Michigan Football Preview 2016

2016 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 171 Name Pos. Starts Individual Grade Chris Barnett TE 0 F De-committed from Arkansas before pledging to Michigan, but he quit the team only weeks into fall camp. Went to Oklahoma and dropped out. Russell Bellomy QB 0 D- Saw his only meaningful action in a 2012 loss at Nebraska, a game in which he struggled. Completed only 4 of 23 passes in his U-M career and went to Texas-San Antonio for his fifth year, where he served as a backup. Brennen Beyer DE/LB 32 B Beyer was never a star, moving to LB in 2013 and then back to DE, but he was a consistent pres - ence on defense, finishing with 92 tackles, 12 stops for loss and 7.5 sacks. Greg Brown DB 3 (0*) F Left in October of his first year and transferred to Division II Findlay, starting three games and playing in 11 in 2014. He recorded 18 tackles. Chris Bryant OG 2 Inc. A former four-star with great potential, Bryant struggled to get his weight down before injuries eventually ended his career. Tamani Carter DB 0 F Initially committed to Minnesota, redshirted as a freshman and left the team before the 2012 season. Went to Ohio U., but did not play again. Frank Clark DE 26 A- Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and Richard Katcher Award as Michigan's best lineman in 2013, but struggled off the field and was dismissed from the team in November 2014. Blake Countess DB 30 B+ All-Big Ten selection in 2013 after picking off six passes, but struggled as a redshirt junior. Spent his fifth year at Auburn, notching 71 tackles in 13 starts and picking off two passes. Justice Hayes RB 2 C- Never became a regular starter, but did rush for 213 yards in 2014 and contributed on special teams. Spent his fifth year at Southern Miss and ran for 204 yards. Keith Heitzman DE/TE 8 C- Notched 15 tackles in seven starts at DE before moving to TE as a redshirt junior, catching two passes for 32 yards. Spent his fifth year at Ohio U., catching 22 passes for 297 yards. Name Pos. Starts Individual Grade Delonte Hollowell CB 1 C- Only notched 27 tackles and two passes broken up in four years, but he became a key contribu- tor on special teams. Kellen Jones LB 0 F Left U-M before his first season, transferring to Oklahoma, followed by Clemson and then Wis- consin. He notched 51 total career tackles. Jack Miller OL 16 B- Earned Hugh R. Rader Memorial Award (given to U-M's top offensive lineman) in 2014, but opted not to return for a fifth year. Desmond Morgan LB 40 B One of the pleasant surprises of the class, a sleeper who finished with 300 career tackles and won the Roger Zatkoff Award as U-M's best linebacker in 2015. Antonio Poole LB 0 Inc. Redshirted his first year and again in his second due to injury, retiring for medical reasons in 2013. Tony Posada OL 0 F Left the program during camp his first season and never played at the collegiate level, deciding football wasn't for him. Thomas Rawls RB 7 (1*) C- Ran for 333 yards in three years and finished as a graduate transfer at Central Michigan, rush - ing for 1,103 yards in nine games (six starts) but was suspended for three games for violating team rules. Chris Rock DE 0 F Redshirted as a freshman and left the team in May 2012. Walked on at Ohio State but never played. Raymon Taylor DB 32 B- An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2013. Finished his career with 171 tackles, 16 passes broken up and six interceptions. Matt Wile K/P 52 B+ Handled kickoffs for four years and punting and field goals at times during his four seasons. Made 15 of 21 field goals as a senior. * Starts made at Michigan Class Of 2011 Summary Players In Class — 20 • Rivals.com Ranking — 23rd Linebacker Desmond Morgan proved to be a pleasant surprise for the Wolverines, amassing 300 career tackles. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Final Grade: D- The 2011 class produced a single first-team All-Big Ten player in cornerback Blake Countess (2013) and only a handful of honorable mention performers — not close to good enough for a school like Michigan. Graham Glasgow, a walk-on, was arguably the group's best player. Fifth-year seniors are often key contributors to a program's success, but by the time the 2015 season ended, only one remained — linebacker Desmond Morgan, and that was only because he was injured and missed the 2014 campaign. Much of Michigan's downfall in head coach Brady Hoke's last two seasons (2013 and 2014) can be attributed to the lack of talent from the 2010 and 2011 classes.

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