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4Aug 2009
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2009 Countdown: #57 Vince Helmuth

Name: Vince Helmuth
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 291 lbs.
High School: Saline High School in Saline, MI
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Junior
Jersey Number: #32
Prediction for 2009: Special teams contributor

Helmuth is the only scholarship player on the team to be brought in as a fullback. The problem is, he’s now a defensive tackle. He was a fullback/defensive end in high school, played some DE in practices last fall, and this winter he ate a lot of pizza and turned into a DT. Reports suggest that he’s well behind the other nose tackles on the roster, but as a former running back, he does have some agility and speed that the others lack. I would not expect to see him much on defense, but that speed and size could be used on punt coverage and in the return game.

4Aug 2009
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2009 Countdown: #58 Perry Dorrestein

Name: Perry Dorrestein
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 306 lbs.
High School: Central High School in Plainfield, IL
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: RS junior
Jersey Number: #79
2008 stats: 4 starts at OT
Prediction for 2009: Backup offensive tackle

Dorrestein was Michigan’s top backup tackle last year. He started three games at LT and one at RT with the constant reshuffling and the injuries to Mark Ortmann and Steve Schilling. However, buzz from spring practice makes it seem as though Dorrestein is in a fight with Patrick Omameh to remain the first tackle off the bench. Dorrestein played pretty well in his limited duty, and while he probably won’t play a lot, he’s not a huge liability if there’s an injury to the guys ahead of him.

4Aug 2009
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2009 Countdown: #59 Ricky Barnum

Name: Ricky Barnum
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 275 lbs.
High School: Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, FL
Position: Offensive line
Class: RS freshman
Jersey Number: #56
Prediction for 2009: Backup guard

Barnum has been getting a lot of hype for his work along the offensive line in practices and workouts. Unfortunately, he missed the majority of the spring due to a wrist injury and the subsequent surgery on said wrist. He’s a guy who could contribute at any of the offensive line positions, but guard is probably his best spot. He won’t start this year, but he’ll be a top backup on the interior line.

4Aug 2009
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2009 Countdown: #60 Kevin Leach

Name: Kevin Leach
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High School: Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Kentwood, MI
Position: Weakside linebacker
Class: RS sophomore
Jersey Number: #52
Last year: 2 assists, 1 fumble recovery
Prediction for 2009: Spot duty on defense, special teams contributor

Rich Rodriguez has stated that he wants to get contributions from walk-ons, and Leach is one of those guys. Depth is thin at linebacker, but Leach was getting mentioned all last year as a guy who could play if needed. He probably won’t play much defense in 2009, but he’s capable of making plays on kick coverages.

3Aug 2009
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2009 Countdown: #61 Tim North

Name: Tim North
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 246 lbs.
High School: Linden High School in Linden, MI
Position: Defensive end
Class: 5th year senior
Jersey Number: #89
Prediction for 2009: Special teams contributor

North might seem like an unusual choice to be included higher than several scholarship players, but he’s contributed on special teams and even on defense in 2007, despite being a former walk-on. He’s been good enough to earn one-year scholarships the past couple years and will probably be on scholarship again this season. He’s consistently a presence on special teams units and even though he probably lacks a position in Greg Robinson’s defense (too small for DE, too slow for OLB), you’ll likely see him make a couple tackles in kick and punt coverage this season.