Michigan Wolverines: Dan Ferrigno
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- From a basketball perspective, Sunday was not a great day for Michigan. With its one-point loss to Indiana, the Wolverines will head into the Big Ten tournament with the No. 5 seed without any share of the Big Ten title.
But from a football recruiting perspective, the day was a success. Michigan was able to secure visits from two Grand Rapids Christian (Mich.) High School prospects -- Watch List wide receiver Drake Harris and offensive lineman Tommy Doles.
But from a football recruiting perspective, the day was a success. Michigan was able to secure visits from two Grand Rapids Christian (Mich.) High School prospects -- Watch List wide receiver Drake Harris and offensive lineman Tommy Doles.
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The 2012 and 2013 classes account for all four of the scholarship tight ends on Michigan’s roster. Moving to a more pro-style offense, the Wolverines will look to pick up more tight ends and will target the best in the 2014 class who can fit into their group, bringing depth and the possibility of early playing time.
Here’s a look at some of those targets for the 2014 class:
Here’s a look at some of those targets for the 2014 class:
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Michigan explains snapper scholarship
February, 15, 2013
Feb 15
10:30
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By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Long snapper is a position in which offering a scholarship is still somewhat unorthodox. Much like giving kickers and punters scholarships a decade ago, this new wave of scholarship offers is slowly gaining acceptance.
As football continues to become more specialized, giving long snappers a free ride for four years is beginning to happen more often.
Michigan was always going to take a long snapper somehow. It has been a personal preference of coach Brady Hoke for years, and this season made the most sense to grab one.
As football continues to become more specialized, giving long snappers a free ride for four years is beginning to happen more often.
Michigan was always going to take a long snapper somehow. It has been a personal preference of coach Brady Hoke for years, and this season made the most sense to grab one.
Notebook: Michigan fills offensive needs 
February, 7, 2013
Feb 7
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By
Chantel Jennings | ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There’s no way to look at Michigan’s 2013 class and not believe Brady Hoke when he says he’s putting an emphasis up front.
Not only is it impressive that the Wolverines were able to pull in six offensive line signees, each is big and physical (averaging 6-foot-5, 295 pounds).
“It was very important for us to establish guys who can play at the line of scrimmage the way we want to play Michigan football,” Hoke said. “For the style of football we need to play, I think that was important.”
Not only is it impressive that the Wolverines were able to pull in six offensive line signees, each is big and physical (averaging 6-foot-5, 295 pounds).
“It was very important for us to establish guys who can play at the line of scrimmage the way we want to play Michigan football,” Hoke said. “For the style of football we need to play, I think that was important.”
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Jake Butt impressed by Michigan, tight ends
September, 10, 2012
9/10/12
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By
Chantel Jennings | ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tight end Jake Butt (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) had been in Michigan Stadium twice before, for the Notre Dame and Ohio State games in 2011. But his hopes on Saturday for the performance and hype in the Big House were no different for the Air Force game.
No, it wasn't a marquee opponent. But the 2013 commit expected the ambiance and fans to be just as intense. And he wasn't disappointed.
"It's always good to be in the Big House, because it's such a great environment," Butt said. "It was a little bit different but it was still so loud in there. The fans are always getting hyped."
No, it wasn't a marquee opponent. But the 2013 commit expected the ambiance and fans to be just as intense. And he wasn't disappointed.
"It's always good to be in the Big House, because it's such a great environment," Butt said. "It was a little bit different but it was still so loud in there. The fans are always getting hyped."
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Even if Brady Hoke had an offensive line resembling an NFL roster instead of one with three players starting at new positions and a defensive line starting four players at four new positions, the second-year Michigan coach would be concerned about who he was putting out there.
The reason is simple. When it comes to offensive and defensive line play, Hoke believes Michigan’s first opponent, defending national champion Alabama, is just that good.
The reason is simple. When it comes to offensive and defensive line play, Hoke believes Michigan’s first opponent, defending national champion Alabama, is just that good.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez rarely used the tight end in his spread offense, but when Brady Hoke arrived on campus he made it clear tight ends would be playing a much bigger role in his.
And now, with his 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes, Hoke has drawn some of the top tight end talent in the country to put into his pro-style offense over the next few years.
In his first year at the helm of the Wolverines, Hoke began using Kevin Koger mainly to block but also as a target for quarterback Denard Robinson, giving Michigan’s offense a new look. Hoke often described Koger as being the prototypical tight end the Wolverines want, which to Koger meant being versatile and tough.
And now, with his 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes, Hoke has drawn some of the top tight end talent in the country to put into his pro-style offense over the next few years.
In his first year at the helm of the Wolverines, Hoke began using Kevin Koger mainly to block but also as a target for quarterback Denard Robinson, giving Michigan’s offense a new look. Hoke often described Koger as being the prototypical tight end the Wolverines want, which to Koger meant being versatile and tough.
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Spring position preview: Tight ends
March, 3, 2012
3/03/12
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By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
No position on the Michigan roster has more questions and needs more help entering next season than tight end.
Kevin Koger? Gone. Steve Watson? Gone.
And considering offensive coordinator Al Borges plans on incorporating the tight end into the offense more and more as the seasons progress, this becomes an important position. Never mind Koger was a safety net for quarterback Denard Robinson.
Kevin Koger? Gone. Steve Watson? Gone.
And considering offensive coordinator Al Borges plans on incorporating the tight end into the offense more and more as the seasons progress, this becomes an important position. Never mind Koger was a safety net for quarterback Denard Robinson.
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How Michigan will use Dennis Norfleet
February, 9, 2012
2/09/12
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By
Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- He was a last-minute decision, a quick-trigger addition to a class that looked mostly full. Yet running back Dennis Norfleet (Detroit/Martin Luther King) might be one of Michigan’s most important overall additions.
While Norfleet doesn’t fit the style of running back Michigan is attempting to recruit -- big, bruising backs with speed -- he does serve another key role. When the Wolverines dismissed Darryl Stonum for violations of team rules in January, Michigan was left with a big hole in the return game.
It is a role Norfleet could slip into almost immediately.
While Norfleet doesn’t fit the style of running back Michigan is attempting to recruit -- big, bruising backs with speed -- he does serve another key role. When the Wolverines dismissed Darryl Stonum for violations of team rules in January, Michigan was left with a big hole in the return game.
It is a role Norfleet could slip into almost immediately.
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Michigan knew one of its needs in the last recruiting cycle was increasing both its depth and talent level at tight end. And following a two tight end haul in the Class of 2012, the Wolverines expected tight end would be a place they would look to add more players in 2013 as well.
Michigan kind of has to as it transitions from a spread offense to a pro-style one. Last season, Michigan used mostly three tight ends: Kevin Koger, Steve Watson and Brandon Moore.
The Wolverines won’t be able to do that in the future.
Michigan kind of has to as it transitions from a spread offense to a pro-style one. Last season, Michigan used mostly three tight ends: Kevin Koger, Steve Watson and Brandon Moore.
The Wolverines won’t be able to do that in the future.
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ABOUT WOLVERINE NATION
Michael Rothstein
Michael Rothstein joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Michigan for AnnArbor.com, Notre Dame for the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette and a host of colleges for the Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.). A Syracuse graduate and an East Meadow, N.Y., native, he lives in Ann Arbor, Mich. He can be reached at michaelrothsteinespn@gmail.com.
Tom VanHaaren
Tom VanHaaren joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Michigan for three years at MGoBlog.com. VanHaaren and his wife currently reside in Royal Oak, Mich. He can be reached at TomVHESPN@gmail.com.
Chantel Jennings
Chantel Jennings joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Michigan athletics for three years at The Michigan Daily. Chantel graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in English and Spanish and lives in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jenningsespn@gmail.com.