Review of 2007 Recruiting: Safeties

Jerimy Finch

THE ROSTER
Anton Campbell, RS Sr.
Brandent Englemon, RS Sr.
Jamar Adams, Sr.
Charles Stewart, RS So.
Steve Brown, So.

THE RECRUITS
Artis Chambers
High school: Fort Wayne (IN) Snyder
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #41 S
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Indiana, Purdue
Scoop: Chambers played a bit as a true freshman in 2007, making 7 total tackles, including a 5-tackle performance against Notre Dame. He made 2 more tackles in 2008 before leaving the team in the middle of the season for unknown reasons. He transferred to Ball State and had to sit out the 2009 season due to transfer rules, but he was gone by 2010. He reappeared at Delta State University in 2012 and made 7 tackles in six games. His career appears to be finished.

Michael Williams
High school: Ventura (CA) St. Bonaventure
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #15 S
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Notre Dame
Scoop: Williams was a highly touted recruit out of California who redshirted as a freshman in 2007. The newly hired Rich Rodriguez used him as a box safety in 2008, when he made 18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. He became a nine-game starter as a redshirt sophomore in 2009 and made 56 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He appeared in just two games in 2010 and made 2 tackles before the last in a long line of concussions caused his career to come to a close.

Hit the jump for the scoop on the other guys Michigan targeted, including Ohio State-bound Eugene Clifford and one-time Michigan commit Jerimy Finch.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Cornerbacks

Donovan Warren

THE ROSTER
Doug Dutch, RS Jr.
Morgan Trent, RS Jr.
Brandon Harrison, Jr.
Zion Babb, RS Fr.

Hit the jump to see whom Michigan recruited and how they fared in their careers.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Linebackers

Brandon Herron was the star of the class! (here being chased by former Michigan tackle Dann O'Neill, #68)

THE ROSTER
Shawn Crable, RS Sr.
Chris Graham, Sr.
John Thompson, Sr.
Brandon Logan, Jr.
Obi Ezeh, So.
Jonas Mouton, So.

THE RECRUITS
Marell Evans
High school: Richmond (VA) Varina
Ratings: Rivals 2-star outside linebacker
College: Michigan Hampton Michigan
Other notable offer: Temple
Scoop: Evans had quite the circuitous journey through college football. A high school teammate of Brandon Minor (who would end up as Michigan's starter at running back), Evans was a very under-the-radar recruit. He played sparingly in five games on special teams as a freshman in 2007, and then he made one start under Rich Rodriguez in 2008, finishing his sophomore year with 4 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, and .5 sacks. He left Michigan in 2009 and transferred to Hampton in 2010, but he sat out that season due to injury. He then returned to Michigan in 2011 and was purported to be starter-level material on a team with questionable linebackers, but apparently his academic situation left him unable to compete in games; he remained on the team and played as a scout linebacker. He participated in Michigan's pro day, but he never got a shot in the NFL.

Brandon Herron
High school: Sugar Land (TX) Dulles
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #25 outside linebacker
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Scoop: Herron (a high school teammate of defensive back Troy Woolfolk) redshirted as a freshman in 2007. He made 7 tackles as a special-teamer in 2008. He saw more time on defense in 2009, when he made 20 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 fumble recovery. As a redshirt junior in 2010, he made 7 tackles and 1 pass breakup. He broke out in a big way as a fifth year senior in 2011 when he earned his first start against Western Michigan; Herron responded with 8 tackles, 1 fumble recovery (returned 29 yards for a touchdown), and 1 interception (returned 94 yards for a touchdown). Interestingly, he was barely heard from again, as he played just five more games that year and never started again; a nagging leg injury after week one may have contributed to that. He was not drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, and his career ended despite a solid showing at Michigan's pro day (4.59 forty, 26 bench press reps, a 37.5" vertical, etc.).

Austin Panter
High school: El Dorado (KS) Butler County Community College
Ratings: Rivals 4-star inside linebacker
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Minnesota
Scoop: A rare foray into the junior college transfer ranks for Michigan, Panter played immediately with junior eligibility in 2007. He made 7 tackles and 1 tackle for loss that year. Then in 2008 he made 8 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, .5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. An ineffective Big Ten player, he was not drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft and his career never got off the ground.

Hit the jump for the guys that Michigan took a swing at and missed.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Defensive Ends

Michigan recruited Devon Still back in the day (here pictured with his cancer-stricken daughter, Leah;
image via Christian Post)

THE ROSTER
Tim Jamison, Sr.
Brandon Graham, So.
Greg Banks, RS Fr.
Adam Patterson, RS Fr.
Will Heininger, Fr.

THE RECRUITS
Ryan Van Bergen
High school: Whitehall (MI) Whitehall
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #18 SDE
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue
Scoop: Van Bergen redshirted as a true freshman. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, he started one game, made 13 tackles, and broke up 1 pass. He moved inside to start twelve games at defensive tackle in 2009, making 40 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery. Then as a redshirt junior in 2010, he moved back to defensive end and made 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 1 pass knockdown. He achieved all-conference Honorable Mention status in 2011 with 45 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent but never played a game in the NFL.

THE TARGETS
Kourtnei Brown
High school: Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #12 WDE
College: Clemson
Other notable offers: Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia Tech
Scoop: Brown played in eleven games as a freshman and made 12 total tackles, including 1 sack. As a sophomore in 2008, he made 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Brown redshirted in 2009. Then in 2010, he made 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as a redshirt junior. Finally, he finished his career with 22 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception returned 20 yards for a touchdown, 1 fumble recovery returned 26 yards for a touchdown, and 3 pass breakups. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft but found his way into the league with the San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and St. Louis Rams.

Jared Glover
High school: Bixby (OK) Bixby
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #29 WDE
College: Oklahoma State
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Texas A&M
Scoop: Glover redshirted in 2007. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, he was a backup linebacker and played in six games, making 5 total tackles. He left OSU prior to the 2009 season due to injury.

Everson Griffen
High school: Avondale (AZ) Agua Fria
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #1 SDE, #6 overall
College: USC
Other notable offers: Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon
Scoop: As a freshman in 2007, Griffen started two games and finished with 21 tackes, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass deflections on the season; for his efforts he was a First Team Freshman All-America. In 2008 he made 18 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a backup. He earned the starter's job in 2009 and responded with 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass deflection, for which he was named Second Team All-Pac 10. He left school after his junior year and entered the 2010 NFL Draft, where he was picked in the 4th round (#100 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. Since becoming a pro, he has had a few run-ins with the law. However, he has totaled 85 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 1 interception (returned 29 yards for a touchdown), and 3 forced fumbles as a backup for the Vikings and was re-signed this past off-season.

Devon Still
High school: Wilmington (DE) Howard
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #10 SDE
College: Penn State
Other notable offers: Miami, Ohio State
Scoop: Still redshirted as a freshman in State College. Between a torn ACL and a broken ankle, he missed almost all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. As a redshirt sophomore backup  in 2009, he made 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. When I attended a coaching clinic at Penn State in the spring of 2009, Still was physically the most impressive guy I saw in practice. He started twelve games at defensive tackle in 2010, making 39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 1 pass breakup. He came into his own as a 6'5", 310 lb. senior in 2011, when he made 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup; he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. The Cincinnati Bengals picked him in the 2nd round (#53 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. In two-plus professional seasons, he has made 28 tackles, .5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. The Bengals recently made news by signing him so that his daughter's cancer treatments would be covered by their medical insurance.

John Stokes
High school: Memphis (TN) University School
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #13 WDE
College: Vanderbilt
Other notable offers: Alabama, Ole Miss, Stanford
Scoop: As a freshman in 2007, Stokes earned the long-snapper duties and made 7 tackles as a backup outside linebacker. He became the starting outside 'backer in 2008 and finished with 31 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. He platooned at OLB in 2009 and made 44 tackles and 2 tackles for loss. As a senior in 2010, he won the job outright and made 78 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, .5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 pass breakups. He was not drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft but spent some time with the Tennessee Titans as a long snapper before getting cut before the season began. As far as I can gather, he has not played in a regular season game and his football career appears to be finished.

Chris Strong
High school: Batesville (MS) South Panola
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #3 SDE, #53 overall
College: Ole Miss
Other notable offers: Florida, Miami, Ohio State, USC
Scoop: Strong signed with Ole Miss in 2007 but had issues with his weight as he bounced back and forth between defensive end and middle linebacker. He started three games that year and made 19 tackles, but he quit football prior to the 2008 season and was not heard from again in the football world.

Martez Wilson
High school: Chicago (IL) Simeon
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #2 WDE, #26 overall
College: Illinois
Other notable offers: Florida, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC
Scoop: Wilson was a backup outside linebacker in 2007 and made 29 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 pass breakup on the way to being named a Freshman All-America. He became a starter in 2008 and ended the year with 73 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 pass breakups. He suffered a herniated disc early in 2009 and was given a medical hardship waiver after making 9 tackles in limited time. He returned with a vengeance in 2010 and started at middle linebacker, where he made 112 tackles (4th in the Big Ten), 11.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 pass breakups, and 1 blocked kick. He was named First Team All-Big Ten and entered the NFL Draft after the year, foregoing his final year of eligibility. Wilson was picked in the 3rd round (#72 overall) by the New Orleans Saints in the 2011 NFL Draft and has played for the Saints, Oakland Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys since then, totaling 33 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups over the last three seasons. He was cut by the Cowboys in August and has not signed on with another team.

CONCLUSIONS
Defensive end always seems like a questionable position to recruit, because so many players end up outgrowing the position or never filling out their frames. You can see in this class that a few guys remained as outside linebackers, while Still turned into a huge defensive tackle.

Biggest miss: Devon Still. The lean Rich Rodriguez years may have been improved a little bit with someone like Still in the middle, pairing with a guy like Mike Martin. Imagine that duo in the center of those defensive lines. Michigan fans may not have had to deal with watching Adam Patterson play nose tackle.

Biggest bust: Chris Strong. Strong didn't really have a position, and he was out of football after just a short college career. That's underwhelming for the #53 player nationally.

Best in class: Von Miller. Miller attended Texas A&M, where he played 4-3 outside linebacker, 4-3 weakside end, and 3-4 outside linebacker. His ability to rush the passer never waned, though. He had 17 sacks as a junior in 2009 and another 10 sacks in 2010. He was a 1st round pick (#2 overall) by the Denver Broncos in 2011, for whom he has 191 tackles, 41 sacks, 1 interception, and 11 forced fumbles in two-plus seasons. He's a two-time Pro Bowler and has 6 sacks so far this season.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Defensive Tackles

This is Joe Barksdale. Notice that the maize isn't quite maize enough and the blue is more of a purple.

THE ROSTER
Will Johnson, Sr.
Terrance Taylor, Jr.
Marques Slocum, So.
John Ferrara, RS Fr.
Jason Kates, RS Fr.

THE RECRUITS
Renaldo Sagesse
High school: Montreal (Quebec) Vieux School
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #34 DT
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Illinois
Scoop: Sagesse played in six games as a true freshman in 2007 but didn't accrue any statistics. As a sophomore in 2008, Sagesse made 3 tackles as a backup defensive tackle, mostly in goal-line situations. Then in 2009 he made 8 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in a backup role. He made 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss as a senior in 2010. He went undrafted by the NFL in the 2011 NFL Draft but was picked in the 4th round (#25 overall) by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2011 Canadian Football League draft. He played for the Alouettes in 2011 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2012, but he has not played in the CFL since then.

THE TARGETS
Joseph Barksdale
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #6 DT, #67 overall
College: LSU
Other notable offers: Florida State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC
Scoop: Barksdale was a backup right offensive tackle as a true freshman in 2007 and played in every game that year, some on special teams. After that he became the starter at right tackle for the 2008 and 2009 seasons and flipped to the left side in 2010, running his streak of consecutive starts to 39 over his final three seasons. As a senior in 2010, he was named Second Team All-SEC. He was chosen in the 3rd round (#92 overall) by the Oakland Raiders in the 2011 NFL Draft, but the Raiders released him before his second year. The St. Louis Rams picked him up prior to the 2012 season and he has started ten games for them over the past couple years.

Josh Brent
High school: Bloomington (IL) Central Catholic
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #11 DT
College: Illinois
Other notable offers: Ohio State, Wisconsin
Scoop: As a true freshman in 2007, Brent made 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and .5 sacks as a backup defensive tackle. He became a part-time starter in 2008 and made 34 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. Then as a junior in 2009, he tallied 29 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery as a full-time starter. Brent was declared academically ineligible for the 2010 season, which caused him to enter the NFL's supplemental draft, where he was taken in the 7th round by the Dallas Cowboys. He made 44 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble for the Cowboys before getting into some serious legal trouble in 2012 when he got drunk and flipped his car with teammate Jerry Brown in the passenger seat. Brown was killed in the accident. The accident and Brent's treatment afterward caused quite a stir, and he "retired" after failing multiple drug tests while awaiting trial. In January 2014 he was convicted of manslaughter, for which he was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation.

Tonio Celotto
High school: Simi Valley (CA) Royal
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #38 DT
College: Oregon Humboldt State
Other notable offers: Ole Miss, Washington State
Scoop: Celotto was a backup as a true freshman and made 16 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss in 2007, including 4 stops in the Ducks' win over Michigan that year. As a sophomore in 2008, he made 10 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Slowed by injuries, Celotto left Oregon before the 2009 season and ended up at Humboldt State University. He made 1 tackle in 2011 in an injury-shortened season and received a sixth year of eligibility for 2012. As a sixth year senior, he made 14 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 1 blocked kick but could only participate in six games. He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft and appears to have completed his football career.

Da'John Harris
High school: Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #3 DT, #48 overall
College: USC
Other notable offers: Miami, Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA
Scoop: Harris redshirted as a freshman in 2007. In 2008 he was a backup defensive tackle and blocking tight end, making 1 tackle in limited time before missing several late games for academic reasons. As a redshirt sophomore in 2009, he became a key backup and made 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and .5 sacks. He finally became a starter in 2010 and finished the year with 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass breakup. Then as a fifth year senior in 2011, he had 22 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 6 pass deflections. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and has played for the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins, last appearing in 2012 for the Titans and making 3 tackles total. He is not currently on an NFL roster.

Rolando Melancon
High school: Lutcher (LA) Lutcher
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #22 DT
College: Tennessee Louisiana Tech Texas Southern
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Ole Miss
Scoop: Melancon signed with Tennessee out of high school but failed to qualify academically. He then enrolled at Louisiana Tech, where he took a redshirt for the 2007 season and also sat out 2008 due to academic ineligibility. He got into some off-the-field trouble in the off-season and was dismissed by then head coach Derek Dooley. Melancon transferred to Texas Southern, playing nine games in 2009 and five more in 2010. In that 2009 season, he made 31 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception that he returned 26 yards for a touchdown. Then in 2010 he made 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. He went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and his career appears to be finished.

CONCLUSIONS
Recruiting defensive tackles is always an iffy proposition, because some players have lots of size and some natural quickness but don't have the technique to be successful. It's also tough for any player to carry that much bulk and stay injury-free. When 300+ pounders are diving at your legs and you're 300 lbs. yourself, you never know what can happen. This class had a mish-mash of talent, and looking through the whole list of defensive tackles from the 2007 class, it didn't seem to have a ton of depth. Sagesse turned into a decent player and may have been more if not for some shoddy defensive coordinating, although defensive line coach Bruce Tall did okay with what he had.

Biggest miss: Joseph Barksdale. This one is obvious. Barksdale attended Cass Tech - before it became a pipeline to Michigan - and was right in Michigan's back yard, but they couldn't reel him in. He started off as a defensive tackle at LSU but almost immediately switched to offense, which worked out well for him. Even if he had made the same move at Michigan, the Wolverines could have used him on the offensive line during that stretch of time.

Biggest bust: Josh Brent. Brent had a decent college career and the beginnings of a promising NFL run, but the college portion was cut short by bad grades and the pro portion was cut short by terrible life decisions. And by the way, 180 days of jail is way too short for someone who chooses to drink and drive, resulting in a death.

Best in class: I would like to say Nick Fairley, but he's a moron, too. I can't bust on Josh Brent and then say Nick Fairley was a real gem. Let me just say that I was angry when the Detroit Lions drafted Fairley #13 overall, and I still am. I guess I'll have to go with Devon Still, the former Penn State defensive tackle who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. Still hasn't done much in the NFL (21 tackles, .5 sacks), but he was the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American in 2011, earning himself a 2nd round pick.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Tight Ends

I sure am glad Aaron Hernandez didn't accept his scholarship offer to play for Michigan.

THE ROSTER
Mike Massey, RS Sr.
Andre Criswell, RS Jr.
Chris McLaurin, RS Jr.
Carson Butler, So.

THE RECRUITS
Steve Watson
High school: Denver (CO) Mullen
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #19 TE
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Cal, Colorado, Nebraska, UCLA
Scoop: Watson redshirted as a freshman in 2007, then played some on special teams in 2008. As a redshirt sophomore in 2009, Watson moved to linebacker and made 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup in limited action. He became a defensive end and even saw some action at defensive tackle in 2010, notching 3 total tackles. With a dearth of tight ends on the team, Watson moved back to offense in 2011 and started four games; he made just 1 catch in his career, but he made it count because it was a 9-yard touchdown against Northwestern. He was not drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and his football career appears to be finished.

Martell Webb
High school: Pontiac (MI) Northern
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #29 WR
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin
Scoop: Webb played sparingly as a freshman in 2007, mostly as a special teamer but also as a backup tight end. As a sophomore in 2008, Webb mostly sat on the bench behind Carson Butler and Kevin Koger and played in just three games. Still behind Koger in 2009, Webb started just one game but saw more time at tight end and caught 4 passes for 44 yards and 1 touchdown. He started two more games as a senior in 2010 and caught 5 passes for 67 yards and 1 touchdown. Webb went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and has never played in the league, but he has bounced around between the Eagles, Jets, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Colts, Titans, Lions, and now the Indianapolis Colts.

THE TARGETS
Christian Ballard
High school: Lawrence (KS) Free State
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #10 TE
College: Iowa
Other notable offers: Georgia, Oklahoma, UCLA
Scoop: Watson played defensive end to start at Iowa, making 15 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks as a freshman backup in 2007. He became a starter in 2008 and made 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 1 forced fumble. Ballard grew into a starting defensive tackle by his junior year and had a very good season with 54 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks; he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. As a senior in 2010, he played both defensive end and defensive tackle and made 43 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble, once again earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. He was drafted in the 4th round (#106 overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings after testing positive for marijuana, which caused his draft stock to fall a little bit. He made two total starts in 2011-2012 for the Vikings and totaled 29 tackles and 1 sack. However, he quit football prior to the 2013 season due to a lack of love for the game.

Aaron Hernandez
High school: Bristol (CT) Central
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #2 TE, #66 overall
College: Florida
Other notable offers: Connecticut, Iowa, Notre Dame
Scoop: Hernandez started three games as a freshman in 2007, including the Outback Bowl against Michigan; he caught 9 passes for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns that year. He became the starter at tight end as a sophomore and caught 34 passes for 381 yards and 5 touchdowns. As a junior in 2009, Hernandez won the John Mackey Award (given to the nation's best tight end) with 68 receptions for 850 yards and 5 touchdowns; naturally, he was First Team All-SEC and a First Team All-American. Hernandez left college after his junior year only to drop to the 4th round (#113 overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, chosen by the New England Patriots. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 and totaled 175 catches for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns from 2010-2012. He also saw some action as a situational running back, running 9 times for 97 yards in his career. However, Hernandez was allegedly involved in a murder and was arrested during the summer of 2013, for which he is still matriculating through the legal process. It's safe to assume that his football career is over for the foreseeable future, if not permanently.

Blaine Irby
High school: Ventura (CA) St. Bonaventure
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #6 TE
College: Texas
Other notable offers: Cal, Florida State, Miami, UCLA, USC
Scoop: Irby made 2 catches for 29 yards as a freshman in 2007. As a sophomore in 2008, he caught 10 passes for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he suffered a gruesome knee injury in a game against Rice. He sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons rehabbing from the injury, which tore his right ACL and MCL and caused nerve damage. Irby returned in 2011 to catch 11 passes for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rather than pursuing a sixth year of eligibility or attempting to make a career out of football, he chose to retire following the 2011 season.

CONCLUSIONS
Michigan actually seems to have done quite a good job of identifying talent at the tight end position in the 2007 class. Ballard made a big impact (at a different position), Hernandez turned into arguably the best tight end in college, and Irby seemed well on his way to a good career, if not for the knee injury. Webb has bounced around NFL practice squads and was somewhat hampered by his situation, where he spent his last three years under a coach who didn't use tight ends very much. Watson, the least accomplished of the bunch, still turned into a mediocre starter and was likely stunted in his development by the Rich Rodriguez offense and bouncing to defense. If he had played tight end his whole career for a coach who valued tight ends more (such as the guy who recruited him, Lloyd Carr, or the guy for whom he finished his career, Brady Hoke).

Biggest miss: Christian Ballard. I suppose the choice here based on talent would be Aaron Hernandez, but his repeated run-ins with the law, failed drug tests, etc. would be a huge black mark on the program. Even if Ballard never played a down at tight end and played defense instead, he turned into a quality player who was NFL-bound.

Biggest bust: Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez had all kinds of talent and could have been one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history, although he might have been limited by Rich Rodriguez's offense. He was probably better off at Florida than he would have been elsewhere, so he made the right choice. Unfortunately, that appears to have been one of the few good choices he has made in his life. I'm glad to say that Michigan has no real connection to him, but it's a sad story overall.

Best in class: Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski, who went to Arizona, caught 28 passes for 525 yards and 6 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2007 and followed that up with 47 receptions for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He missed the 2009 season after having back surgery, but his first two seasons were good enough to earn him a 2nd round selection (#42 overall) by the New England Patriots in the 2010 NFL Draft. Despite suffering from various injuries at the pro level, he has caught 226 passes for 3,255 yards and 42 touchdowns during his four-year career and made the Pro Bowl twice.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Offensive Linemen

David Molk

THE ROSTER
Adam Kraus, RS Sr.
Jake Long, RS Sr.
Jeremy Ciulla, RS Jr.
Grant DeBenedictis, RS Jr.
Brett Gallimore, RS Jr.
Alex Mitchell, RS Jr.
Tim McAvoy, RS So.
David Moosman, RS So.
Mark Ortmann, RS So.
Cory Zirbel, RS So.
Justin Boren, So.
Perry Dorrestein, RS Fr.
Stephen Schilling, RS Fr.

THE COMMITS
Mark Huyge
High school: Grand Rapids (MI) Catholic Central
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #65 OT
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan
Scoop: Huyge redshirted as a freshman in 2007. Huyge didn't play at all during the 2008 season, but he turned into a nine game starter (five at guard, four at tackle) as a redshirt sophomore. He started another seven games at tackle in 2010 and became the full-time starter at right tackle as a fifth year senior in 2011. He was not drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and his football career appears to be finished.

David Molk
High school: Lemont (IL) Lemont
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #5 C
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Scoop: Molk redshirted as a freshman in 2007 but became a full-time starter in 2008 and never looked back. He started four games as a redshirt sophomore in 2009 but was sidelined by foot and knee injuries. As a redshirt junior in 2010, he was First Team All-Big Ten, a Rimington Trophy finalist, and the team's top lineman after starting all thirteen games. During his fifth year season in 2011, he won the Rimington Trophy and was a First Team All-American. He was drafted in the 7th round (#226 overall) by the San Diego Chargers. He played in twelve games for the Chargers but was released prior to the 2013 season. The Philadelphia Eagles signed him earlier this offseason.

THE TARGETS
Bryan Bulaga
High school: Woodstock (IL) Marian Central Catholic
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #6 OT, #70 overall
College: Iowa
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Wisconsin
Scoop: Bulaga started five games as a freshman in 2007 and was named Freshman All-Big Ten. As a sophomore in 2008, he became the full-time starter at left guard and was named Second Team All-Big Ten. He missed a few games in 2009 but was still named first team all-conference and a First Team All-America. He left Iowa after his true junior year and became a 1st round pick (#23 overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has been a starter at both right and left tackle in the NFL and was an All-Rookie player in 2011, but he missed the 2013 season due to a torn ACL.

Jaivorio Burkes
High school: Phoenix (AZ) Moon Valley
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #7 OG
College: Nebraska
Other notable offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oregon
Scoop: Burkes started two games as a true freshman in 2007 and four more as a sophomore in 2008, but his career ended before the 2009 season when a medical condition was discovered.

Patrick Crump
High school: Hoover (AL) Hoover
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #20 OG
College: Alabama
Other notable offers: Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue
Scoop: Crump redshirted in 2007 and had some minor knee issues during the spring of 2008, but then he quit football prior to the 2008 season.

John Elliott
High school: East Meadow (NY) East Meadow
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #16 OT
College: Boston College
Other notable offers: Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia, West Virginia
Scoop: Elliott - who is no relation to former Michigan and NFL tackle Jumbo Elliott - redshirted as a freshman in 2007. From what I can gather, he did not continue his football career beyond that season.

Mark Jackson
High school: Cincinnati (OH) Harmony Prep
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #23 prep player
College: Illinois
Other notable offers: Michigan State, Oklahoma, West Virginia
Scoop: Jackson redshirted as a freshman in 2007. He left Illinois for DuPage Junior College in 2008 and then transferred to Glenville State, where he started at left tackle for three consecutive seasons and was named All-WVIAC each year. He was not drafted by the NFL and now plays for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League (along with former Michigan defensive tackle Terrance Taylor).

Josh Oglesby
High school: Milwaukee (WI) St. Frances
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #1 OT, #10 overall
College: Wisconsin
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC
Scoop: Oglesby redshirted as a freshman in 2007 before starting three, ten, and two games in the successive seasons, missing portions of each with knee problems. He finally stayed healthy and blossomed as a fifth year senior in 2011 when he started thirteen games and was named First Team All-Big Ten. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and was signed by the Washington Redskins, but his knee problems forced him to fail his physicals and his career ended. He spent 2013 as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin.

Maurkice Pouncey
High school: Lakeland (FL) Lakeland
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #15 OG
College: Florida
Other notable offers: Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska
Scoop: Pouncey started eleven games as a freshman in 2007 and fourteen as a sophomore in 2008. As a true junior in 2009, he was a First Team All-American and All-SEC as Florida's center, also winning the Rimgton Trophy. He left college early and entered the 2010 NFL Draft, where he was selected in the 1st round (#18 overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2010

Michael Pouncey
High school: Lakeland (FL) Lakeland
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #16 OG
College: Florida
Other notable offers: Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska
Scoop: Maurkice's twin brother, Mike played defensive tackle as a freshman in 2007 due to some injuries on the team, making 8 tackles and 1 interception. As a sophomore in 2008, he started all fourteen games at offensive guard and was named Second Team All-SEC. He became a Second Team All-American as a junior in 2009. Then as a senior in 2010, he moved to center (replacing his brother, who went to the NFL) and became Second Team All-SEC. He was drafted in the 1st round (#15 overall) by the Miami Dolphins in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has started 46 games for the Dolphins from 2011-2013 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013.

Chaz Ramsey
High school: Madison (MS) Central
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #12 OG
College: Auburn
Other notable offers: Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina
Scoop: Ramsey started ten games as a true freshman in 2007 and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, also earning Honorable Mention Freshman All-America. Ramsey injured his back prior to the 2008 season, which ended his career; that injury instigated a lawsuit against Auburn's athletic trainer, whom Ramsey blamed for the permanent injury during his rehab.

Matt Romine
High school: Tulsa (OK) Union
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #3 OT, #55 overall
College: Notre Dame
Other notable offers: Florida, Miami, Oklahoma
Scoop: Romine played sparingly as a freshman in 2007, which garnered him a redshirt, and then was a backup for the next two years. As a redshirt junior in 2010, he made three starts in the middle of the year. He was a grad year transfer to Tulsa in 2011 and started all thirteen games that season. He was not drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and was not picked up by a pro team, as far as I can tell.

Darris Sawtelle
High school: Birmingham (MI) Brother Rice
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #10 OT,
College: Tennessee Grand Valley State
Other notable offers: Michigan State, Nebraska
Scoop: Sawtelle redshirted at Tennessee in 2007 and did not see game action in 2008. When Lane Kiffin was hired at Tennessee, he and Sawtelle didn't see eye to eye, so Sawtelle transferred to Grand Valley State in 2009. He played ten games that season but appears to have left the team prior to 2010.

Mitchell Schwartz
High school: Pacific Palisades (CA) Palisades
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #27 OT
College: Cal
Other notable offers: Oregon, Stanford, Virginia
Scoop: Schwartz redshirted in 2007 but immediately drew into the lineup as a redshirt freshman, starting the next 51 games of his career at Cal. He was Second Team All-Pac 10 as a redshirt junior in 2010 and moved up to First Team as a fifth year senior in 2011. He was a 2nd round pick (#37 overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has started all 32 games of his pro career.

Derek Sherrod
High school: Columbus (MS) Caledonia
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #13 OT
College: Mississippi State
Other notable offers: Florida, Miami, Mississippi, Notre Dame
Scoop: Sherrod was a backup as a freshman in 2007 but became a starter for the 2008-2010 seasons, getting the nod at left tackle in his final 36 games. He was First Team All-SEC as a senior in 2010. He was a 1st round pick (#32 overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has played in just twelve games during his three-year NFL career, partly due to a broken leg that robbed him of part of 2011 and all of 2012.

Donald Stephenson
High school: Blue Springs (MO) Blue Springs
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #34 OT
College: Oklahoma
Other notable offers: Missouri, Nebraska
Scoop: Stephenson redshirted as a freshman in 2007 before playing in seven games as a backup in 2008. He missed the 2009 season, partially due to injury, but returned to start ten games in 2010 and total 103 knockdown blocks, which was second on Oklahoma's line. As a fifth year senior in 2011, he was Honorable Mention All-Big 12. He was drafted in the 3rd round (#74 overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL Draft, and he has started 14 games over the last two seasons.

Stefen Wisniewski
High school: Pittsburgh (PA) Central Catholic
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #8 OG
College: Penn State
Other notable offers: Georgia Tech, Northwestern, West Virginia
Scoop: Wisniewski played in eight games and started one as a true freshman in 2007, earning him Freshman All-Big Ten honors. He became a full-time starter at right guard for the 2008 season. Moving from guard to center for his junior year in 2009, Wisniewski was named First Team All-Big Ten. Not only did he maintain that status a year later, but he added First Team All-America in 2010. He was selected in the 2nd round (#45 overall) by the Oakland Raiders in the 2011 NFL Draft and has started all 45 games he has played since entering the league, both at guard and center.

Lee Ziemba
High school: Rogers (AR) Rogers
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #4 OT, 61 overall
College: Auburn
Other notable offers: Arkansas, Nebraska, Notre Dame, USC
Scoop: Ziemba started thirteen games as a true freshman in 2007 and was named a Freshman All-America, and he started twelve more games as a sophomore. With thirteen starts as a junior in 2009, he was named Second Team All-SEC. As a senior in 2010, he was an All-American and First Team All-SEC after starting all fourteen games, and the SEC coaches gave him the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is awarded to the conference's best blocker. Overall, he started 52 games for Auburn. He was drafted in the 7th round (#244 overall) by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2011 NFL Draft and played six games for them in 2011, but he has not played since then.

CONCLUSIONS
Biggest miss: Mike Pouncey. This is a difficult choice because Michigan recruited several good players. I could probably choose Maurkice Pouncey, Stefen Wisniewski, or Bryan Bulaga here, too. However, Michigan got a good center in Molk, so Maurkice Pouncey would have been a luxury, although he could have played guard next to Molk. Wisniewski, too, could have been a guard for Michigan. But Mike Pouncey had success at both guard and center, and while I thought Michigan was able to piece together some quality tackle play over the years, the interior of the line seemed a little more questionable. If you plug in Mike Pouncey at right or left guard during the Rodriguez years, I think that would have helped quite a bit.

Biggest bust: John Elliott. I can find no record of injury or family strife for Elliott, who it appears quit football entirely. Either way, he was the #16 offensive tackle in the country and appears not to have played a single down of college football.

Best in class: Maurkice Pouncey. Really, there are lots of options, as several guys turned into high level draft picks and solid NFL players. Pouncey, though, won the Rimington Trophy, became the #18 pick as a center (which is very high to pick a center), and was a Pro Bowler for his first few years in the league, stopped only by a torn ACL at the beginning of 2013.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Wide Receivers

Michigan procured Junior Hemingway in the 2007 class

THE ROSTER
Adrian Arrington, RS Jr.
Mario Manningham, Jr.
LaTerryal Savoy, RS So.
Greg Mathews, So.

THE COMMITS
Zion Babb
High school: Alhambra (CA) Alhambra
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #42 WR
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Cal, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington
Scoop: Babb redshirted in 2007 and bounced back and forth between receiver and cornerback. As a redshirt sophomore in 2008, he caught 2 passes for 45 yards. He reportedly had verbal altercations with Michigan's coaches and was released from his scholarship. To my knowledge, he did not continue his football career elsewhere.

Toney Clemons
High school: New Kensington (PA) Valley
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #12 WR, #91 overall
College: Michigan Colorado
Other notable offers: Colorado, Pitt, Purdue, West Virginia
Scoop: Clemons burned a redshirt for 1 catch and 5 yards a freshman in 2007. With the arrival of Rich Rodriguez for the 2008 season, Clemons moved to slot receiver due to little or no depth behind freshman Martavious Odoms. He caught 11 passes for 101 yards as a sophomore in 2008, but transferred to Colorado after the season. He used that redshirt to sit out the 2009 season due to NCAA transfer rules. As a redshirt junior in 2010, Clemons caught 43 passes for 482 yards and 3 TDs; he also rushed the ball 3 times for 17 yards. Then as a fifth year senior in 2012, he caught 43 passes for 680 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was cut and ended up catching 3 passes for 43 yards for the Jacksonville Jaguars that season. He spent time with the Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers in 2013.

Junior Hemingway
High school: Conway (SC) Conway
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #38 WR
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina
Scoop: Hemingway caught 4 passes for 37 yards as a freshman in 2007, when both he and Clemons burned redshirts. As a sophomore in Rich Rodriguez's first year, Hemingway was expected to be a starter; however, after catching 2 passes for 41 yards and 1 touchdown, including a 33-yard score against Utah, he developed mononucleosis and missed the remainder of the year. He returned as a redshirt sophomore in 2009 to catch 16 passes for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a redshirt junior in 2010, he was Denard Robinson's favorite target on the outside and caught 32 passes for 593 yards and 4 touchdowns. He followed that up with another solid season in 2011 and totaled 34 catches for 699 yards and 4 scores, finishing with a 20.6 yards/catch average. He was picked in the 7th round (#268 overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2012 NFL Draft and has 13 catches, 125 yards, and 2 touchdowns as a pro.

THE MISSES
Jon Ditto
High school: Monroeville (PA) Gateway
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #59 WR
College: Penn State
Other notable offers: Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pitt
Scoop: Ditto was a jumbo high school receiver who played tight end for a bit before switching to linebacker. He left Penn State prior to the 2009 season but did not resume his career elsewhere.

Ronald Johnson
High school: Muskegon (MI) Muskegon
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #1 WR, #8 overall
College: USC
Other notable offers: Florida, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas
Scoop: Johnson was a backup wideout as a freshman and grabbed 7 passes for 110 yards and 1 touchdown, and he was the primary kick returner with 25 returns and a 24.8 yards/return average. As a sophomore in 2008, he started a couple games and finished with 33 catches, 570 yards, and 8 touchdowns, plus a 27.1 yards/return average on 14 kickoffs. Johnson missed part of the 2009 season with an injury but finished with 34 catches for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his 2010 senior season, Johnson caught 64 passes for 692 yards and 8 touchdowns, and he became the team's punt returner with 22 returns, 312 yards, 14.1 yards/return, and 1 touchdown. He was drafted in the 6th round (#182 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 NFL Draft and has been on the rosters of the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, but he has never played a game.

Gerald Jones
High school: Oklahoma City (OK) Millwood
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #5 ATH, #87 overall
College: Tennessee
Other notable offers: Florida, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech
Scoop: Jones contributed early in Knoxville, catching 11 passes for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 8 rushes for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2008, he had 30 catches for 323 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 23 carries for 126 yards and 1 score. His explosiveness peaked in 2009 with 46 receptions for 680 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he capped his career with 55 catches for 596 yards and 4 more scores. He was also an occasional kick and punt returner for the Volunteers, but his biggest accomplishment was leading the team in receptions for three consecutive seasons (2008-2010). He was not drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for a short time but never played. He also stirred up a little controversy when he allegedly gave some advice to a high school recruit to go to Auburn instead of Tennessee. Jones's football career appears to be finished.

Greg Little
High school: Durham (NC) Hillside
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #13 ATH
College: North Carolina
Other notable offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State
Scoop: Little played running back, wide receiver, and returner during his time in Chapel Hill. As a freshman in 2007, he ran 59 times for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns while catching 13 passes for 99 yards and 1 score. In 2008 those number improved to 78 carries for 339 yards and 3 scores, plus 11 catches for 146 yards. During his 2009 junior season, he became more of a receiver and ended with 62 catches for 724 yards 5 touchdowns, but he still ran 29 times for 166 yards and 1 touchdown. He was suspended for his senior season in 2010 due to the academic/illegal benefits scandal at UNC, but he still managed to be selected in the 2nd round (#59 overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2011 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the Browns, he has totaled 155 catches for 1,821 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Rashad Mason
High school: Nashville (TN) Pearl-Cohn
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #18 WR
College: North Carolina Georgetown College
Other notable offers: Kentuky, Louisville, Mississippi, UCLA
Scoop: Mason went to North Carolina and was a hybrid receiver/tight end, but he barely played and was suspended indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. After the 2009 season,  he transferred to Georgetown College in Kentucky and had 20 catches for 340 yards and 5 touchdowns as a fifth year senior in 2011. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and appears to have concluded his football career.

Marquis Maze
High school: Birmingham (AL) Tarrant
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #52 ATH
College: Alabama
Other notable offers: Auburn, Miami, Tennessee
Scoop: Maze originally committed to Michigan but ended up signing with Alabama. He redshirted as a freshman and had 11 catches for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2008. Maze became a starter in 2009 and finished just behind Julio Jones in several categories with 31 catches, 523 yards, and 2 touchdowns. As a redshirt junior in 2010, Maze caught 38 passes for 557 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was targeted more frequently as a fifth year player in 2011 when he caught 56 passes for 627 yards and 1 touchdown. Maze was also a solid punt returner who had 54 punt returns for 703 yards and 1 touchdown between 2010 and 2011. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2011, and you may remember him pulling his hamstring on a punt return against LSU in the BCS Championship game against LSU. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and was cut by the Steelers after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Niles Paul
High school: Omaha (NE) North
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #10 WR, #73 overall
College: Nebraska
Other notable offers: Iowa State
Scoop: Paul played sparingly as a freshman in 2007, notching just 1 catch for 6 yards. He became a part-time starter in 2008 and grabbed 23 passes for 214 yards. As a junior in 2009, he broke out with 40 receptions for 796 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of which earned him Second Team all-conference honors. He finished up his career with 39 receptions for 516 yards and 1 touchdown in 2010. Paul was also a quality returner; he had 60 punt returns for 647 yards and 1 touchdown, and he had 77 kickoff returns for 1,887 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was selected in the 5th round (#155 overall) by the Washington Redskins in the 2011 NFL Draft. As mostly an H-back type for the Redskins, he has amassed 14 catches for 228 yards and 1 touchdown in three seasons.

Markques Simas
High school: San Diego (CA) Mira Mesa
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #20 WR
College: Colorado
Other notable offers: Arizona State, Oregon, San Diego State
Scoop: Simas redshirted as a freshman in 2007 and was declared academically ineligible to play in 2008, but he still managed to win the program's Scout Team Player of the Year. During his first year of seeing the field in 2009, he managed to catch 43 passes for 585 yards and 3 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he got charged with a DUI in 2010, failed to show up to court, and got kicked off the team. There was some noise about him transferring to San Diego State, but that appears not to have materialized and his football career seems to have ended.

Taurian Washington
High school: Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary's
Ratings: Rivals 4-star WR
College: Ohio State
Other notable offers: Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Scoop: Washington played sparingly as a freshman in 2007 and caught 3 passes for 46 yards and 1 touchdown. He was limited mostly to special teams in 2008 and contributed 1 tackle. Washington sat out the 2009 season. As a redshirt junior in 2010, he caught 5 passes for 61 yards. He went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft but popped up in the Arena League in 2012, when he played for both the Milwaukee Mustangs and the Orlando Predators, totaling 40 receptions for 485 yards and 6 touchdowns. His career appears to be finished.

CONCLUSIONS
Biggest miss: Marquis Maze. This is a tough choice because none of the guys Michigan offered really turned into stars, so I see it more as an issue of "fit." Any of these guys would have played the majority of their careers for Rich Rodriguez, and Maze would have been a solid slot receiver for Rodriguez, and possibly a punt returner, too. Michigan got decent production from its slot guys (Martavious Odoms, Kelvin Grady, Roy Roundtree, etc.), but Maze was pretty consistent and could have played on the outside once Brady Hoke was hired.

Biggest bust: Markques Simas. This is close between Simas and Taurian Washington, but Washington got opportunities to get on the field and just never did much. Meanwhile, Simas clearly had talent and did well as a redshirt sophomore, but he just couldn't stay out of trouble. Considering the guy who vaguely took his place (Toney Clemons) got drafted and has bounced around the league, Simas could be earning a paycheck in the NFL right now.

Best in class: Titus Young. Just kidding! He's a head case. Dez Bryant was a 4-star wideout and the #54 player in the nation coming out of Lufkin (TX) Lufkin. He picked Oklahoma State over Arkansas, Louisville, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and others. Okay, he's a head case, too, but he has the talent to back it up. As a sophomore in Stillman, he caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns and was named an All-America in 2008. Some eligibility issues caught up to him to end his career prematurely, but he was the #24 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and has 293 catches, 4104 yards, and 40 touchdowns in his four-year pro career.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: Running Backs

Imagine Jahvid Best wearing slightly different shades 

THE ROSTER
Mike Hart, Sr.
Kevin Grady, Jr.
Carlos Brown, So.
Brandon Minor, So.

THE COMMITS
Vince Helmuth
High school: Saline (MI) Saline
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #9 FB
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: None
Scoop: Helmuth enrolled early at Michigan in January 2007, giving him a chance to play as a true freshman. He was a backup fullback and special teamer that season, and he was limited to special teams as a sophomore in 2008, when he bulked up and made a mid-season switch to defensive tackle after hitting 291 lbs. He transferred to Miami (OH) prior to the 2009 season but never played for the Redhawks.

Avery Horn
High school: Hanford (CA) Hanford
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #13 all-purpose back
College: Michigan
Other notable offers: Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington
Scoop: Horn was a small-ish, speedy running back. He redshirted during the 2007 season and seemed like he would benefit from the conversion to the zone read option offense, being quick and shifty. However, he never played a down of offensive football for Michigan. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, he returned 5 kickoffs for 104 yards. He transferred to Reedley College where he played running back in 2009 and had 814 yards and 7 touchdowns. He then transferred to Delta State, where he ran the ball 39 times for 137 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with catching 8 passes for 87 yards and 1 touchdown. Then as a senior in 2012, he ran 14 times for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns. At a pro day prior to the 2013 NFL Draft, he ran a 4.54 forty and measured in at 5'9", 197 lbs. He went undrafted and did not sign with an NFL team.

THE MISSES
Omar Bolden
High school: Ontario (CA) Colony
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #7 all-purpose back
College: Arizona State
Other notable offers: Nebraska, USC, Washington
Scoop: Bolden never played a down of running back in college, instead becoming an instant starter for the Sun Devils. As a freshman in 2007, he had 33 tackles, 1 interception (returned for a touchdown), and 6 pass breakups. He followed that up with 49 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups as a sophomore. As a junior in 2009, he made 4 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass breakup before an injury sidelined him for the final eight games of the year, allowing him to take a medical redshirt. When he returned for his redshirt junior season in 2010, he became First Team All-Pac 10 with 52 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups. He tore his ACL prior to the 2011 season and missed his final year of eligibility, but he was still voted a captain by his teammates. He was picked in the 4th round (#101 overall) by the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft. In two seasons with the Broncos, he has 27 total tackles and 1 pass breakup while playing strong safety.

Jahvid Best
High school: Richmond (CA) Salesian
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #9 RB, #94 overall
College: Cal
Other notable offers: Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, Washington
Scoop: As a freshman backup to Justin Forsett, Best had 29 carries for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 174 yards and 1 touchdown. He became a starter as a sophomore in 2008 and had 194 rushing attempts for 1,580 yards and 15 touchdowns. In an injury-shortened 2009 season, he carried the ball 141 times for 867 yards and 12 touchdowns. He declared for the 2010 NFL Draft and ran a 4.35 forty at the Combine, which helped to get him picked in the 1st round (#30 overall) by the Detroit Lions. In two seasons with the Lions, Best had 255 carries for 945 yards and 6 touchdowns, along with 85 catches for 774 yards and 3 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his NFL career ended after a string of concussions. He is now an assistant running backs coach for his former college program, the Cal Golden Bears.

Jonathan Dwyer
High school: Marietta (GA) Kell
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #10 RB
College: Georgia Tech
Other notable offers: Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia
Scoop: Playing for triple option coach Paul Johnson, Dwyer was an All-ACC Freshman player after carrying 82 times for 436 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2007. He then had 200 carries for 1,395 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2008, which earned him ACC Player of the Year honors. As a junior in 2013, Dwyer ran 235 times for 1,395 yards and 14 scores. He left college early after his junior year and was picked in the 6th round (#188 overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft. Dwyer was an occasional starter for the Steelers through 2013, totaling 230 carries for 971 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in March 2014.

Robert Hughes
High school: Chicago (IL) Hubbard
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #7 RB, #77 overall
College: Notre Dame
Other notable offers: Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Scoop: Hughes was a backup running back as a freshman in 2007 when he had 53 carries for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2008, he ran 112 times for 382 yards and 4 touchdowns. He became a part-time fullback in 2009, running 88 times for 416 yards and 5 touchdowns, also catching 19 passes for 193 yards. He added another 68 carries for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns as a senior in 2010. Hughes went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft but has bounced around the league from Chicago to Tampa Bay to Washington to Indianapolis to Arizona. He has a total of 1 rush for 5 yards and 1 reception for 6 yards during his pro career.

Daniel "Boom" Herron
High school: Warren (OH) Harding
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #18 RB
College: Ohio State
Other notable offers: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota
Scoop: Herron redshirted in 2007 and was a backup in 2008 and 2009. His redshirt freshman season saw him rush 89 times for 439 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he followed that up with 153 carries for 633 yards and 7 touchdowns. His breakout season was as a redshirt junior in 2010 when he ran 216 times for 1,155 yards and 16 touchdowns. However, he was one of the Buckeyes caught in the "Tatgate" scandal that saw him suspended for the first several games of 2011, and he returned to start and total 135 carries for 678 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was drafted in the 6th round (#191 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, who cut him but re-signed him in the middle of the 2012 season, and he played with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. So far he has 9 carries for 38 yards and 1 reception for 57 yards in his pro career.

Brandon Saine
High school: Piqua (OH) Piqua
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #5 RB, #50 overall
College: Ohio State
Other notable offers: Miami, Notre Dame
Scoop: Saine was a backup to Chris "Beanie" Wells to start his career at Ohio State, where Saine had 60 carries for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns as a freshman. His sophomore year saw those numbers drop to 26 carries, 65 yards, and 1 touchdown. He shared time with Herron as a junior in 2010 when Saine ran 145 times for 739 yards and 4 touchdowns. His final college season included 70 carries for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns. Saine went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft but was signed by the Green Bay Packers, for whom he had 18 carries for 69 yards in 2012 but has not played an NFL game since then.

Marc Tyler
High school: Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #2 RB, #17 overall
College: USC
Other notable offers: Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA
Scoop: Tyler, the son of former NFL All-Pro running back Wendell Tyler and a high school teammate of Jimmy Clausen, redshirted in 2007 following a broken leg he suffered in high school. He had 36 carries for 198 yards and 1 touchdown as a redshirt freshman backup in 2008. Again a backup in 2009, he carried the ball 5 times for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. He finally earned the starting job in 2010 and responded with 171 carries for 913 yards and 9 touchdowns, along with 17 catches for 127 yards and 1 score. As a redshirt junior in 2011, Tyler had 122 carries for 568 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 11 catches for 108 yards; that came on the heels of a suspension for joking to the media that USC players got paid more in college than in the pros. He went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and was signed by the Green Bay Packers but never played a down for them before getting cut.

Curtis Shaw
High school: Stockton (CA) Lincoln
Ratings: Rivals 3-star, #23 RB
College: Washington
Other notable offers: Cal, Nebraska, Oregon
Scoop: Shaw had 7 carries for 12 yards as a freshman tailback, and he also played some wide receiver, where he caught 5 passes for 47 yards. He took a redshirt for 2008 while he attended to some family issues, but he returned to play tailback in 2009. As a redshirt sophomore that year, he had 8 carries for 32 yards. It was announced that he would transfer prior to the 2010 season, but I can find no record of him landing anywhere else. His football career is presumably over.

CONCLUSIONS
Michigan actually did a very good job of evaluating talent in the 2007 class, but they took a gamble by going after so many West Coast prospects (five of nine offers to tailbacks were from California) and happened to nab two of the least talented prospects in the lot. That was an interesting result, too, because Michigan had produced solid running backs and any player would have had to sit behind incumbent starter Mike Hart for just one season. Of course, the Wolverines also had some other talented backs (Carlos Brown, Kevin Grady, Brandon Minor) in the stable, so perhaps that scared away some prospects.

Biggest miss: Best. Best was a big-play machine at Cal and would have been electrifying in a Michigan uniform. He could have returned kicks and been a change of pace for the slow-but-steady Hart. Furthermore, Best could have been Rich Rodriguez's bell cow in 2008 and 2009, giving him the running back that he never had during his Michigan tenure. The combination of Best and Rodriguez could have potentially been very exciting.

Biggest bust: Hughes. Hughes was part tailback, part fullback. He never had the speed to be a true tailback, and he lacked the size to be a bulldozer. He had an okay college career (15 rushing touchdowns in a Notre Dame uniform is a pretty good life accomplishment), but his performance didn't quite live up to the billing of the #77 player in the country.

Best in class: Ryan Mathews. This is a tough choice because nobody from the 2007 class has become a superstar (Noel Devine? Chris Rainey? Shane Vereen? John Clay? Kendall Hunter?). Mathews had an excellent college career at Fresno State, scored 41 touchdowns in three seasons, led college football in rushing as a junior in 2009 (276 carries, 1808 yards, 19 touchdowns), and became a 1st round pick (#12 overall) by the San Diego Chargers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He's been solid but unspectacular in the NFL (3,731 yards, 4.4 yards/carry, 20 touchdowns), but he looks like the best product from that 2007 class.

You can also take a look back at the review of 2007's quarterback targets.

Review of 2007 Recruiting: The Quarterbacks

Jimmy Clausen, folks.

THE RECRUITS
Ryan Mallett
High school: Texarkana (TX) Texas
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #2 QB
College: Michigan Arkansas
Other notable offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State, Texas
Scoop: Mallett committed to Michigan as the heir apparent to Chad Henne, and the youngster got a chance to play early and often.  Henne suffered a couple nagging injuries, and Mallett stepped in to go 61/141 (43.1%) for 892 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions as a true freshman. He might have been on his way out the door already, but the hiring of Rich Rodriguez after the 2007 season didn't help matters.  Mallett transferred to Arkansas, sitting out the 2008 season as a result.  As the starter for the Razorbacks in 2009 and 2010, he went a combined 491/814 for 7,296 yards 62 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.  He was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, but he has played in just four games, all in 2012. Altogether, he's 1/4 for 17 yards and 1 interception, with 8 carries for -9 yards.

Jimmy Clausen
High school: Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian
Ratings: Rivals 5-star, #1 QB, #1 overall
College: Notre Dame
Other notable offers: South Carolina, USC
Scoop: Clausen committed in September 2006 and enrolled early at Notre Dame in January 2007. He was starting by the second game of 2007, the earliest freshman QB to start at Notre Dame. He eventually started nine games that year, finishing with a 56.3% completion percentage, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. The unquestioned starter going into 2008, Clausen started every game and completed 60.9% of his passes for 3,172 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Improving yet again, he become a 68% passer in 2009 with 3,722 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year and many expected him to be a high first round pick, but he fell to #48 overall in the 2010 draft, going to the Carolina Panthers. He was given ten starts as a rookie, going 157/299 (52.5%), 1558 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. The Panthers hitched their franchise to Cam Newton, relegating Clausen to the bench, where he has spent the last two-plus seasons. They released him in August 2013 but re-signed him before placing him on injured reserve.

Peter Lalich
High school: Springfield (VA) West Springfield
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #5 pro-style QB
College: Virginia
Other notable offers: Miami, UCLA
Scoop: Lalich committed to Virginia in April 2006. He played sparingly as a freshman and sophomore in 2007 and 2008, compiling 74 completions in 135 attempts (54.8%) for 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. However, several alcohol incidents resulted in a transfer to Oregon State, where he redshirted during the 2009 season due to NCAA transfer rules. After yet another incident, he transferred to California University in Pennsylvania. As the starter in 2011, he threw for 3,725 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In an injury-shortened 2012, he threw for 2,413 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He was not taken in the 2013 NFL Draft and appears not to be involved in professional football at this time.

Mike Paulus
High school: Syracuse (NY) Christian Brothers
Ratings: Rivals 4-star, #4 pro-style QB, #82 overall
College: North Carolina
Other notable offers: Alabama, Miami, USC
Scoop: Paulus, the brother of former Duke basketball player and Syracuse quarterback Greg Pauls, committed in April 2006. He redshirted as a true freshman and then went 4/13 for 33 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions as a redshirt freshman in 2008. After sitting on the bench behind T.J. Yates in 2009, Paulus transferred to FCS school William & Mary prior to the 2010 campaign. He went 88/142 for 883 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions while playing a backup role. Once again a backup as a fifth year senior in 2011, he went just 28/72 for 267 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. He now works at VCU in the athletic office.

CONCLUSIONS
In Lloyd Carr's final full class, he made offers to some very questionable people and football players. Mallett played one season at Michigan before transferring, and while he had a very good college career at Arkansas, he was perhaps not the greatest leader. Clausen was also not an ideal character throughout his college career, although he parlayed it into a decent result on draft day. Lalich and Paulus both stunk it up at the higher levels of college football and then had mixed success after moving down a level.

Biggest miss: Clausen. Like him or not - and I don't - Clausen had some physical talent and would have fit well with Carr's pro-style offense. Either way, the impending hire of Rich Rodriguez would have either resulted in a transfer for Clausen or a square peg in a round hole for a few years. In fact, none of these players would have fit what Rodriguez wanted to do, so it's quite possible that a commitment from any of the four would have resulted in a very similar situation for Rodriguez.

Biggest bust: Paulus. Ultimately, Paulus didn't find success at any level. As the #82 prospect in the country, he threw only 13 passes in his FBS college career.

Best in class: Cam Newton. The 2007 class was surprisingly devoid of any surefire stud quarterbacks, and even Newton had some bumps in the road before finding success (legal trouble at Florida, playing at Blinn Community College, an ineligibility investigation). However, Newton became a Heisman winner, a national champion, a #1 draft pick, and is having a solid career for the Carolina Panthers. Other options include Ryan Tannehill, Nick Foles, and Kellen Moore.

2007 Offer Board

102 total offers

QUARTERBACK (4)
Ryan Mallett - Texarkana, TX (Michigan)
Mike Paulus - Syracuse, NY (North Carolina)
Jimmy Clausen - Westlake Village, CA (Notre Dame)
Peter Lalich - Springfield, VA (Virginia)

RUNNING BACK (10)
Vince Helmuth - Saline, MI (Michigan)
Avery Horn - Hanford, CA (Michigan)
Omar Bolden - Ontario, CA (Arizona State)
Jahvid Best - Richmond, CA (California)
Jonathan Dwyer - Marietta, GA (Georgia Tech)
Robert Hughes - Chicago, IL (Notre Dame)
Daniel Herron - Warren, OH (Ohio State)
Brandon Saine - Piqua, OH (Ohio State)
Marc Tyler - Westlake Village, CA (USC)
Curtis Shaw - Stockton, CA (Washington)

WIDE RECEIVER (12)
Zion Babb - Alhambra, CA (Michigan)
Toney Clemons - New Kensington, PA (Michigan)
Junior Hemingway - Conway, SC (Michigan)
Marquis Maze - Birmingham, AL (Alabama)
Markques Simas - San Diego, CA (Colorado)
Niles Paul - Omaha, NE (Nebraska)
Greg Little - Durham, NC (North Carolina)
Rashad Mason - Nashville, TN (North Carolina)
Taurian Washington - Orchard Lake, MI (Ohio State)
Jon Ditto - Monroeville, PA (Penn State)
Gerald Jones - Oklahoma City, OK (Tennessee)
Ronald Johnson - Muskegon, MI (USC)

TIGHT END (5)
Steve Watson - Denver, CO (Michigan)
Martell Webb - Saginaw, MI (Michigan)
Aaron Hernandez - Bristol, CN (Florida)
Christian Ballard - Lawrence, KS (Iowa)
Blaine Irby - Ventura, CA (Texas)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE (11)
Mark Huyge - Grand Rapids, MI (Michigan)
Lee Ziemba - Rogers, AR (Auburn)
John Elliott - East Meadow, NY (Boston College)
Mitchell Schwartz - Pacific Palisades, CA (California)
Mark Jackson - Cincinnati, OH (Illinois)
Bryan Bulaga - Woodstock, IL (Iowa)
Derek Sherrod - Columbus, MS (Mississippi State)
Matt Romine - Tulsa, OK (Notre Dame)
Donald Stephenson - Blue Springs, MO (Oklahoma)
Darris Sawtelle - Birmingham, MI (Tennessee)
Josh Oglesby - Milwaukee, WI (Wisconsin)

OFFENSIVE GUARD (5)
Patrick Crump - Hoover, AL (Alabama)
Chaz Ramsey - Madison, MS (Auburn)
Maurkice Pouncey - Lakeland, FL (Florida)
Jaivorio Burkes - Phoenix, AZ (Nebraska)
Stefen Wisniewski - Pittsburgh, PA (Penn State)

CENTER (2)
David Molk - Lemont, IL (Michigan)
Michael Pouncey - Lakeland, FL (Florida)

DEFENSIVE END (8)
Ryan Van Bergen - Whitehall, MI (Michigan)
Kourtnei Brown - Charlotte, NC (Clemson)
Martez Wilson - Chicago, IL (Illinois)
Chris Strong - Batesville, MS (Mississippi)
Jared Glover - Bixby, OK (Oklahoma State)
Devon Still - Wilmington, DE (Penn State)
Everson Griffen - Avondale, AZ (USC)
John Stokes - Memphis, TN (Vanderbilt)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE (6)
Renaldo Sagesse - Montreal, Quebec (Michigan)
Josh Brent - Bloomington, IL (Illinois)
Joseph Barksdale - Detroit, MI (LSU)
Tonio Celotto - Simi Valley, CA (Oregon)
Rolando Melancon - Lutcher, LA (Tennessee)
Da'John Harris - Gardena, CA (USC)

LINEBACKER (15)
Marell Evans - Richmond, VA (Michigan)
Brandon Herron - Sugar Land, TX (Michigan)
Austin Panter - El Dorado, KS (Michigan)
Scotty Cooper - Lake City, SC (Clemson)
Lorenzo Edwards - Orlando, FL (Florida)
Brandon Hicks - Jacksonville, FL (Florida)
John Jones - Sarasota, FL (Florida)
Steve Paskorz - Pittsburgh, PA (Notre Dame)
Jermale Hines - Cleveland, OH (Ohio State)
Chris Colasanti - Lakeville, MI (Penn State)
Brian Ellis - Visalia, CA (Purdue)
Manny Abreu - Union City, NJ (Rutgers)
Chris Walker - Memphis, TN (Tennessee)
Malcolm Smith - Northridge, CA (USC)
Barquell Rivers - Wadesboro, NC (Virginia Tech)

CORNERBACK (13)
James Rogers - Madison Heights, MI (Michigan)
Donovan Warren - Long Beach, CA (Michigan)
Troy Woolfolk - Sugar Land, TX (Michigan)
Marcus Gilchrist - High Point, NC (Clemson)
Joe Haden - Fort Washington, MD (Florida)
Dionte Allen - Orchard Lake, MI (Florida State)
Chaz Thompson - Weed, CA (Louisville)
DeMarcus Van Dyke - Miami, FL (Miami)
Doug Wiggins - North Miami Beach, FL (Miami)
Gary Gray - Columbia, SC (Notre Dame)
Anthony Gildon - Westlake Village, CA (Oregon)
David Ross - Compton, CA (Oregon State)
Cris Hill - Highland Springs, VA (Virginia Tech)

SAFETY (11)
Artis Chambers - Fort Wayne, IN (Michigan)
Michael Williams - St. Bonaventure, CA (Michigan)
Jerimy Finch - Indianapolis, IN (Florida)
Anthony Morris - Harvey, IL (Illinois)
Woodny Turenne - Visalia, CA (Louisville)
Eugene Clifford - Cincinnati, OH (Ohio State)
James Thomas - La Marque, TX (Oklahoma State)
Nick Sukay - Greensburg, PA (Penn State)
Marshall Jones - Westlake Village, CA (USC)
Chase Minnifield - Lexington, KY (Virginia)
Davon Morgan - Richmond, VA (Virginia Tech)