This is a football blog, and I’m certainly no basketball expert. But as a fan of sports in general, I’m excited about Michigan’s matchup this afternoon with the Tennessee Volunteers. As if you didn’t already know, the game will be broadcast at 12:40 p.m. EST on TruTV or, if you don’t have it, you can watch it streaming online through the NCAA’s official site.
I’m predicting a 63-59 victory for Michigan.
Go blue!
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| #9 Marell Evans is back on the team |
At the coaches’ pre-spring press conference yesterday, it was officially noted that linebacker Marell Evans has returned to Michigan’s team. This isn’t news for anyone who paid attention to various Facebook and Twitter posts, which revealed that he had been working out with the team in the offseason. This is the same Marell Evans who transferred away from Michigan back in 2009, and I can’t remember the last time a Michigan player enrolled at a school, transferred away, and then transferred back. This is truly a unique situation.
Anyway, in his sayonara post, I wrote, “It’s unclear where Evans will wind up, but most kids who transfer seem to end up closer to home and at a slightly smaller program.” Sure enough, Evans transferred to Hampton University, which is approximately 1.5 hours away from his home in Varina, Virginia (just outside Richmond). As far as I can tell, he played sparingly in 2009 and not at all in 2010.
So let’s recount the career of Evans:
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| Fullback Mark Moundros |
2010 Countdown: #40 Mark Moundros
HIGH SCHOOL
Moundros was an outstanding high school runner at North Farmington High School. In his 2005 senior season, he ran for 2,113 yards and 19 touchdowns, earning all-state honors. However, he was largely unrecruited and followed his older brother, former walk-on fullback Kirk, to Ann Arbor.
COLLEGE
Moundros redshirted as a freshman walk-on in 2006, but then beat out a couple scholarship athletes to earn the starting fullback position in 2007. He never rushed the ball but ended the season with 3 receptions for 11 yards. He also was a special teams standout, making 11 tackles on kick and punt coverage. As a redshirt sophomore in 2008, Moundros started three games; rushed 3 times for 14 yards and 1 touchdown; caught 1 pass for 2 yards and 1 touchdown; and made 3 special teams tackles. Due partially to an early-season injury, Moundros was limited in 2009. He played sparingly at fullback and made only two special teams tackles. Prior to spring practice in 2010, Moundros moved to defense in an attempt to solidify the linebacker position. He was even named permanent captain for the defense, but it was essentially a failed experiment. Moundros started one game at weakside linebacker and made a total of 17 tackles on defense and special teams.
CAREER STATS
3 carries, 14 yards, 1 touchdown; 4 receptions, 13 yards, 1 touchdown; 33 tackles, 1 forced fumble
AWARDS
2010: Team captain. Robert P. Ufer Award (most enthusiastic senior). Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
2008: Michigan’s special teams player of the year.
2007: Academic All-Big Ten
SUMMARY
I was a little suspicious when Moundros beat out more highly touted players for the fullback position in 2007, but I was pleasantly surprised by his play. He was a thumping lead blocker and seemed to have a good feel for lead blocking in a zone system. When Rich Rodriguez arrived in 2008, I assumed that Moundros would become Michigan’s poor man’s version of Owen Schmitt, the talented fullback from WVU who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. However, that role never really materialized with Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, who chose to use tight ends (Kevin Koger) and converted tailbacks (Kevin Grady) instead of true fullbacks. The I-formation largely disappeared from Michigan’s repertoire by 2010, when the “starting” fullback was John McColgan. I feel bad for Moundros for not getting on the field much in his senior season, although he reportedly approached the coaches about the move to linebacker. I was not impressed with McColgan in his limited time, and I’m not sure if the disappearance of the I-formation had to do with Michigan’s offensive line, its philosophy of getting Denard Robinson into open space, the lack of a solid fullback, or some combination of those three factors. I am confident that Moundros was a better fullback than a linebacker, the latter of which exposed his inexperience and lack of instincts. But kudos to him for being the consummate team player, trying to help in an area of need, making an impact on special teams, and earning the captaincy despite not being a star player. Hopefully, he set a good example for the younger players that will trickle down to their work ethic and leadership in the years to come.
PROJECTION
Moundros will likely not play in the NFL. If he has any future in professional football, it’s at the fullback position. I would not be surprised to see him play Arena Football or something to that effect, but he also seems to be an intelligent person who has the means to succeed in a life beyond sports.
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| Michigan’s basketball team reacts to landing a #8 seed in the NCAA Tourney (image via AnnArbor.com) |
Congratulations to the men’s basketball team for getting a #8 seed in the tourney. The Wolverines will play #9 Tennessee this coming Friday at 12:40 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will be broadcast on TruTV.
Here’s a page from the Huffington Post that provides various links to and information about organizations that are trying to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
If you’re financially able, I encourage you to find a way to help those affected.