Michigan Wolverines Friday News and Notes

More Walk-On News

This from reader "Biggame7" Johnny Childers has accepted a preferred walk-on invite to join Michigan's 2009 recruiting class. Childers is 6'1", 233 lbs. and played linebacker and fullback in high school for Muskegon Mona Shores.

Here is Johnny's ESPN write-up:

Childers is a tough, thickly-built, blue-collar fullback prospect who also is an effective inside run plugger when employed at linebacker. [Childers] Looks a bit like a throwback player and his game lacks a lot of finesse.

He has good height and a compact, well-built frame that could bulk up to the 240 lb. range while retaining his adequate straight-line speed.

More of a battering ram of runner who is effective on quick North-South hitters up the middle. Good initial quicks through the hole for his size and will surprise you now and then with his agility as a runner. Tends to run high though and flashes difficulty sliding through the small creases.

His yards after catch numbers are inconsistent. Won't be much more than a short-yardage fullback at the next level but has soft hands out of the backfield and shows the physical tools needed to develop into an effective blocker.

[Childers] Can stalemate defenders but will need to work on leverage and controlling/finishing blocks at the point of attack. Not as powerful or superior at the high school level as you would think as a blocker.

Defensively, he is a bit stiff, range is limited to between the tackles but he can blow up the Iso and is difficult to turn at the point of attack. Overall, Childers looks good on the hoof and has the physical tools for a mid-major program to mold as a situational fullback.

Central Michigan is now joining the Adidas family

Central is leaving behind New Balance and joining the University of Michigan in the Adidas family. This will be the first time Central Michigan has had an apparel and athletic shoe contract.

Central's athletic department is struggling, so this new contract should offset some costs for the Chips. Terms of the deal were not released.

Athlon Ranking: Defensive Tackles

Remember earlier this week when Athlon ranked all the defensive ends in the 2009 recruiting class? Well, it's the defensive tackle's turn, and Wolverine recruit "Big Will" Campbell ranked No. 4 nationally.

The Miami Dolphins hint they would have started quarterback Chad Henne

If quarterback Chad Pennington wasn't released by the Jets, Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano was ready to start Chad Henne.

Sparano said, "Henne ran our football team pretty well in [the] preseason. That was a good problem to have." Knowing Chad [Henne], if he was in the [starter] situation I would have been comfortable with him there," Soprano continued on

Update on the young man with the unfortunate last name—Larry Raper

Larry Raper was thought to be "possibly" getting a Michigan offer this week. Raper was a Clemson 2009 commit before the head coaching change, and then de-committed. It's believed Raper didn't have a qualifying test score, which kept this three-star speedster off many of the top programs recruiting boards close to signing day.

It is believed that Raper has qualified and Michigan still has a couple of scholarships available. They are looking at this 5'10", 165 lb. guy with a 4.4 speed in the 40, to play cornerback. Raper was mainly a running back and wide receiver in high school.

Michigan has asked Raper to visit Ann Arbor before they offer him a scholarship, and his visit is expected to happen in the next few weeks.

If Raper impresses the coaches, I would expect him to get offered one. Michigan needs depth at cornerback, and having a guy with 4.4 speed doesn't hurt.