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| Dennis Norfleet |
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 175 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) King
Position: Running back, returner
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #26
Last year: Norfleet was in high school. He rushed for 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Final TTB Rating: 76
Norfleet was a late but welcome addition to the class of 2012. Hailing from an hour down the road from Ann Arbor, he had no offer from the Wolverines (and ignored one from Michigan State) and was committed to Cincinnati. But having missed out on some high profile targets prior to National Signing Day, the coaching staff tossed out an offer to Norfleet, who until then hadn't heard much from the coaches. He committed immediately. He was a somewhat high profile player with a 4-star ranking to everyone except ESPN, but his size seemed to deter programs who typically look for bigger running backs.
The lack of size shouldn't hurt Norfleet at Michigan, though. It was made rather clear when he was offered that the coaching staff wanted him to return punts and kickoffs, and maybe not do much else. Size matters very little when it comes to returners. Without an established kickoff returner coming back in 2012, Norfleet has a good chance of starting there. As far as punt returns go, Jeremy Gallon is the incumbent, but he's also projected to start at split end. If the coaches don't want to tire out Gallon or risk getting him injured, Norfleet could start there, too.
Prediction: Starting kickoff and punt returner by the end of the season; 23.0 yards per kick return, 10.0 yards per punt return
I have a feeling that Norfleet will end up being too good a playmaker to use just on kick returns. Fast, elusive and with very good hands, I can see him getting some snaps in the backfield in some formations, or as a slot receiver. Noel Devine type of back, but a better pass catcher.
ReplyDeleteWhat has been his experiences as a Kick & Punt returner?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how often, but he returned some kicks and punts. If you watch his highlight film from his senior year (linked in the commitment post), he returned 1 punt and 1 kickoff for touchdowns.
DeleteOne of my favorite recruits. I predict he does a lot more than special teams by the end of his career.
ReplyDeleteIn general, I don't like recruiting people specifically for special teams (kickers excluded, obvs). In recent years people like Dileo have been brought in with that in mind, but it seems to rarely work out the way the coaches plan. I think that's because it's hard to gauge the right mix of hands, decision-making, pure speed, and wiggle needed for the return game - it's not the same as the skills mix you need for RB or WR, IMO.
As for Norfleet this year - trusting him for punt return duty is a little worrisome, but I hope he returns kickoffs given that there aren't too many other exciting options unless Dileo or J.Robinson emerge. I could see Chesson or a DB emerge as threats in that role as well...
Happy 4th!
I don't have a problem with recruiting a kickoff/punt returner, but you have to be reasonably sure that he's going to work out. Dileo was given a scholarship in a similar fashion, but he's turned into our holder on the XP/FG unit and has made a few decent plays at wide receiver. He hasn't been the punt returner Rodriguez probably hoped for, but he's turning out to be an okay player.
DeleteI would be VERY surprised if Jerald Robinson emerges as a kickoff returner. Chesson, Richardson, maybe Dileo, Hayes, maybe Raymon Taylor, etc. can help out on kickoffs...but not Robinson.
Happy Fourth to you, too!
I just watched the 2005 Minnesota game on BTN (featuring Lawrence Maroney, a tough home loss that I witnessed as a student), and I had forgotten what a game changer Stevie Breaston was as a kick returner (5 career kick/punt returns for TDs, that's #1 all time. Not to mention he is #1 all time at M for yards returned).
DeleteStonum was pretty good himself (literally 1 yard behind Stevie B as #2 all time in most return yards/season in 2009), but I'm hoping that Norfleet can bring that special teams threat back to M next season and beyond. On film he's just electric.
I'm a little surprised no one seems to be talking about Drake Johnson as a possible KO returner. Great straight ahead speed and bigger and stronger than Norfleet, enough to break some tackles. Not so elusive, by accounts, but that's not as much of a disadvantage on kickoffs as it is out of the backfield.
DeleteAlready covered:
Deletehttp://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2012/06/2012-season-countdown-84-drake-johnson.html
I could frankly see both Johnson and Norfleet getting time returning kicks. Johnson is much more a north-south guy, at this point anyway, better suited for kickoffs, while Norfleet has much better ability to make guys miss in close quarters when he's not at full speed, so he'd clearly be a better punt returner (though he'd probably do well on kickoffs too). We really don't have anyone returning that's a no-brainier for those roles, so I think the spots are wide open.
DeleteI don't think the coaches would burn the redshirts of both freshman running backs. I'm pretty confident that Drake Johnson is going to sit out this season.
DeleteSomebody has to redshirt, and judging by the comments throughout the countdown, people seem to have reasons for everyone to play. Every time I suggest someone's going to redshirt, someone says, "Yeah, but he'll play because _____________."
I agree that the spots are wide open, but I also realize that 8/20 freshmen redshirted last season. It's even a higher rate if you consider that Barnett, Posada, and Brown didn't really make it, so it was sort of 8/17.
Well, of the two, I'd say Johnson is more likely to redshirt, but speed tends to make itself heard. But of our incoming guys, I'd say Henry, Houma, Bars, Clark, Gant, Richardson, Godin, Ojemudia, Ringer and Braden definitely redshirt as well as probably one of Darboh/Chesson, one of Strobel/Wormley and one of Williams/Funchess. That's 13 of 25 if my count is right which seems reasonable. Don't forget, too...we're in a transitional period when we're replacing a lot of RR's recruits with Hoke's (better) recruits, so I'd expect more true freshman to play this year than usual.
DeleteI actually don't think more true freshmen will play this year than usual. We have depth everywhere except on the offensive line and a little on the defensive line, and we didn't lose a ton of seniors last year at any particular position, except on the DL. We had a ton of true freshman play a couple years ago (Christian, Vinopal, Avery, Black, Dileo, Gardner, Hopkins, Jackson, Hagerup, Miller, and Johnson). A few of those guys are gone, but most of them are juniors ready to contribute in one form or another (Avery at CB, Black at DT, Dileo at WR, Gardner at QB/WR, Hopkins at FB, Jackson at WR, Hagerup at P). Heck, the only true freshman to have played in 2010 who doesn't look like he'll see the field much is Ricardo Miller. We also have a bunch of fifth year seniors still hanging around (Mealer, Demens, Barnum, Omameh, Floyd, Kovacs).
DeleteSomeone has to red-shirt -- but I don't think it has to be a RB, not the way the coaches are bringing in recruits. They're looking for a guy to be a primary/lead back and they'll keep cycling people through till they find him, and even then... I don't think there's as much benefit to red-shirting this position compared to most others. I don't think the coaches look overall number of red-shirts, but evaluate position group by position group.
DeleteI'd rather Norfleet not return punts. I think size does matter on punt returns because your vision can get blocked as defenders encroach on fair catches. This is a spot I like a sure-handed taller WR.
DeleteThunder, why are you against Robinson returning kicks?
The coaches played 4 tailbacks last year (Toussaint, Smith, Shaw, Rawls); they left Cox on the bench and redshirted Hayes. Assuming they play four again this year, you'll have Toussaint, Smith, Rawls, a redshirt freshman Hayes, and two true freshman. The first three will play, so otherwise, it's a battle between Hayes, Norfleet, and Johnson for the #4 spot. There's not much need to play a fifth or sixth running back, unless you're Iowa...and I hope we're not.
DeleteSize doesn't matter for punt returns. Your reasoning (defenders encroaching on fair catches) is very, very weak. Sorry.
DeleteIf you look at the best returners in NFL history, they're mostly 5'7" to 5'10". Brian Mitchell was 5'11" and Tim Brown was 6'0", but Meggett was 5'7", Howard was 5'10", Hester is 5'10", so on and so on and so on. Norfleet can do just fine as a punt returner if he can judge/catch the ball.
Robinson is slow and not good at changing direction. If he's our punt returner, he will suck. He's just about the worst suggestion for punt returner you could make.
I agree with you that the most likely situation is Norfleet playing and the 2 others red-shirting. However, I think they could all play for various reasons. I don't think 4 is a magic number at RB (especially with the way the coaches use Smith) or that the #4 spot is significant, but it's beside the point. I dont think the coaches will hold back on using a guy like Johnson if he is useful on special teams (not necessarily as a returner even, given his speed he could be a useful kickoff defender). Norfleet, too, might not be relevant to the RB depth chart but could skip the red-shirt and lets not forget about Houma either, even though he's probably a FB and probably red-shirting, he's closer to being physically ready than most incoming FBs.
DeleteYou're probably right. I'm just saying that reliability matters, so between two guys who aren't all that elusive, I prefer the taller one (e.g., Roy Roundtree over Odoms, not that RR is that tall even.) It's probably a stretch though.
DeleteI hope Norfleets along the line of all those special athletes you named.
I am probably guilty overestimating the amount of freshmen that will play. There are a couple unique factors this year...
ReplyDelete1. The 2011 incoming class was pretty weak, and still half the kids played. Barnett would have played had he not flaked out.
2. Quality DB and LB depth has improved a bit from last year. But a lot of other positions are weaker in terms of quality or quantity. Even though the roster is finally balancing out, overall team quality-depth is still quite low.
3. There are a bunch of spots opening up in 2013. The coaches may want to groom freshmen to compete for next year. I think Beyer is an example of a kid who probably got more PT than was really needed because the coaches knew they would really be counting on him this season. I wonder if this will not apply to safety (for example) this year. They don't need a lot of freshman minutes here, but the coaches must groom Kovacs' replacement and that guy is likely an incoming freshman. Mattison does not seem enamored with Gordon too, so there are future opportunities there.
4. A lot of these incoming guys are just more talented than the upperclassmen. And with a great, balanced 2013 class behind them, redshirting should not be a priority this year.
5. Maybe around half of them wind up playingbut a high percentage of them seem relatively ready to play. In other years, it has been much easier to predict obvious redshirts in my opinion.
6. OL typically redshirt, but the coaches need depth in a hurry. So the old rule may not apply to this group specifically.
1. I somewhat disagree that the 2011 class was weak. Countess and Morgan have already earned starting jobs. Beyer/Clark will this year. And there are other guys the coaches like who are waiting for the opportunity, such as Rawls, Bryant, Poole, Bellomy, etc. It's not the best class, but I'm not sure I'd classify it as being weak.
Delete2. I disagree about quality/quantity being short. I think we're short on experience among the backups.
3. Thomas Gordon was reportedly the best defensive player in the spring, and I think Kovacs' replacement will be Marvin Robinson.
4. I probably agree with them being more talented overall, but not necessarily right now.
5. It's been easier, yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything at the end of the year.
6. I think only one freshman OL is guaranteed to play this year, with two being the max. That's somewhat abnormal for the OL, but won't make a huge difference in the overall numbers. Cornerbacks often play early, but Richardson could very well redshirt...so that would negate a freshman OL playing.
Also, it depends on what we mean by "normal." By the end of the Rodriguez era and the beginning of the Hoke era, it was pretty normal for freshmen to be heavy contributors. I think more freshmen might play than in the Lloyd Carr era, but we're five years removed from that now.
DeleteWay too early to judge the 2011 class.
DeleteDB and LB experience/depth are VASTLY improved from last year. Team weakness now one of the biggest strengths (at least going into the year).
Thomas Gordon has found a way to get into the lineup wherever he has played and has looked pretty solid. He's entering his Junior year - not sure why you're down on him.
Maybe Gordon has improved in the coaches' eyes. I actually like him. It was clear last year that he had the shortest leash of any player on defense. Mattison was constantly pulling him for a gimpy T-Wolf and Gordon was reportedly annoyed. If he has worked things out with Mattison, I agree that he will be in the driver's seat.
ReplyDelete2011 was not a very talented class by traditional UM standards. The physical talent is just not there. It may produce more solid contributors than RR's flaky classes, but I will never use RR's recruiting as a measuring stick. Of course we can't completely judge it at this point, but speculation is what internet message boards are all about. Outside of Countess and maybe Morgan, I think UM will be looking at an average amount of contributors but very few studs. According to this board, Bryant was the jewel of the class and he has not been turning heads early.
Judging from the spring, quality depth just ain't there at WR, OL, TE, DL. And there are legit opportunities at other spots too.
LOL. Chris Bryant is an offensive lineman and has yet to begin his redshirt freshman season. And reports from practice have actually been quite positive, but he apparently needs to continue to work on his pass protection...which is understandable because he's still a freshman.
DeleteLike Lankownia said, it's too early to judge the 2011 class. I think your comment about Bryant indicates that you haven't really given these guys a chance.
The 2005 recruiting class was ranked #6 by Rivals. The only guys who played as true freshmen were Bass (19 carries, 8 receptions), Grady (494 yards), Harrison (24 tackles), Manningham (27 catches), and Terrance Taylor (1 tackle).
In 2011 we had Rawls (79 yards), Wile (41.6 yards per punt, starting kickoff guy), Morgan (63 tackles), Countess (44 tackles), Beyer (11 tackles), Hollowell (6 tackles), Clark (10 tackles, 1 INT), and Taylor (2 tackles).
I would say Morgan and Countess's performances equaled or surpassed those of Grady and Manningham, and the other guys more than make up the balance of contributions. While it's true that the depth in 2011 might have required more freshmen to play, you never know - those early opportunities to play might make this class grow up quickly and contribute more in the long run.
I'd be surprised if Bryant doesn't start against Alabama - as a red-shirt freshman. What a bum. Even if Mealer or someone else holds him off, man... you're harsh.
DeleteThe 2011 recruiting class was historically weak, ratings-wise for Michigan, but in a transition year, with all the turmoil that was going on, it was a pretty decent class. Even without that qualifier - it might be better than normal.
Wile, Morgan, Countess, Clark already made significant contributions to an 11-2 team and look like guys who could make all-conference at some point. Taylor and Beyer played and looked promising. Bryant and Miller are being counted on as likely starters next year. Rawls, Hayes, Bellomy, Heitzman, Hollowell all have come in for various degrees of praise and there's a couple other guys who red-shirted that we can't say anything about yet.
RR's flakey classes included 2009 (Denard, Toussaint, Lewan, Schofield, Smith, Gallon, Gordon, Gordon, Roh, Gibbons.) There was a lot of attrition but also a lot of really good talent recognition in there. RR's problem was developing talent (coaching) on the defensive side of the ball, not recruiting. Guys like Toussaint and Gallon are why you can't judge recruiting classes after one year. Even judging the '09 class is premature since a bunch of them have half their college careers left.