The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Top Five Players 1. DT Mike Martin: Perhaps the ultimate compliment that can be paid to a player is that he could be dropped into any era, any decade, and succeed. At Michigan, it's taken one step further — could he have played for Bo? Schembechler would have loved to have had access to Martin, plopping him into the middle of his defensive line knowing he could count on all-out effort and an intense desire to make life absolutely hellish for the opponent. Martin put up modest numbers — 10 sacks among 25 tackles for loss and 172 total stops — but his impact was measured in the presence he created. 2. WR Roy Roundtree: One quick glance at the top-10 receivers (in terms of recep- tions) in Michigan history, and Roundtree would stick out as an anomaly. He doesn't belong in the discussion of the very best to have caught passes in the winged helmet, but Roundtree was reliable, and there's certainly no denying that in big games, he came to play, recording five touchdowns in 11 matchups with Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State. Had Rich Rodriguez survived, Roundtree may have continued replicating his 2010 numbers, too — 72 catches for 935 yards. 3. DB J.T. Floyd: After starting three games in his redshirt freshman season, Defensive tackle Mike Martin notched 10 sacks and 25 tackles for loss among his 172 total stops over the course of his four-year U-M career. photo by eric bronson Top Storylines letic, big-play receiver that was recruited for a pro-style scheme — StoBringing Michigan back: The first few seasons for the class of 2008 did num acquitted himself quite well, developing into one of the Wolverines' not merit celebration and recognition. The Wolverines went 15-22 from go-to targets from 2008-10, going for more than 1,000 yards. 2008-10, posting a .405 winning percentage in representing the worst He should have flourished with the arthree-year start for a recruiting cohort rival of Hoke and coordinator Al Borges, since the 1934 class won just 25 percent but Stonum earned a season-long of its games from 1934-36. suspension in 2011 after a second DUI When Brady Hoke arrived in January (driving under the influence) charge, 2011, the 2008 class, moving into its coupled with a four-day jail stint after fourth year, could have resisted change, violating terms of his probation. causing the friction that seemed to By all accounts, Stonum was an exhandicap Rich Rodriguez three years emplary student-athlete while sitting prior. But desperate to win, and finding out, performing ably in scout-team work it easy to buy into Hoke's message, the and serving as a role model to younger class — led by defensive tackle Mike teammates. He was slated to rejoin the Martin, cornerback J.T. Floyd, wide reactive roster in 2012, but he again ran ceiver Roy Roundtree, tight end Kevin afoul of the law, driving on a suspended Koger, linebacker Kenny Demens, wide license. receiver Martavious Odoms and offenHoke had no choice but to dismiss Stosive guard Patrick Omameh — made a num. The native Texan would catch on vow to bring Michigan back to the winwith home-state Baylor but didn't see ning program it had been. much playing time last fall. Throughout the 2011 season, the The offensive linemen surface at 2008 class made its presence felt, helplast: Michigan's six-man offensive line ing direct the Maize and Blue to an 11-2 haul in the class of 2008 was one of the record and a Sugar Bowl victory over program's largest ever, and with three Virginia Tech. This past year, U-M went four-star prospects — Ricky Barnum, 8-5 and 6-2 in league play thanks again Dann O'Neill and Elliott Mealer — to the contributions of the class of 2008. among them, the unit figured to make Early departures plague class: Not a a lasting impression on the Wolverines' single recruiting class from 1997-2011 fortunes during the next five seasons. went without suffering an early deparInstead, the six floundered, with ture. Of those 15 classes, 11 actually had O'Neill and Kurt Wermers transferring more than five, with an average attrition early in their careers, Barnum struggling of 7.5 athletes per recruiting cohort. to stay healthy, and Mealer and Rocko Kids leave. It's just the way it goes. However, the 2008 class stands out as Tight end Kevin Koger was a captain in 2011, his senior cam- Khoury looking like career backups. an anomaly, with only half the class of paign, and the leadership he and other members of the class Only Patrick Omameh carved out a role, starting at right guard late in 2009 and 24 exhausting its eligibility. A total of 12 of 2008 demonstrated helped turn U-M's fortunes around. photo by per kjeldsen then over the next three seasons. Wolverines would leave early, including Rather than earning acclaim, the 2008 offensive line signees threatfour that were removed for violating team rules. ened to become the most disappointing position group in the class. BePerhaps that was to be expected with the majority of the class (15 of fore it came to that, though, Barnum and Mealer bested their teammates 24) originally committing to Lloyd Carr. However, among the nine Rodriin winning starting jobs at left guard and center in 2012, each starting guez recruits, three would also exit under his tenure. all 13 games in helping Michigan make the transition from a hybrid to The Darryl Stonum saga: Though he wasn't the best fit in Rodriguez's pro-style offense late in the year. spread offense — the 6-2, 195-pounder was exactly the kind of long, ath- 248 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview