Follow the Leader: Michigan Basketball Provides Blueprint for Michigan Football

Zach Gibson = Mark Ortmann/Perry Dorrestein

Gibson, a transfer from Rutgers, came off the bench last year and is the starting center this season, mostly out of necessity. He’s not the most talented or athletic big man and certainly shouldn’t be starting for Michigan.

Likewise, Ortmann and Dorrestein aren’t the ideal linemen for Rodriguez’ offense, but were starters all season, and likely will be next season, until Rodriguez can get the kind of linemen he needs.

Kelvin Grady = Sam McGuffie

Grady was a highly-touted recruit and had a solid freshman season last year, starting 26 games and averaged nearly six points per game. This season, he’s coming off the bench, but still makes a good contribution to the Michigan offense.

McGuffie was also highly-touted and showed some flashes of brilliance in his first year. As long as he stays at Michigan, he should get plenty of playing time next year, sharing the backfield with Minor.

Javohn Shepherd = Greg Matthews

Sheppard was an Amaker recruit who was relatively unknown coming out of Canada and has never materialized over three years at Michigan. He’s a guy that seems like he could be good, but has always been overshadowed. Matthews was supposed to lead Michigan’s receiving corps this year, but was overshadowed by Odoms. He seems like has the talent to break out, but hasn’t done so yet.

Anthony Wright = Junior Hemingway

Wright had a so-so first season, averaging just five points per game. He showed a good shooting touch at times, but was too streaky to be relied on. This season, Wright is a starter and will be called on to provide some scoring to help out Harris and Sims.

Hemingway was expected to step up this season at receiver, but never did much. An injury forced his season to end early. Next season, Hemingway should step up alongside Matthews, Odoms, and Daryll Stonum.

Laval Lucas-Perry = Tate Forcier/Shavodrick Beaver

Perry was a big-time recruit who transferred from Arizona last season. His eligibility begins in January and his presence will be heavily anticipated. He averaged 21 points a game as a senior in high school and should give Michigan its first solid point guard since Daniel Horton.

Forcier and Beaver are expected to enroll in Ann Arbor in January and compete for the starting quarterback job. Whichever one wins the job should be the man leading Michigan’s offense for the next few years.

Who will be the Stu Douglass and Zach Novak of next year’s football team? Rodriguez has gone down to the football hotbed of Florida and plucked some recruits away from the Gators, Hurricanes, and Seminoles to add speed to his offense. We’ll find out which freshmen will step up when next fall rolls around.

For now, let’s just enjoy Michigan basketball’s run at its first NCAA tournament berth since 1998.

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