Ex-Wolverines: Class of 2008

Boubacar Cissoko (image via Bleacher Report)

If you want the scoop on other former Michigan commits and signees, check out the Ex-Wolverine Encyclopedia (LINK).

TRANSFERS/RETIREES

Boubacar Cissoko – Cornerback – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Cissoko was an early commitment in 2007.  Highly recruited, he played extensively as a freshman in 2008.  A starter at the beginning of 2009, Cissoko made 16 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and 1 interception before being suspended and eventually kicked off the team for personal conduct issues.  Cissoko was then arrested for robbery charges that occurred after his football career ended.  He was released from jail and played semi-pro football.
Current status: Out of football

Hit the jump for more on the class of 2008.

Justin Feagin – Quarterback/wide receiver – Deerfield Beach (FL) American Heritage
Feagin was a late addition to the 2008 class, committing only after Rich Rodriguez was hired to replace Lloyd Carr.  He was a change-of-pace quarterback for Michigan in 2008, used exclusively as a rusher to the tune of 11 carries for 52 yards.  After the 2008 season, he was involved in charges that he was dealing drugs and was immediately dismissed from the team.  He transferred to Texas Southern University for the 2009 season and played wide receiver, catching 1 pass for 8 yards and rushing the ball 2 times for -4 yards.  Feagin then ended up at Glenville State (Rich Rodriguez’s first coaching job), where he played quarterback and wide receiver; in 2010 he completed 49/109 passes for 643 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions; he also ran for 195 yards and 1 touchdown, along with catching 17 passes for 120 yards. I could not find anything beyond Glenville State for Feagin.
Current status: Out of football

Taylor Hill – Linebacker – Youngstown (OH) Cardinal Mooney
Hill was also a late addition to the 2008 class, switching his commitment from West Virginia to Michigan in January 2008 after the Rodriguez hiring.  He entered fall camp but reportedly got homesick and transferred home to Youngstown State University.  After redshirting his freshman year, he made 65 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2009.  Hill was not on the 2010 Youngstown State roster and appears to be done with football.
Current status: Out of football

Sam McGuffie – Running back – Cypress (TX) Cy-Fair
McGuffie was a fall 2007 commitment to Michigan and one of Michigan’s most hyped recruits of all time.  He was Michigan’s starting running back early in the season, but suffered from concussion problems.  As a freshman, he ran the ball 118 times for 486 yards and 3 TDs; and made 19 catches for 175 yards for 1 touchdown.  Due to various personal issues, McGuffie transferred closer to home after the season and became a Rice Owl.  He sat out the 2009 season due to transfer rules.  As a redshirt sophomore in 2010, he had 197 carries for 883 yards and 6 TDs; he also caught 39 passes for 394 yards and 3 TDs. In 2011 he ran 38 times for 158 yards and 1 TD, and he caught 9 passes for 72 yards and 1 TD. As a fifth year senior in 2012, he switched to slot receiver for Rice, where he caught 54 passes for 603 yards (11.2 yards/catch) and 5 TDs. He was not drafted in 2013 and spent some time with practice squads, but he did not make an NFL roster.
Current status: On the Team USA bobsled team

Dann O’Neill – Offensive tackle – Grand Haven (MI) Grand Haven
O’Neill was a big-time in-state recruit who committed to Lloyd Carr’s regime.  He stuck with Michigan through the coaching transition and redshirted during Rodriguez’s first year.  However, his large frame and reported lack of work ethic forced caused him to transfer in summer 2009.  He ended up at Western Michigan but sat out the 2009 season due to transfer rules.  As a redshirt sophomore in 2010, O’Neill started 10 games for Western Michigan and remained a starter through 2012. He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Current status: Out of football

Brandon Smith – Safety/linebacker – New Brunswick (NJ) New Brunswick
Smith redshirted as a true freshman safety in 2008, but struggled with playing in open space.  He made a short-lived move to linebacker in 2009 and contributed 14 tackles, 1 quarterback hurry, and 1 blocked punt.  He then transferred to Temple after the season, but never made the roster.  He enrolled at LA Pierce Junior College in 2011 and had 13 catches for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He then played wide receiver and safety at Rowan University in New Jersey, where he made 8 catches for 61 yards, 15 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 kickoff returns for 24 yards.
Current status: Out of football

Darryl Stonum – Wide receiver – Sugar Land (TX) Dulles
Stonum committed to Michigan in July of 2007 and remained committed despite the coaching change from Lloyd Carr to Rich Rodriguez.  However, Stonum had repeated run-ins with police due to multiple drunk driving arrests.  After playing through his true junior year, he was suspended for the 2011 season and took a redshirt with hopes of rehabbing and then returning to play his redshirt senior year in 2012.  Yet another run-in with the law got him kicked off the team, at which time he transferred to Baylor.  He finished his Michigan career with 76 receptions for 1,008 yards and 6 touchdowns; and 62 kickoff returns for 1,538 yards and 1 touchdown While at Baylor in 2012, he caught 3 passes for 51 yards and 1 TD, and he returned 8 kickoffs for 153 yards. He went undrafted in 2013.
Current status: Out of football

Kurt Wermers – Offensive guard – Crown Point (IN) Crown Point
Wermers committed to Lloyd Carr’s Wolverines in 2007 and stuck with Michigan for the first year of the transition to Head Coach Rich Rodriguez.  He redshirted as a freshman.  However, he transferred to Ball State in spring 2009, having been academically ineligible at Michigan.  He sat out the 2009 season due to NCAA transfer rules.  He was not listed on Ball State’s 2010 roster and appears to be finished with the sport.
Current status: Out of football

Marcus Witherspoon – Linebacker – Absecon (NJ) Holy Spirit
Witherspoon committed to Lloyd Carr and stuck with Michigan through the regime change.  However, after he arrived on campus in summer 2008, it was revealed that he would not be admitted to Michigan due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues.  Witherspoon chose to attend his home state college, Rutgers.  He redshirted in 2008 and didn’t see the field in 2009.  After the 2009 season, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano stated that Witherspoon would finish out the semester academically but would not continue his football career.
Current status: Out of football

DECOMMITS

John Wienke – Quarterback – Tuscola (IA) Tuscola
Wienke committed to Lloyd Carr’s Wolverines a year after touted recruit Ryan Mallett.  However, once Rodriguez was hired with his spread offense, Wienke quickly decommitted to Iowa.  He redshirted in 2008 as a freshman and did not see game action in 2009 as a redshirt freshman.  As a redshirt sophomore in 2010, he threw 1 incomplete pass.  He did not see game action at Iowa in 2011. He did fill in at punter for Iowa in 2012, when he kicked 14 times for 529 yards (37.8 yards/punt). He was not drafted in 2013.
Current status: Out of football

Christian Wilson – Fullback/linebacker – Mckees Rocks (PA) Montour
Wilson committed to Lloyd Carr’s Wolverines.  Carr had promised him a role as a tight end/H-back, much like former Wolverine Aaron Shea.  When Rodriguez took the helm in December 2007, he offered Wilson a chance to remain committed to Michigan, but only as a linebacker.  Rodriguez does not typically offer scholarships to fullbacks.  Wilson declined and chose North Carolina.  Wilson is listed as a running back, but plays an H-back role.  He caught 2 passes for 19 yards as a freshman in 2008 and followed that up with 5 catches for 30 yards in 2009.  As a junior in 2010, Wilson had 5 catches for 32 yards and 1 touchdown. He made 10 catches for 107 yards during the 2011 season and went undrafted in 2012.
Current status: Out of football

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