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Ex-Wolverine Updates

Josh Furman puts pressure on Jameis Winston in the Cowboy’s 37-31 loss (image via KansasCity)

Former DT Richard Ash: Ash started at defensive tackle and made 7 tackles and 3 tackles for loss in Western Michigan’s 43-34 loss to Purdue.

Former TE commit Pharaoh Brown: Brown caught 2 passes for 32 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, in Oregon’s 62-13 win over South Dakota.

Former CB commit Gareon Conley: Conley played but did not record any statistics in Ohio State’s 34-17 win over Navy.

Former CB commit Dallas Crawford: Crawford – who played well as a running back last season – is now a starting safety for Miami. He made 7 tackles and 1 pass breakup in Miami’s 31-13 loss to Louisville.

Former S Joshua Furman: Furman started at linebacker for Oklahoma State and made 5 tackles. The Cowboys played well against defending national champion Florida State, but ultimately lost by a score of 37-31.

Former K commit Matt Goudis: Goudis was 2/2 on field goals and 1/1 on extra points, but Miami lost to Louisville by a score of 31-13.

Former RB commit Demetrius Hart: Hart had 22 carries for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 3 catches for 35 yards, in Colorado State’s 31-17 win over Colorado.

Former RB Thomas Rawls: Rawls carried the ball 25 times for 121 yards and 1 touchdown in Central Michigan’s 20-16 win over Chattanooga. He also caught 2 passes for 7 yards.

Former head coach Rich Rodriguez: Arizona beat UNLV by a score of 58-13. New quarterback Anu Solomon went 25/44 for 425 yards and 4 touchdowns, and two running backs – senior Terris Jones-Grigsby and freshman Nick Wilson – rushed for over 100 yards.

Former CB commit Anthony Standifer: Standifer had 1 tackle in Eastern Illinois’ 42-20 loss to Minnesota.

Former S Ray Vinopal: Vinopal made 2 tackles in Pitt’s 62-0 win over Delaware.

Video: Charles Woodson playing Backyard Football at the Nissan Heisman House

Recruiting Update: September 2, 2014

Darian Roseboro

COMMITMENT
Lincolnton (NC) Lincolnton defensive end Darian Roseboro committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Towson (MD) St. Frances Academy defensive end Rahshaun Smith was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’3″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 247 Composite 4-star, the #3 weakside end, and #50 overall. Smith has excellent get-off, long arms, and good change of direction, but he’s raw and needs to learn to play with leverage and using his hands. He appears to be wide open, has visited several schools, and could end up anywhere.


OFF THE BOARD
Memphis (TN) Whitehaven linebacker Joshua McMillon committed to Alabama. He was down to Michigan and the Crimson Tide, but when he decided not to visit for the late July BBQ at the Big House, the writing was on the wall.

MISCELLANEOUS
Richmond (VA) St. Christopher’s cornerback Garrett Taylor tore his ACL in pre-season practice, so he will miss the 2014 season. Taylor, in case you didn’t know, is a 2015 Michigan commit. With the way ACL recoveries go, he should be ready to play by his freshman year in college.

Here’s a list of visitors for the Appalachian State game (LINK).

The recruit tracker tag (LINK) has updates on Michigan commits’ high school seasons, including Alex Malzone and Darrin Kirkland, Jr.

Highlights: Michigan 52, Appalachian State 14

Michigan vs. Appalachian State Awards

Jehu Chesson, Devin Gardner, and Devin Funchess combined for a great day on Saturday.

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Dennis Norfleet. It’s not so much that Norfleet himself was a huge threat. He’s dangerous with the ball, but we’ve learned that he can easily get flung around because of his slight stature. No, the nice thing is that Michigan was spreading the ball laterally and getting it to people like Norfleet in the slot. Norfleet caught 3 passes for 30 yards, and Funchess was also a target on some quick screens. Those plays are going to help open up the middle of the field for the running game.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . Joey Burzynski. Burzynski’s start was like a gold star for his efforts over the last several seasons, including fall camp. He tore his ACL last year, and he was filling in for the partly injured Kyle Kalis on Saturday. Kalis took over for Burzynski shortly after the game began, and the fifth year walk-on is less likely to play when Graham Glasgow returns next Saturday. Thanks for your efforts, Joey, but Michigan needs bigger and better linemen in there if they want to compete with the big boys.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . Desmond Morgan. There have been hints that Morgan will be relegated to the bench in favor of Joe Bolden, but I still see Morgan as the superior player. He did a good job on Saturday and needs to see a majority of the snaps at either MIKE or WILL linebacker.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody. Michigan didn’t get any takeaways, but they put pressure on the quarterback and generally tackled well. Late in the game, Appalachian State bled the clock by running up the middle over and over again, but that mercifully allowed the game to end quicker. If they insisted on passing, Michigan would have hurt the quarterback(s), picked off some passes, and scored more points.

Play of the game . . . Ben Gedeon’s return of a blocked punt for a touchdown. There were so many big plays from Devin Funchess, Devin Gardner, Derrick Green, and De’Veon Smith, but those blocked punt returns are always exciting to watch. Linebacker Mike McCray tipped the punt, and Gedeon fielded it in mid-air. As soon as I saw #42 fielding the punt, I said to myself, “This is gonna be a touchdown.” Gedeon was an excellent high school running back and could probably play that position in college for some teams. He did a nice job of weaving, tiptoeing down the sideline, and diving to stretch the ball across the front edge of the goal line for a 32-yard touchdown return.

Player of the game . . . Devin Gardner. Gardner was 13/14 for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus he rushed 5 times for 9 yards. Best of all, he made good decisions, put appropriate helpings of mustard on his passes, and put the balls where only his receiver could catch them. His one misfire was a crossing route where the receiver was wide open, but it’s tough to argue with those numbers.