Ten Freshman? That's What Rich Rod Said!

What are some common adjectives that describe true freshman starting in college football? Raw, young, talented, athletic, and teachable are just a few that come to mind.

On Friday, Rich Rodriguez told the media that he expects up to 10 freshman to play this fall. That's quite a bit, and telling of the depth issue at Michigan. It also shows that the talent Rodriguez has brought in are teachable, smart, and athletic.  

His team had the highest GPA last year of any Michigan team in recent history. A testament to academics being a major priority for this staff, sans Adrian Witty and J.T. Turner.

Last year, Coach Rodriguez started a few true freshman, more because of necessity than talent. There were a few standouts last year.

Sam McGuffie was a true freshman from Texas, and was a solid contributor to the team. He rushed for 486 yards behind an inexperienced line. He also had three touchdowns. He was hurt for some of the season, but overall he was a bright spot on a bad offense.

Mike Martin is a true sophomore this year. His freshman campaign was excellent. He was named to the Sporting News All-Freshman second team. He had 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.  

Boubacar Cissoko also a true sophomore this year, was a huge part of the secondary and return game last year. He had 15 tackles, second to Martin for most by a freshman. He had 20 returns for 467 yards. 

Also, J.B. Fitzgerald, Tay Odoms, Kevin Koger, Daryl Stonum, and Michael Shaw all saw significant playing time as freshman. These true sophomores play a huge role for the next set of true freshman to play at Michigan.

They understand, if they didn't before, the expectations that everyone has for Michigan Football, year in and year out. That needs to be passed on to these Michigan Men.  

They realized that you can't be Michigan Boys when you step into the Big House, you need to be Michigan Men.  

Here are ten true and redshirt freshman that Rich Rodriguez may give playing time to this year at Michigan:

Vincent Smith, RB, Pahokee, Pahokee, FL

A 5-6, 168 pound running back who is quick and small. He can run through people or over people. For his size, he could care less who he goes up against. He amassed 4,677 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns during his years at Pahokee.  

Coach Rodriguez says, "He's not real big, but he's a tough competitor and has some skills. He's going to play this year. He's going to keep getting better and better...Vincent Smith has, which has been impressive, but the other guys have been the same old suspects."

With the depth we have at RB, competition will be tough, but look for Vincent Smith to contribute this year.

Tate Forcier, QB, Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA

A 6-1, 188 pound quarterback from San Diego has been tabbed by Michigan faithful as the starting QB for the 2009 Football season. Career stats at Scripps Ranch include 7,448 yards passing, 2,049 yards rushing, 85 combined touchdowns.  

He is a four-star QB recruit with the most accurate arm in his class. His family is no stranger to Michigan Football, his brother Jason was on Lloyd Carrs team 2006, and left for Stanford. He is now awaiting clearance to join his brother at Michigan.

David Molk, the Michigan center said this about Tate in the Detroit Free Press, "It's weird, I never see the kid crumble. Once in awhile you'll see a quarterback and they'll start to get kind of shaky, but he's pretty solid."

William Campbell, DT, Detroit Cass Tech, Detroit, MI

At 318 pounds, William Campbell is a big boy. Playing both offense, defense, and kicked, this kid is special. He was a PARADE All-American, and five-star recruit from Detroit. At Cass, he was able to amass 55 tackles, 22 for a loss, and he even scored a touchdown.

With all his accolades, he will need to come into Michigan and play defensive tackle, and play it very well. He needs to be conditioned, which he should be by enrolling in January.  

Chris Balas on TheWolverine.com, wrote that Coach Rodriguez told the media, "He's worked himself into pretty good shape, but he's still got some work to do there. He's got to learn to play, some technique stuff. But he loves football and he's been battling, so I think he's got a chance to help us some."

Vladimir Emilien, S, Plantation, Lauderhill, FL

At 6-1, 198, and a 4.5 forty with a 32 inch vertical, Vladimir Emilien is an emerging talent for Michigan.  In his junior season at Plantation, he had 93 tackles, three picks, and eight tackles for a loss.  

A torn ACL made him miss his senior year, but that didn't sway Michigan from recruiting him.

The 14th ranked safety by Rivals.com, and a Top 100 player in the state of Florida.  Not bad for a guy who was injured his senior season.  He is a four-star recruit too, did I forget to mention that?

Look for him to battle with Mike Williams for playing time at strong safety.

Je'Ron Stokes, WR, Northeast, Philadelphia, PA

At 6-0, 181 pounds, Stokes is four-star recruit with speed. A typical quality Coach Rodriguez looks for in his players.  He ran a 4.38 forty in high school.  

His high school stats total 1,372 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has received many accolades and was on many top lists during his high school career.  

Coach Rodriguez says this about Stokes in that same Balas article, "He's got a chance to help us this year. Again, he's a freshman and still learning, but he's got a great attitude and loves football, and he's getting a lot of reps now, as he will during camp."

He should give Michigan great depth and talent on the field this year.

J.T. Turner, DB, Washington, Massillon, OH

Taking so long to be cleared by the NCAA, J.T. will have to get up to speed real fast.  Defensive back is a position where Michigan is not too deep. So, to have Turner in camp is a positive.

In his senior season in Massillon, Turner had 24.5 tackles and three picks, two returned for touchdowns. He was also an offensive threat for his High School, having close to 2,000 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns during his high school career.

He is rated the best player in Ohio, a five-star recruit on scout.com, and third fastest DB in the nation.

Coach Rodriguez said "He got here late in the summer, so he wasn't here for five or six weeks like the rest of the guys. But he looks in pretty good shape. Again, just judging on a couple days of practice, you can't tell, but he'll get there. He's here early enough to get in shape and help us this year, if that's the case."

Jeremy Gallon, SR, Apopka, Apopka, FL

This slot receiver from Apopka was a nationally ranked WR by rivals.com, and played in the US Army All-American game as a four-star recruit. His size, 5-8, 168 pounds, will be built upon by Barwis, but the skills and talent this kid has should see him contributing sooner rather than later.

Ruth Lincoln, from the The Michigan Daily, said that "[Stevie] Brown also included Jeremy Gallon in his list of slot receivers who have kept Brown on his defensive toes through fall camp."

During his career at Apopka, Gallon rushed for over 4,000 yards and 53 touchdowns. He was a multi-talented star at Apopka, playing QB and RB in High School. Throwing for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns.  

At Michigan, he will be used at the slot receiver position.

Brandin Hawthorne, LB, Pahokee, Pahokee, FL

Looking to see who fits the new 'spinner' position that Greg Robinson is implementing, Brandin Hawthorne may just be one of those guys. He played LB at Pahokee, where his coach, Blaze Thompson, nicknamed him 'psycho.'

Hawthorne responded in this PalmBeachPost.com article by saying "He says that because there's nothing I fear... I don't care how big you are, I'm a get you." Words you love to hear from your linebacker. His stats backed his talk up.

His senior year at Pahokee, he had 27 sacks, 113 tackles, 48 TFL. He is a beast, and possibly the in line to play the 'spinner' position for Robinson.  

In that same article in the Palm Beach Post, Hawthorne told Cristina Ledra, "I always took the back seat and looked at the leaders we had and learned from them and when my time came, I knew it was the right time." 

This shows he has the patience to succeed and the maturity to gain from his experiences. Hopefully he sees some playing time for Robinson.

Quinton Washington, OL, Timberland, St. Stephen, SC

With a large frame of 6-3, 315 pounds, Quinton Washington is rock on the line.

Mike Snyder, from the Detroit Free Press, quoted current lineman Steve Schilling as saying "He’s huge, you can’t move him... I don’t know (how much) he’s lifting, but you try to push him and he won’t move. He’s one of those guys that’s really heavy-set in the ground and you can’t move him but he can move so that’s a good thing."

In High School, Washington was a four-star recruit by rivals.com. He was also the sixth rated guard by scouts inc. He also participated in the Under Armor All-American game.  

From what I'm hearing, it sounds like Washington may get some playing time this year.  Well just have to wait and see. From the sounds of it, he should be another great lineman for the Michigan Football team.

Roy Roundtree, SR, Trotwood-Madison, Trotwood, OH

A redshirt freshman who caught two TD passes in the Spring Game, looks to breakout this fall.  

Coach Rodriguez told the media, "...We've got a good group of slots, and Roy's going to be a guy that as camp goes on, we'll play both inside and outside."

Denard Robinson, QB, Deerfield Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL

Looks to be in a battle for playing time at quarterback this year.  He will be competing against Nick Sheridan and Tate Forcier. He wasn't able to enroll early, so he is a bit behind, but each day in practice, they say he is learning. That's good.

If you want to know more about him, check this article out at b/r.

So with all the freshman that look to be playing this fall, Michigan fans will have to deal with the ups and downs that come with that. You never know what you may get when freshman play in the Big House.  

These are all talented players, so if they can play, as Coach says, you will see them on the field.  That's exciting for Michigan fans, cause these kids are going to be the reason Michigan Football will be back by 2010.  

A Couple Thoughts:

Watching the players in pads on Friday night on BTN, they looked good.  A few things I took away from it:

• The QB's were passing the ball well.
• Vincent Smith looks fast, but not Denard fast!
• Receivers were running some crisp routes. 
• Campbell was looking to improve his skills at DT.
• The "M" drill is just down right insane.  

Also, Gerry DiNardo said on BTN Campus Tour on Friday night, that they have better talent than 5 teams on there schedule, so they should be at least .500.  Thanks Gerry!