker Joe Bolden. Other Schools Considered: Penn State and Notre Dame. Date of Official Visit to Michigan: Nov. 29, 2013. QUOTABLE Brady Hoke's Comments: "Michael has really good range, and is very physical and productive at the point of attack. He came in early in January, and I think he's really acclimated well." Tom Lemming of Prep Football Report: "I have him in my top 100. He was injured a lot this year, but when healthy he reminds me of A.J. Hawk [former Ohio State All-American and now Green Bay Packers linebacker]. He moves sideline to sideline. He has a reputation as being stiff, but I don't see that. He does a good job of going after the ball. Maybe he's not the most natural in pass coverage, but he can learn that." Why Ferns Chose Michigan: "The combination of academics and athletics. It had everything I wanted from a complete standpoint." Head Coach's Comments: "When he was a freshman, he was built like a se- nior," said St. Clairsville head coach Brett McLean. "He was just genetically ahead, and he had all the physical capability. He's also a stellar student. He's an honors kid, so he'd come around really quickly. He's just a real competitive kid. He's got a lot of great physical ability that allowed him to excel from an early age, and he continued to do that through his career here."