Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Five Forgotten Wolverines

Posted at 5:00am — 8/21/2012

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Five Forgotten Wolverines

Last year GBMWolverine presented an article entitled Five Forgotten Wolverines. The salient thought behind this venture was the team of 2011 had many players that had been somewhat forgotten because of minimal playing time and contributions. Last year’s primary pick, Jeremy Gallon, had a very successful year erasing the memory of failed kick returns and limited success as a slot back. The article below is based on the knowledge that the term forgotten is metaphoric and subjective, but nevertheless still worth the discussion of predicting who may rise up and ascend to greater success.

Such a rise is based on ability, improvement, need, and opportunity.

There are many candidates for the 2012 team. First off in the discussion is a Wolverine that has never been quite forgotten, but has never seized the opportunity for starting playing time. He is Marvin Robinson the once prodigy and loyal Wolverine. Each season and spring a renewed inquiry emerges: what, if any, role will Marvin Robinson assume? He has the physique and a great attitude. It has been difficult to put it all together in practice and translate scheme and execution into game time. Marvin can serve as a leader, a special teams warrior, and a tough safety if everything falls into place. His ascension would take the pressure off of young defensive backs and provide time for their development. Here is wishing the best for Marvin, but he controls his final Michigan destiny.

The second candidate is Brandin Hawthorne. Brandin made known his eagerness to earn playing time this spring by exhibiting some very hard-hitting football. He will certainly provide good special team play. But here is a guy who wants to slip into a linebacker slot and hit some people. He arrived at Michigan undersized, having played all over the field in high school like the old-time monster backs. Brandin is a football player and he has worked hard to gain size and strength. If nothing else, Brandin will provide depth at a position almost nonexistent three years ago.

Third is Mike Jones. Mike is a candidate for the sculpture club and like Hawthorne loves to lay a lick on ball carriers. Also similar to Hawthorne, Mike Jones should help on special teams and at the very least provide depth. He came to Michigan with high hopes and has faced some injury adversity. He can play and it is guys like Hawthorne and Jones that just may make the big hit, cause a fumble, or recover a fumble that can turn a game or season around.

Fourth is Richard Ash. Richard also has had to overcome tough conditions. In the formula above, Richard has need and opportunity strongly in his corner. Every player on the defensive line that can play with competence greatly aids Michigan’s chance of a successful year. Michigan is throwing every big body it has in the mix, there is no other choice until depth is obtained.

Fifth is Josh Furman, a great athlete who came to Michigan uncertain of position, but recent discussions all point to safety. Like Marvin Robinson, Josh could provide more safety depth at a higher level and then take off into next year. There is a lot of ability in the Furman package. It is not hyperbole to say that Josh may make a ton of plays on special teams in 2012; he may be as good a special team player as any Wolverine.

There is another player to be discussed as the conclusion to this article, but the term forgotten shall never be used in describing red-shirt senior Elliot Mealer. Elliot is fighting for the left guard spot against competition. He will play this year, either as a starting guard or maybe the first lineman off the bench in an injury situation. There is no need to document Elliot’s path, but there can be a final word of appreciation.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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