No. 7: Michigan Wolverines (2nd Big Ten)

2009 Haul: 22 signees (Athlon Consensus 100: 3)

Positional Breakdown

Position	Number	AC100
QB	1	0
RB	3	0
WR	2	1
OL	3	0
DE	2	0
DT	1	1
LB	2	0
DB	4	1
ATH	3	0
K	1	0

AC100 Prospects

27. William Campbell — DT — Detroit, Mich. (6-foot-4, 320 lbs)

LSU fans know all about massive defensive tackles from Cass Tech as stud prospect Joe Barksdale is beginning to make his mark in Baton Rouge — albeit at offensive tackle. Campbell is not quite as tall as the 6-foot-6 Barksdale but he is not far off. His size is easily his most noticeable attribute. He has a huge frame and massive wingspan. His size will allow him to play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 system. He will be able to play head up on a center and control both gaps.

Campbell's strength is a major asset. He is not overly explosive but will rarely get moved off his spot. He will keep alleys clear for backers to make plays. He is incredibly stout at the point of attack.

Although not a dynamic playmaker at tackle, Campbell does have solid feet and nice lateral movement — as was evident during a dance competition at U.S. Army practice. He will be able to control the middle of any defensive line. He is a solid tackler and will make the effort to scrape.

Like most space eaters in high school, the top player in the state of Michigan gets by with his size and brute force. In high D-I football, he will have to develop his techniques better. He has great hands but can be lazy and inconsistent with them at times. Pad level will also be a point of emphasis once he gets to campus. For a player his size, leverage will always be an issue.

The two-way star has the ability to play offense as well. On offense, he has the same issue as with defense. Campbell will need work on hand technique and pad level but is a monster once he gets locked onto defenders. His massive frame and solid feet make him an intriguing option on offense.

53. Je'Ron Stokes — WR — Philadelphia, Pa. (6-foot, 185 lbs)
High school record holder flip-flopped from Tennessee on NSD.

62. Justin Turner — DB — Massillon, Ohio (6-foot-2, 190 lbs)
Could play both corner or safety and will be impact player in return game.

Also Receiving AC100 Points

124. Craig Roh — DE — Scottsdale, Ariz. (6-foot-5, 235 lbs)
167. Anthony LaLota — DE — Princeton, N.J. (6-foot-6, 265 lbs)
194. Jeremy Gallon — ATH — Apopka, Fla. (5-foot-8, 165 lbs)
199. Tate Forcier — QB — San Diego, Calif. (6-foot, 185 lbs)
206. Quinton Washington — OL — St. Stephen, S.C. (6-foot-3, 310 lbs)
218. Isaiah Bell — LB — Youngstown, Ohio (6-foot, 210 lbs)
227. Denard Robinson — ATH — Deerfield Beach, Fla. (6-foot, 180 lbs)
265. Michael Schofield — OL — Orland Park, Ill. (6-foot-6, 275 lbs)
289. Taylor Lewan — OL — Scottsdale, Ariz. (6-foot-7, 275 lbs)

Where They Got Them

Michigan is one of a few teams that can recruit nationally, and in 2009 they landed kids from both coasts and nearly everywhere in between. Three prospects hail from the southwest. Forcier is from California while both Lewan and Roh played for Chaparral High School in Arizona.

Back on the East Coast, New Jersey, South Carolina and Pennsylvania each sent a single prospect to Ann Arbor. Stokes was the third-rated player in the Keystone State. The states of Michigan and Ohio have and will always be staples to Wolverine football and this season those states sent six prospects to Michigan. Rich Rodriguez also got one player from Illinois.

The state of Florida is the real story though. More than any other state in this class, Florida sent eight players to the Wolverines. This also includes the most intriguing prospects in this class: Denard Robinson and Jeremy Gallon. These two athletes could compete for playing time right away as few players in this class are better playmakers with the ball-in-hand.

All told, RichRod used nine different states across all four times zones to land players.

The Scouting Report

The biggest question about this recruiting class is the quarterback position. In 2008, it was painfully obvious that RichRod lacked the playmaker to run the offensive system he prefers. With Tate Forcier and Robinson, he may have that now. Both players show great athletic ability and that is what the zone-read cherishes. Forcier rushed for over 500 yards as a sophomore and over 700 yards as a junior while Robinson — at closer to 5-foot-11 than 6-foot — is drawing all-too-easy comparisons to Pat White. Forcier has the edge heading into the summer as he is already on campus learning the new system and will obviously get a long look in spring practice. Forcier and Robinson have had their roles amplified by the transfer of Steven Threet. If the Wolverine offense can get a boost from a freshman playmaker at quarterback, it could be the start of something dangerous.

Gallon could fit the role of the hyrbid running back wide receiver position (I call it the motion back). The motion back does just that, moves all over the place. Gallon will be a guy that gets the ball in open space and is allowed to make plays with his speed and quickness. Oregon State has James Rodgers. Florida had Percy Harvin. Jeremy Maclin, Derrick Williams, David Gilreath and Dexter McCluster all qualify as motion backs. The emergence of the 'ball-in-hand' open field specialist is even more important in a system like RichRod's. Jock Sanders played that role for his former team this season and Gallon could be that guy for Michigan. Joining him is one of the top receivers in the nation in Je'Ron Stokes. The Philadelphia receiver has the ability to get deep and holds most of his school's receiving records. Both will need to add strength and muscle but have the feet and raw speed to be early impact players.

On the surface, only nine of the 22 signees are listed on the offensive side of the ball. But if the three 'athletes' end up on offense (which at least two should) then this is a much deeper offensive class. The offensive line is well represented with three top-40 (at the position) O-line prospects. Lewan and Schofield are listed at 6-foot-6 or taller and should add depth to the line. On the opposite side of the ball, William Campbell, Roh and Lalota are a formidable group of D-line prospects. Roh played a great game in Orlando at the Under Armour event while Campbell was dominating the line of scrimmage and the dance floor in San Antonio at the U.S. Army game.

The secondary is well represented as at least four players will end up playing defensive back. The group is led by speedy return specialist Justin Turner. He has the speed and quickness to play corner and the size and toughness to play safety. It will be interesting to see where he ends up come fall camp. Vladimir Emilien, Mike Jones and Adrian Witty all hail from the Sunshine State and add depth to an area that loses Morgan Trent and Brandon Harrison.

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