Michigan Signs 24 Recruits
No Pryor Commitment, but Wolverines Land Top 15 Recruiting Class
Feb 18, 2008
Terrelle Pryor may still be mulling where he’d like to play college football next fall, but even without the highly touted recruit, the University of Michigan and first-year coach Rich Rodriguez earned high marks for the new talent they’re bringing to Ann Arbor.
Two dozen high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to join the Wolverines next season. As a group, the recruits earned Michigan top 15 recruiting class status among national sports media outlets. ESPN.com tagged U-M with a No. 13 recruiting class.
To kick-start his spread offense, Rodriguez raided Ohio State’s backyard and Trotwood-Madison High School in Ohio and landed wide receivers Michael Shaw and Roy Roundtree and tight end Brandon Moore. In a late signing, he also nabbed receiver Martavious Odoms of Pahokee, FL, and signed speedsters Terrence Robinson of Klein, TX and Darryl Stonum of Stafford, TX.
In all, Rodriguez grabbed seven Ohio players, and went to Florida to get highly touted quarterback Justin Feagin.
To beef up the offensive line, he followed the Michigan blue print and stayed in-state to grab Dann O-Neill (6-7, 295) from Grand Haven and Rocko Khoury (6-5, 280) from Traverse City. O’Neill, one of the top-rated linemen in the country, could in time be the replacement to tackle Jake Long that Wolverine fans will be looking for in the coming seasons. Other Michigan natives headed to Ann Arbor next season include defensive lineman Mike Martin of Detroit Catholic Central, defensive back Boubacar Cissoko of Detroit Cass Tech, and Kenny Demens of Detroit Country Day.
Perhaps the biggest signing for the Wolverines, however, comes in the form of Texas running back Sam McGuffie, who rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns during an injury-shortened senior season. As a junior, he ran for more than 3,000 yards and 44 touchdowns.
As for Pryor, he’s still weighing his options, reportedly choosing between Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon and Penn State. He recently told reporters that he’s currently putting off making a decision as his high school basketball team advances through the state playoffs.
Michigan’s 2008 recruiting class
Ricky Barnum (6-2, 265) offensive line
Boubacar Cissoko (5-9, 175) defensive back
Michael Cox (6-0, 206) running back
Kenny Demens (6-1, 226) linebacker
Justin Feagin (6-0, 190) quarterback
J.B. Fitzgerald (6-3, 230) linebacker
J.T. Floyd (6-0, 190) defensive back
Taylor Hill (6-2, 205) linebacker
Rocko Khoury (6-5, 280) linebacker
Kevin Koger (6-4, 220) tight end
Mike Martin (6-2, 285) defensive line
Sam McGuffie (5-11, 185) running back
Elliott Mealer (6-6, 280) offensive lineman
Brandon Moore (6-6, 221) tight end
Martavious Odoms (5-9, 171) wide receiver
Patrick Omameh (6-4, 260) offensive line
Dann O’Neill (6-7, 295) offensive line
Terrence Robinson (5-9, 170)
Roy Roundtree (6-0, 154) wide receiver
Michael Shaw (6-0, 185)
Brandon Smith (6-3, 210) defensive back
Darryl Stonum (6-3, 185) wide receiver
Kurt Wermers (6-5, 260) offensive line
Marcus Witherspoon (6-2, 225) linebacker
Click here to see Rodriguez's 2009 recruiting class.
