Wells’ presence boosts OSU on, off field

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

	Andy Lyons/Getty Images
	OSU running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells could be playing his final collegiate game at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Monday night.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It’s been 43 days since Ohio State’s last game, but running back Chris “Beanie” Wells hasn’t spent all this time preparing one of his patented pre-game pep talks.

“It ends up happening at the moment,” Wells said. “I don’t pre-write anything. I just say how I’m feeling.”

Wells’ off-the-cuff style resonates with his teammates, who look forward to hearing from their emotional leader, especially before big games like Monday’s showdown against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET).

“Very emotional,” guard Steve Rehring said of Wells’ speeches.

“He might have been more fired up than anybody in our locker room for the [USC] game,” fullback Brandon Smith said, “and he didn’t even dress.”

Wells will be in uniform Monday night as he tries to help No. 10 Ohio State knock off Texas. Much of the focus this week has been on Ohio State’s 28 seniors, but Wells also could be playing his final collegiate game before entering the NFL draft, where he’s expected to be one of the first two running backs selected.

The setting and the situation will only add fuel for a player who thrives on big games and big moments. Add in the fact that Wells is as healthy as he’s been since sustaining a foot/toe injury in the season opener, and Ohio State could have a better chance that many think.

“He is a difference maker,” Ohio State senior tight end Rory Nicol said. “He does something to the morale of the team. It’s like [cornerback] Malcolm [Jenkins] always says, a little spark kindles a great fire.

“Often times, he’s that spark.”

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Fiesta Bowl Press Conference – Offense

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Press Conference Thursday, January 1, 2009 with Rory Nicol, Brian Robiskie, Brandon Smith, Beanie Wells and Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman.

Story By The Official RSS Feed of Ohio State Football Head Coach, Jim Tressel

College game comes easy for prep prodigy Pryor

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — More than once after a game this season, Terrelle Pryor noted how college football isn’t all that different from the Pennsylvania high school scene he dominated as the nation’s No. 1 recruit. 

After helping Ohio State stomp Michigan State 45-7 on Oct. 18, Pryor told reporters, “It’s just like high school.” The line became Pryor’s trademark this fall as he won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and led Ohio State to another BCS bowl appearance as the starting quarterback. 

“Liar,” Buckeyes senior tight end Rory Nicol said. “But Terrelle’s from PA [Pennsylvania], I’m from PA, too, so I’m allowed to say that. He’s a good athlete, man.”

Such a good athlete that Pryor’s transition from high school to college has been smoother than many had expected, even for a freshman who came to Ohio State with unparalleled hype. Pryor has had his growing pains, but he led the Big Ten in pass efficiency (152.1) and posted an 8-1 mark as the starter.

With small-forward size and a smooth, seemingly effortless running style, Pryor at times looked like the best player on the field, just like he was at Jeannette Senior High School. 

Could it really be that easy?

“You can’t really argue with him,” senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. “He was just in high school last year, so he comes in, he’s doing amazing things as a freshman. It kind of is just like high school.”

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Ohio State’s Wells, 6 teammates pondering NFL

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Standout tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells has a tough decision to make.

 

If his coach were making the call on whether he should stick around for his senior season at Ohio State or jump to the NFL a year early, Wells would take the money and run.

“If it were me, it wouldn’t be tough,” coach Jim Tressel said of Wells’ impending decision. “In my opinion, he ought to be one of the first five guys picked.”

 

Wells wasn’t available for the Buckeyes’ Fiesta Bowl media day on Tuesday. There were reports that he drove a brother — he has 10 siblings — to the doctor’s office.

 

Tressel confirmed that Wells is contemplating whether to come back for one more season at Ohio State. The coach said Tuesday that he told Wells to not even bother filling out the evaluation forms for the NFL, since the league knows what it will be getting based on the 2,700 yards Wells has gained the past two seasons with the Buckeyes.

 

Wells, who has 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns in 7 1/2 games this season, is one of seven Ohio State juniors who are considering making the early jump into the NFL draft. The other six have all filed requests with the NFL to check where they might be taken in the draft.

 

The others are wide receiver Brian Hartline, defensive backs Kurt Coleman, Anderson Russell and Donald Washington, tight end Jake Ballard and offensive lineman Jim Cordle.

“There’s a curiosity,” Coleman said. “I feel like I’ve been along with such great people that they helped me raise my game to the next level. I just want to see what the next level thinks about me.”

 

A year ago, 13 Buckeyes sent paperwork to the NFL requesting an assessment of the player’s draft prospects. All 13 stayed except for defensive lineman Vernon Gholston, who was taken in the first round by the New York Jets.

 

Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, one of the returning players, said the easiest decision is to come back and play another year with your friends. But he conceded that finances and health could change things for Wells and the rest.

 

“If this was a pressure-free world and no one was pushing millions in his (Wells’) face, then it would be a no-brainer for him to stay here,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.”

 

For his part, Russell said he was in no hurry to make up his mind.

 

“I talked with my parents about it,” he said. “They just told me they were going to support me no matter what happens, but I haven’t thought about it at all.”

 

Both players professed that they were focused only on the Fiesta Bowl game against Texas on Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz. Yet in the wake of lopsided losses in Bowl Championship Series title games the last two years, several players later said that Ohio State’s juniors each year were distracted by the impending decision and that it hurt the Buckeyes on the field.

 

Wells has been asked several times this season about whether he intends to return for his senior season, and each time he has said he hasn’t given it much thought.

 

He injured a foot in the Buckeyes’ opener against Youngstown State and then missed the second half of that game and the next three games.

 

Wearing a special, heavier shoe for added reinforcement, he has come back to average 123 yards per game while scoring a total of eight touchdowns. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 scores.

 

Tressel said Wells is about 85 percent healthy now and hopes to be 100 percent by the bowl game.

 

Wells did have to deal with one minor problem on Monday as the Buckeyes got into their first full week of bowl preparation. He and starting fullback Brandon Smith apparently did not have clearance from Ohio State for their appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

 

“I guess we didn’t properly fill out some paperwork or such, didn’t talk to the right people,” said Smith.

 

The players appeared on the program to talk about the religious-themed bracelets the Buckeyes wear.

 

As a penalty, Smith and Wells faced team sanctions that included running throughout a lengthy workout on Monday.

 

“It was a lot. It was a whole practice worth,” Smith said with a grin. “We got a lot of sympathy from our teammates.”

 

And from their coach. Tressel added, “Beanie looked a little sore this morning in practice.”

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OSU Heads To Fiesta As Underdog

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the fifth time in seven years, Ohio State prepares for a trip to Arizona.   But for the first time since 2002, OSU heads to the Fiesta Bowl as a hefty underdog.

Texas stands as a 9.5-point favorite over OSU Monday, Jan. 5. 

"This might be their finest team ever," OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday. "We’re playing one of the top teams in the nation and a class program."

A couple of notes from Coach Tressel Tuesday:

- Freshman Nathan Williams had a hearing Tuesday to face shoplifting charges from an incident last week in Beavercreek. Tressel said Williams will not be suspended but will face significant team penalties (including practice and personal time penalties). His participation in Glendale depends on his performance under that punishment.

- This past weekend was a huge recruiting weekend for the Buckeyes as current players welcomed in high-school seniors.

- Practice will be lighter in nature through the week, picking up in intensity this weekend.

- Beanie Wells and Brandon Smith missed a class last week and were punished with increased running drills Monday. Both will play in the Fiesta Bowl. Tressel said he expects Wells to be 100 percent health-wise.

- Six juniors filled out paperwork with the NFL to explore next year’s draft. Donald Washington, Brian Hartline, Kurt Coleman, Jake Ballard, Jim Cordle and Anderson Russell turned in paperwork. Beanie Wells did not need to turn in the forms, Tressel said.

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Michigan Football Weekly Recruiting Update: Dec. 8

Surprisingly, December has been the most active for Michigan recruiting. This week’s update will feature a look into how Michigan’s big recruiting weekend went, the new offers that went out last week, and a look at some of Michigan’s major 2010 targets.

There could not have been a better weekend for Michigan to host prospects from around the country. This weekend the Wolverines were supposed to host 11 visitors. Sadly, that number dwindled to eight as Donovan Tate, Je’Ron Stokes, and Jamal Patterson all had to back out. Tate committed to UNC on Tuesday and immediately canceled all other visits.

Stokes, a Tennessee commit, spoke to new head coach Lane Kiffin and afterwards canceled his visit. Stokes did later say that he still planned to take an official to Michigan later this month or in January.

Patterson, a Stanford pledge, also had to cancel because his mother was going to be unable to make it. Patterson’s mother later said, “He’s not coming this weekend, I’m not feeling well, so we’re going to come some other weekend. We’re still talking about when that is going to be.”

It’s sad that they weren’t able to come, as this was probably Michigan’s biggest basketball win this decade. Every recruit that did make the trip gave Michigan high marks. Michigan’s two biggest targets in town were five-star defensive tackle William Campbell and junior college target Pernell McPhee.

McPhee came away saying, “I loved it, everything was positive.” McPhee also was able to take in Michigan’s monumental win over Duke and said, “It was a nice experience. The atmosphere was good, and I didn’t know Michigan’s basketball game was that good, to tell you the truth.”

Surprisingly, this wasn’t the biggest surprise of the weekend for McPhee. Being from Pahokee, Florida, McPhee had never encountered snow. Unlike most southern visitors, McPhee had a good reaction to it: “I hadn’t ever been around snow. That was my first time. When it was snowing, it was nice, but Friday it was freezing.”

McPhee plays defensive end for a junior college in Mississippi and is ranked as the No. 3 juco prospect in the nation. Michigan needs some depth at this position as they haven’t signed a defensive end since 2006. McPhee now has Michigan in his top two with another school of which he is unsure of. Michigan looks in good position for McPhee going down the stretch to signing day.

The number one recruit on Michigan’s board was also in town. William Campbell, a former Michigan commit, came for his official along with teammate Michigan commits Teric Jones and Thomas Gordon. Campbell came away saying he felt very comfortable at Michigan.

Campbell lives only half an hour away in Detroit and has been to the Michigan campus over a dozen times in the past year but was able to see a bit more on his official. “I had a lot of fun and I got to see a lot more,” Campbell said. “I talked to a lot of the players in their dorms and got to see everyday life. I’m very comfortable there.”

The three teammates spent nearly the entire weekend together with their hosts, including former Cass Tech teammate Boubacar Cissoko. “Brandon Graham was my host and I was with Brandon Smith and Boubacar. They were showing me a lot. It was just a lot of fun.

“They said they would love to have me on the team. They showed me a lot of things to do and said they have a lot of academic support. They were telling me the other side of recruiting—the truth. It was positive. They said it was fun and at Michigan the degree goes farther than a lot of other schools.”

Campbell played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle in high school. Campbell could play either at the next level but projects better on the defensive side of the ball. He was able to discuss with the coaches about that this weekend. “They said it would be great to have me up there and I’d have a good chance of playing with the linemen that are leaving,” Campbell said. “I’m just going to try and get up there and take a spot.”

Campbell had canceled all other visits earlier this week, but an in-home visit from Miami coaches peaked his interest, and he scheduled the visit again. Surprisingly he will also take a visit to Florida next weekend and then Miami the next.

Now I’m no expert, but it sounds to me like he might be taking these because he can, not because he is interested. Florida is a great place to vacation in December, but Florida had never been on Campbell’s radar until now. Plus recruits get treated like royalty on their visits.

Aside from the big recruiting weekend, there has been a lot of stuff happening in recruiting outside of Ann Arbor, as coaches are allowed to make in-home visits now. A couple Michigan coaches were on the road this week heading to different parts of the country and making new offers.

One coach found himself sitting on the couch in the home of Texas star Demontre Hurst. Hurst, a three-star defensive back from the lone star state, had an outstanding senior season and after sending out tape was offered by both Michigan and Miami this week. Hurst now lists a top three of North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Miami, but says Michigan is definitely under consideration.

Two others who received offers were DEs Alex Williams and Bennie Logan. Both were offered by assistant coaches during visits but have to be affirmed by head coach Rich Rodriguez and nearly always are.

 

I know it is still more than a year away for 2010 signing day, but the top juniors across the nation already are getting offered. Michigan has already handed out over a dozen scholarships, and these are the top prospects on their board. Here are just five names to know.

1. Devin Gardner

Gardner will be one of the premier quarterbacks in the nation next year. He is a dual-threat quarterback and already has offers from programs throughout the country and should easily rack up many more. Gardner will likely be a five-star prospect and would be a perfect fit for Rodriguez’s spread.

Gardner plays for Inkster High School in Michigan, but his favorite college team was Ohio State. Don’t let that fool you—it was OSU’s red color that made him a fan when he was young. He has stated that Michigan is probably the best fit for him.

 

2. Robert Bolden

It is the year of the quarterback in Michigan, as Bolden is another prototypical dual-threat quarterback from St. Mary’s High School. Bolden, like Gardner, has racked up a long list of offers. He hasn’t received a Michigan offer but will any day now. Bolden will likely be a four-star prospect.

 

3. Marvin Robinson

Robinson is a defensive back from Florida and has already been offered by all college football powerhouses. Robinson lives in Florida but was born and raised in Michigan. His mother is a Wolverine alumna, and Robinson was expected to commit to the Wolverines this fall but has now stated that he will explore all options. Robinson is another likely five-star prospect.

 

4. Christian Lombard

Lombard is an offensive tackle from Illinois. Lombard boasts a rather long list of offers that Michigan is on. Lombard has already started friendships with Michigan commitments Jeremy Jackson and Ricardo Miller. As of now Michigan and Notre Dame look to be in the driver’s seat for Lombard.

 

5. William Gholston

Remember that vicious DE for Ohio State that ripped Michigan to shreds the last couple years? Well, this is his cousin. Gholston already has an offer list that is better than his cousin’s. Although he favors MSU and OSU right now, he has expressed a lot of interest in the Maize & Blue and was in attendance this weekend with all the other recruits.

Honorable mention: Christian Green, Dior Mathis, Darryl Baldwin, Lo Wood, and Derrick Bryant.

 

That’s all for this week. I’m not sure if I am going to continue this week as recruiting tends to slow down around this time, but I will pick it up when it gets closer to signing day.

 

All quotes courtesy of rivals.com

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A Look at How the 2008 Michigan Recruiting Class Fared

Michigan had the 10th ranked recruiting class in 2008 according to Rivals, and I was thinking, why not check their progress?

Especially since a lot of them saw quite a bit of playing time throughout their freshman campaigns.

Besides, I haven’t touched on recruiting yet this year on this blog or any other website. It’s something I normally like to avoid until after the season and the next year’s class is more concrete.

I’ll really start getting into it after the Army All-American game when I can see one of these guys in action.

But for now let’s take a look at how last year’s class did.

This was mostly a split class of guys that Lloyd Carr had already recruited and decided to stick with the program after Rich Rodriguez came on board.

Michigan pulled in 24 recruits comprised of 17 four-star recruits and six three-star guys. I go by Rivals so if you want to argue, hey, to each his own.

Two players have already left the team and 12 players took redshirts. Then 10 remaining saw quite a bit of playing time as far as freshmen are concerned.

Sam McGuffie

“Crime Dog” McGuffie (that nickname is just natural) got the start at running back from the first snap against Utah but saw his carries become more and more limited as the season went on.

His best game was against Notre Dame where at one point he was tiptoeing down the sideline for a 29-yard run and finished with 131 yards, catching four balls for 47 yards and a touchdown.

McGuffie ended the season with 486 yards and rumors were swirling that he would be leaving the team after a death in the family took him back to his home state of Texas.

A four-star recruited by Lloyd Carr, McGuffie was a big factor in Fred Jackson staying on as running backs coach. Maybe due to his high profile recruitment after becoming a youtube star.

Analysis: McGuffie went down too often on first contact but maybe he just hit a freshman wall as the season went on. If he really wants to go back home I say go. Running back is one area where Michigan is deep.

Still, he can be explosive and with another year under Mike Barwis he could become a Justin Fargas type, as long as he doesn’t transfer like Fargas.

Michael Shaw

A four-star player out of Trotwood, Ohio Shaw saw a lot of playing time although some Michigan fans, including myself, would’ve liked to see more of him.

The picture above is Shaw’s lone touchdown of the season which was also the first one Michigan scored in the season-opening loss to Utah.

He averaged more than five yards a carry but only got 42 carries for 215 yards leaving Michigan fans wanting more.

Analysis: Remember Clarence Williams? Yeah, that’s what Shaw reminds me off. He’ll be really serviceable but he’ll be in the shadow of others and we’ll be deprived of ever really seeing him as a feature back.

Martavious Odoms

This little three-star wide receiver from Florida that came on late through RichRod caused quite a few headaches this year.

Somehow he managed to lead the Wolverines with 49 catches for 443 yards and he did score a 73-yard punt return against Purdue.

Which was quite a surprise since never at any point did he seem capable of even catching a punt or kickoff.

Analysis: I think you get my tone about Odoms by now. However, he does have a lot of explosiveness if he can hold on to the ball. Plus, he seems to be providing a good pipeline to his teammates in Florida.

When he did play well he reminded me of Marquis Walker, that was until it got colder and Odoms couldn’t grip the ball.

Mike Martin

Novi Catholic Central’s own four-star defensive tackle saw playing time in all 12 games this season.

Martin registered 20 tackles, 4.5 for loss and two sacks as the primary backup to Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson.

He brought a lot of energy to the pass rush but needs to brush up on his run stuffing as well.

Analysis: I like this guy and the enthusiasm he brings to the game. Hope Barwis just gets after him a little more and he can become a force playing next to Brandon Graham.

Boubacar Cissoko

Perhaps one of the great names ever, Cissoko came to the Wolverines out of Cass Tech in Detroit as a four-star defensive back.

As the season went one he saw more and more time in the nickle and dime packages and collected three decent pass breakups, one of which was amazing in the Purdue game.

Gifted with a lot of speed, Cissoko saw a lot of punt and kickoff return duty but like Odoms, he needs to get better hands.

Analysis: Boubacar is Morgan Trent’s replacement, I just hope he doesn’t follow in Trent’s footsteps and ends of getting burned all the time.

Cissoko has the speed to not get burned but I thought the same of Trent. College defensive backs take some time to develop so we’ll see.

Kevin Koger

Four-star tight end out of Toledo saw playing time in eight games catching one touchdown and 93 yards on six grabs.

He replaced the worthless Carson Butler and was respectful enough to request that Mike Massey get the majority of playing time in the Northwestern game on senior day.

His mere presence I think showed that Rich Rodriguez might be adding a new dimension to his spread offense which usually doesn’t feature a tight end.

Analysis: I haven’t like a Michigan tight end since Bennie Joppru left the team. Tim Massaquoi and Carson Butler have been killing me lately.

Koger on the other hand has been pleasant to watch and I think he has ability to emerge as a top tight end in the Big Ten.

Darryl Stonum

Stonum came in touted as a the next best deep threat at Michigan and had high expectations.

And it was warranted. The four-star wideout from Texas ran a 4.4 40 yard dash coming out of high school. He’s 6-2 and 180. That’s a great frame for a high schooler.

But Stonum only had 14 catches for 176 yards and one score. He consistently ran bad routes and was arrested for a DUI midway through the season. From what I hear he’s also still driving around Ann Arbor despite having a suspended license.

Analysis: I’ll admit, I drank the kool-aid on Stonum early on in the recruitment period and thought the guy was going to be great without realizing that freshmen wide receivers are never that good.

He could still turn into something great but only time will tell if he steps up and pulls his head out of his backside by giving someone else the keys.

Justin Feagin

RichRod brought Feagin in near the end of recruiting last year as a back up plan in the event Terrelle Pryor didn’t come to Michigan.

Now the Wolverines are stuck with a three-star recruit who RichRod doesn’t trust enough yet to attempt a handoff let alone pass the ball and probably never will.

Feagin rushed for 52 yards in four games with 34 yards coming off of one run against Minnesota.

Analysis: Feagin will move to slot receiver next year after Tate Forcier and Shavrodick Beaver enroll and might be listed as an emergency fourth string quarterback or something.

I can’t really tell anything about him though as I never got to see him throw so who knows what he’s capable of. He did show how fast he could be in that one run though.

J.B. Fitzgerald

A four-star linebacker out of New Jersey, Fitzgerald played in all 12 games collecting eight tackles on special teams.

Analysis: Fitzgerald did make a couple bone crushing hits on kickoff returns that I remember seeing. He could see more playing time on defense as a sophomore an emerge like Jonas Mouton.

Kenny Demens

Rich Rodriguez burned Demens’ redshirt chances so he could appear in three games and assist on one tackle on special teams.

Demens was a four-star linebacker from Country Day in Detroit.

Analysis: What do you honestly expect me to say on this? I have no idea ever seeing this guy on the field.

Redshirted

Terrence Robinson, four-star WR from Texas

Ricky Barnum, four-star OL from Florida

Rocko Khoury, three-star OL from Traverse City, MI

Elliot Mealer, four-star OL from Wauseon, OH

Brandon Moore, four-star TE from Trotwood, OH

Dann O’Neill, four-star OL from Grand Haven, MI

Patrick Omameh, two-star DE (who I hear is converting to OL) from Columbus, OH

Roy Roundtree (snake oil incident), four-star WR from Trotwood, OH

Brandon Smith, four-star DB from New Jersey

Kurt Wermers, three-star OL from Indiana

Mike Cox, three-star RB from Connecicut

J.T. Floyd, three-star ATH (safety from what I hear) from South Carolina

Left Team

Taylor Hill, four-star LB from Youngstown, OH (left for reasons unknown)

Transfered

Marcus Witherspoon, four-star LB from New Jersey (academically ineligible at Michigan, transferred to Rutgers)

Final Thoughts

Losing Hill and Witherspoon hurt especially looking at Michigans depth at linebacker, it’s not too promising.

I love that most of the offensive lineman redshirted and have a whole year under RichRod’s and Barwis’ tutelage.

Omameh I hear is going to be really good on the O-Line as will Barnum and O’Neill.

J.T. Floyd is the one who almost got the number one jersey till Braylon stepped in and told RichRod what’s up. But I think that just speaks to Floyd’s ability so we have that to look forward to.

All in all, it’s been a pretty decent class but things will be clearer after their sophomore years.

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Can Michigan Go 9-3 in 2009? It’s Not a Dream—It’s a Possibility (Part I)

Over the past couple weeks there have been quite a few articles written on this website about how the Michigan Wolverines next year will be just as bad or improve little at all. Now while I do believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, these articles were obviously written by someone who doesn’t follow the Wolverines regularly and not surprisingly were by fans that despise Michigan—Buckeyes.

Now as the Wolverines pulled off a pitiful 3-9 record this year, marking their worst season ever, their program appears to the naked eye like it is taking a turn for the worst. The future to those who know the program better looks bright.

The 2009 Wolverines are going to improve greatly from their pitiful 2009 campaign, and there are a couple reasons for it.

 

1. Experience on offense and running the spread.

Michigan’s offense was probably the most disappointing aspect of their play this year, as Rodriguez’s spread-option offense only averaged 290 ypg this year compared to the 297 rushing ypg his West Virginia offense averaged in 2008. This poor play can be attributed some to growing pains, but also the fact that Michigan had only one returning starter on offense, RT junior Stephen Schilling.

Next year the Wolverines will return eight starters on their offense, including all their wide receivers, running backs, and half of their offensive line.  They will also return their two quarterbacks Stephen Threet and Nick Sheridan, although they will have to compete with incoming freshmen Tate Forcier and Shavodrick Beaver for the starting position.

The offense has gotten their growing pains done and should be in full force next year.

 

2. Rodriguez will now have “his players.”

Rodriguez’s offense requires a different type of player than the traditional pro-style player Michigan has always recruited. Michigan’s number one priority in recruiting this year was to pick up a dual-threat quarterback, and they did just that—in fact, they picked up two.

Late spring Michigan picked up their first QB when Shavodrick Beaver pledged his services. After the first game of the season, Michigan picked up their second QB when Tate Forcier committed to the Maize & Blue. Forcier is a premier dual-threat QB who not only runs a 4.4 40-yard dash but is also ranked as the most accurate QB in his class with a completion percentage of 77 percent in high school.

Rodriguez also got the defenders he needed. Although big, bruising linebackers are the normal stereotype for the Big Ten, Rodriguez, like on offense, requires something different.

For his defense Rodriguez needed small, quick linebackers, and he got that with Brandin Hawthorne and Jordan Barnes. Isaiah Bell is projected as a safety by many recruiting websites but will most likely make the switch to linebacker next year.

 

3. Defensive problems will be fixed.

Now I will normally be the first one to tell you that when a defense doesn’t perform well no one should be singled out, but this year might’ve totally changed my philosophy on that. The Wolverines have had some safety problems the past couple years, but none could match the horrid play this year.

I came into this year thinking Morgan Trent would be our worst secondary player. I left knowing Stevie Brown and Brandon Harrison were the worst. These two together blew deep coverage continually throughout the season and missed tackles time and time again that resulted in big plays. I will highlight just one.

Our first game against Utah, Michigan scored on their first drive. We followed that up by forcing Utah into a 3rd-and-19. On the third and long, Brian Johnson connected with Jereme Brooks for a 55-yard gain. This play didn’t only include blown coverage by Stevie Brown, but also a missed tackle by Brandon Harrison. Utah scored on their next play.

If you would like to see more of these, look no further than last Saturday, where Brown was again blowing coverage and Harrison continued to miss tackles. These plays continued throughout the season and thankfully will be fixed next year.

Brandon Harrison graduates this year and will be replaced by sophomore Brandon Smith, a hard-hitting safety that isn’t afraid to tackle. Meanwhile, Brown will be a senior but should be replaced by star freshman Justin Turner, who bears a striking resemblance to Michigan great Charles Woodson, or Vladimir Emilien, a speedy safety from Florida.

 

Michigan fans can look forward to a more successful season next year. Although we will not contend for a national title, a trip to the Capital One Bowl may be in order.

A word to the Buckeyes writers out there: You keep writing about Buckeye football, and we will keep writing about Michigan.

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RichRod Regrets OSU Coaches’ Visit

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The relationships between Michigan and Ohio State extend far beyond the field.

Even though the schools are bitter enemies, many of the opposing players are friends. Some of the coaches have worked together, too.

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said he has known Ohio State’s Jim Tressel for several years. Both represent an apparel company, both go to Big Ten coaches meetings and both are members of the American Football Coaches Association.

Rodriguez regrets one time when he crossed paths with Ohio State’s coaches.

"Some of (Tressel’s) coaches came to visit us a few years back when I was at West Virginia," he said. He joked, "If I knew I was going to be here, that trip wouldn’t have happened."

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee knows Rodriguez from the days when Gee was the president at WVU.

"Rich Rodriguez is a West Virginia guy. I knew him as a student at West Virginia," Gee said. "He was there under (then WVU coach) Don Nehlen when I was there."

Gee said he struggled when he came to Ohio State the first of his two times as president. He said he didn’t understand the culture of the university, and he certainly didn’t get the severity and scope of the rivalry with Michigan.

"I think that anyone coming from the outside to a place like Michigan or Ohio State needs to get a lesson 101 in terms of its history and tradition," he said. "Certainly I found that as the president of the university in 1990."

He said it was important for those coming in from other places to understand things such as rivalries.

"It’s the responsibility of the institution to get the very best coach. Then it’s the responsibility of the institution and the coach to really understand the nature, the value, the qualities of that particular institution," he said. "I’m certain that that is happening at Michigan. I know it happened here. It’s an ever-learning process. Coach Rodriguez is a great coach. Michigan will be a great football team. Michigan is coming into this rivalry, they believe that they’re going to win this game on Saturday. We need to be prepared, because he’s that kind of a coach."

LOSING THEIR MARBLES: Each of Ohio State’s 28 seniors were given a case before the season which contained 12 marbles. Each Friday, they have handed over a marble to Tressel. The last marble is blue, to signify Michigan.

Tressel’s wife, Ellen, came up with the idea as a way of impressing upon the seniors how quickly their final season passes. Apparently, they’ve gotten the message.

"Every time you give him one it is like, ‘Man, that’s one more gone,"’ DL Nader Abdallah said. "It just keeps reminding you that have you have only got a certain amount of games left and you better make the most of them."

CB Malcolm Jenkins said he had no regrets.

"Now it’s time to turn in the last one," he said. "I will be excited because it’s my last chance to play Michigan. But I am also down because that’s my last marble. I spent my four years here very well. I can’t really take anything back."

P A.J. Trapasso said he had mixed feelings.

"It’s a simple thing in reality, it’s just marbles dropping into a vase," he said. "If you realize that five years ago I had 50 or 60 of those marbles in there and now it’s all the way down to one. It is bittersweet. I almost don’t want to give it up."

Some tried to delay the inevitable.

"It’s tough. I like to wait until the last minute on Friday," FB Brandon Smith said.

He said Tressel doesn’t show any sympathy, either.

"It’s ‘Fork ‘em over.’ It’s so cold and harsh," he said with a laugh.

NO SAINT IN ST. HENRY: According to a column by Tom Archdeacon in the Dayton Daily News, the good people of St. Henry, Ohio, are less than pleased with the way Tressel has handled the quarterback situation – particularly how he has treated native son Todd Boeckman.

The small town that produced Ohio State icons such as Jim Lachey and Bobby Hoying is usually swathed in scarlet and gray. But many people are angry that Tressel put in Terrelle Pryor to replace Boeckman, who led the Buckeyes to an outright Big Ten title and the national championship game a year ago, and has allowed him just a few plays since.

"Everybody here’s got a real sour taste in their mouths about this," said Charlie Gels, who runs Gels’ IGA in St. Henry. "Coach Tressel’s notoriety has fallen by the wayside. A lot of people are really down on him for the way he’s handled this. He didn’t put any of blame on the coaching; he made Todd the fall guy."

The tide has obviously turned.

"There was a lot of respect here for Tressel, but now a lot of people here have turned on him," said Matt Stelzer, who runs the sports hangout and pizza place known as Fish-Mo’s. "There a lot of dislike for him. Some just hate him. They feel he threw Todd under the bus. … Tressel could have handled this so much better, and because he didn’t, it just doesn’t set well with people here. Since I’ve been in the bar business, I’ve never seen anything like this. Some people who come in don’t even want to watch the (Buckeyes) games now."

Gels added, "I’ve even got this 75-year-old lady who comes into the store. She says, ‘I just don’t think (Tressel’s) the right man for the job. He’s shown me he’s not quite the guy a lot of people thought he was."’

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Final Big Ten injury report: Week 13

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research.

ILLINOIS (at Northwestern)

• QB Eddie McGee, toe, probable
• LB Martez Wilson, out, suspension
• DT Josh Brent, knee, questionable
• RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, questionable
• FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, questionable
• S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
• OT Ryan Palmer, foot, questionable
• CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
• DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)

INDIANA (at Purdue)

• RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
• S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
• RB Bryan Payton, ankle, questionable
• CB Richard Council, knee, questionable
• LB Will Patterson, knee, questionable
• CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
• OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
• S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
• TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
• S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
• OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
• CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)

IOWA (at Minnesota)

• OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
• OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
• S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
• TE Tony Moeaki, leg, questionable
• OL James Ferentz, suspension, out

MICHIGAN (at Ohio State)

• WR Zion Babb, dismissal, out (season)
• RB Sam McGuffie, shoulder/personal, questionable
• OT Stephen Schilling, knee, questionable
• RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
• WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
• QB Steven Threet, shoulder, doubtful,
• LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
• T Mark Huyge, ankle, out
• WR Terence Robinson, knee, doubtful
• S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
• G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)

MICHIGAN STATE (at Penn State)

• WR Keshawn Martin, undisclosed, questionable
• CB Chris L. Rucker, leg, questionable
• WR Mark Dell, knee, questionable
• S Roderick Jenrette, personal, out (season)

MINNESOTA (vs. Iowa)

• WR Eric Decker, ankle, probable
• S Kyle Theret, leg, probable
• LB Lee Campbell, questionable, hamstring
• RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)

NORTHWESTERN (vs. Illinois)

• DT Corbin Bryant, knee, out (season)
• LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
• QB Mike Kafka, concussion, probable
• DE Vince Browne, knee, out
• RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
• TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
• DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
• RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
• CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)

OHIO STATE (vs. Michigan)

• WR Ray Small, suspension, questionable
• CB Jermale Hines, leg, doubtful
• OL Ben Person, leg, out
• OL Connor Smith, undisclosed, questionable
• DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out (season)
• OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
• OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, out (season)
• DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
• CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)

PENN STATE (vs. Michigan State)

• DE Josh Gaines, ankle, questionable
• OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
• DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
• RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
• OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
• DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)

PURDUE (vs. Indiana)

• TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
• LB Jason Werner, back, out
• OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
• OT Sean Sester, knee, probable
• G Eric Hedstrom, knee, probable
• QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
• T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
• RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)

WISCONSIN (vs. Cal-Poly)

• T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, probable
• WR Kyle Jefferson, concussion, out
• TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
• WR Maurice Moore, leg, doubtful
• TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
• DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
• CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
• DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)

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