There has been an unconfirmed rumor floating about the internet this morning that Vladimir Emilien has left the team. Emilien is a sophomore safety from Plantation, FL, who is currently behind Cam Gordon on the depth chart.
I repeat: this is a rumor, but it often seems that rumors like these come true (although the Tate Forcier transfer rumors have yet to come to fruition).
Name: Vladimir Emilien
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 202 lbs.
High school: Plantation High School in Lauderhill, FL
Position: Safety
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #5
Last year: I ranked him #33 and said he’d have to contribute as one of only a few scholarship safeties. He played in five games, mostly on special teams, and made 1 tackle.
Emilien made an inauspicious debut to most Michigan fans, who first noticed him when Carlos Brown outran him for a long touchdown in the 2009 spring game. After having torn an ACL prior to his senior high school season and missing every game, he enrolled last January for spring practices. So not only was he just recently recovered from an ACL tear, but weakside linebacker Kevin Leach failed to fill his gap and hung Emilien out to dry against Brown, whose speed was superior to most Big Ten players, let alone a should-be-high-schooler with a bum knee. It was assumed by many (including me) that Emilien would contribute in 2009, but he should have redshirted. He wasted a year of eligibility for 1 tackle and played in less than half the games.
This spring Emilien sprained his knee early during practices, but returned just in time to be outrun by Roy Roundtree on a 97-yard TD pass in the spring game. I’m not sure that we’ve seen Emilien at full speed yet, but hopefully he can turn on the jets sometime soon. Spring buzz makes it seem that Cameron Gordon is standing between #5 and a starting free safety job this season. Emilien does offer some versatility, as he has stated that he can play all three safety positions. While he will likely remain in the two-deep at free safety this fall, he could potentially wedge himself into some playing time at Bandit if an injury or two occurs. I doubt you’ll see him starting any games this fall, but he could be a key backup if receiver-turned-safety Gordon falters. Nearly two years removed from his torn ACL, he should be nearing full speed once again. Hopefully his full speed is fast enough to track down Big Ten receivers and running backs.
Prediction for 2010: Backup safety, special teams coverage
Name: Ray Vinopal
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 178 lbs.
High school: Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, OH
Position: Safety
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Prediction for 2010: Redshirt
Vinopal was a somewhat controversial addition to Michigan’s 2010 recruiting class. Fans weren’t too excited about a small-ish safety that reminded many of current Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs, who made the team as a walk-on. And I don’t mean to pass the buck, because I was one of those who lacked excitement. But he’s a Wolverine now, so hopefully all Michigan fans are rooting for him to be successful.
That being said, Vinopal is probably going to watch from the sidelines in 2010. He’s likely headed for the free safety position, which is currently a battle between Cameron Gordon, a buzz-worthy redshirt freshman, and Vladimir Emilien, a sophomore who’s still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in high school. Unless injuries and/or horrid play plague those two, there hopefully won’t be a need for a third free safety. Then Vinopal can spend his time working on getting taller.