The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/418536
FOOTBALL RECRUITING Lyndhurst (Ohio) Brush four-star Pharaoh Brown was the first to drop Michigan. The No. 154 overall pros- pect and No. 3 tight end in the class initially committed to U-M to play defensive end on May 7, 2011, and then asked in November to be con- sidered a tight end. While the Wol- verines' coaching staff complied, he ultimately chose to take an official visit to Oregon, and committed to the Ducks Dec. 29. Michigan did not replace him with a tight end (though three-stars A.J. Williams and Devin Funchess, now a receiver, were com- mitted at tight end, plus U-M signed three defensive ends in the class). In three years in Eugene, Ore., the 6-6, 220-pounder has caught 37 passes for 585 yards and eight touch- downs. His junior year ended with an injury in Oregon's win over Utah Nov. 8. Cincinnati Oak Hills offensive lineman Caleb Stacey was another U-M decommit in the 2012 class. He picked Michigan on March 26, 2011, and was a solid commit for several months, before decommitting Jan. 23, 2012, in order to stay home and play for Cincinnati. Michigan did not re- place him in the class, but did sign a strong group of offensive linemen, including five-star guard Kyle Kalis, four-star tackles Blake Bars and Erik Magnuson, and three-star tackle Ben Braden. The 6-4, 275-pounder was ranked as a three-star recruit and the No. 17 guard nationally. Stacey was only a member of the Bearcats' team very briefly. Shortly after arriving on cam- pus in summer 2012, he decided to leave the game of football. He ulti- mately never played a down at the college level. Crete (Ill.) Monee defensive back Anthony Standifer was the first de- commit chronologically for Michi- gan, but also the prospect who had the lowest odds of ending up in Ann Arbor from the beginning. The three- star was the No. 45 cornerback na- tionally, a 6-1, 178-pounder expected to contribute early in his career. However, he mutually parted ways with Michigan after realizing an academic requirement for admis- sion would not be met (specifically, a high school foreign language credit) in December. He unsuccessfully at- tempted to commit to Notre Dame and ultimately signed with Ole Miss on National Signing Day. Standifer played in six games over two years for the Rebels, making six total tackles. He left the program midway through his sophomore year. As a bonus for Ole Miss, he helped lead his younger teammate, 2013 DIGITAL BONUS: TheWolverine.com Podcast: Recruiting Rap with Josh Helmholdt CLICK THE ICON TO PLAY OR STOP THE PODCAST