The premier source for basketball and football recruiting, news, and analysis of the best program in the nation.
Here are the rankings of Michigan’s 27 football recruits.
Along with the rankings, each player of the 2013 class is compared to a past Michigan player and a 2013 season prediction is given. Continue reading “Team 134: Freshman Previews and Predictions”
We are down to four guys for the right to be named Bleed Blue Recruiting’s Wolverine Legend. Voting is unlimited and will end 3/24 at midnight. Check the match-ups out below. Continue reading “Wolverine Legends Tournament: Final Four”
We are down to eight guys for the right to be crowned Bleed Blue’s Wolverine Legend! Who best represents the University of Michigan? YOU DECIDE! Voting is unlimited and runs until March 17th at midnight. Check out the match-ups below: Continue reading “Wolverine Legends Tournament: Elite Eight”
We are down to 16 men for the right be crowned Bleed Blue’s Wolverine Legend. Below are the breakdowns for round two in the Yost Region. Continue reading “Wolverine Legends Tournament Round Two: Yost Region”
We took a look at the match-ups over in the Schembechler and Berenson regions, now we move over to Yost. Voting is unlimited and will go until 2/29 at midnight. Take a look at the breakdowns below.
(1) Tom Brady vs. (8) Aaron Ward
Tom Brady seemingly came out of nowhere. Backup to Brian Griese during the 1997 National Championship season, this former Wolverine quarterback rose from seventh on the depth chart his freshman year and ended up battling out with Drew Henson to be the #1 QB in ’98 and ’99. Coming out of college, nobody expected him to be much of anything in the NFL. A sixth round pick by the Patriots, Brady replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and led the Pats all the way to the Super Bowl that year, and the rest is history. He has gone on to become a three time Super Bowl winner and eight time Pro Bowler. Brady has come a long way from his Michigan days and is now one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.
Aaron Ward is one of the more successful players to come out of the Michigan hockey program. The defenseman was drafted fifth overall in 1991 by the Winnipeg Jets and won three Stanley Cups in his 17 year career, two of which came with the hometown Detroit Red Wings. He played in over 600 career games and has represented the program well in his days since then.
Update: Tom Brady advances with 99% of the vote!
(2) Chris Webber vs. (7) Marty Turco
Chris Webber may very well be the best player to play basketball for Michigan. Considered the leader of the Fab Five, Webber and the Wolverines went to two straight national championship games. He was a first-team All-American in 1993 and was selected by the Orlando Magic (then traded to Golden State) with the first pick of the 1993 NBA Draft. The five time NBA All-Star had a successful 15 year career and retired in 2008. Due to the Ed Martin scandal, he was banned from Michigan events until 2013. No word yet to if either side has contacted the other to make amends. Regardless, Webber is a staple in the history of the Wolverine basketball program.
Marty Turco is considered one of the better goalies of his era. The former Wolverine netminder had a very successful career at the University of Michigan. He won two national championships in Ann Arbor and carried that success over to the NHL. He had over 275 career wins and holds the NHL record for shutouts in a playoff series with 3. Known for his signature style of good puckhandling for a goaltender, Turco retired in 2012 and is now an analyst for NHL Network.
Update: Chris Webber advances with 85% of the vote!
(3) Denard Robinson vs. (6) Mike Hart
Denard Robinson is arguably the most electrifying athlete that has ever stepped foot in Ann Arbor. Robinson is the all-time leading quarterback rusher in college football. His speed as a passer was a weapon that few defenses could stop, let alone contain. He has 9 of the 10 highest total yardage games in school history. He was not the greatest of throwers by any means, but every time he touched the ball there was a chance he could go the distance. He was also the ultimate leader and team player. When Brady Hoke and his staff came in 2011, Denard was key to the transition period. His future is uncertain as of now, but there is no denying Robinson was one of the best to take the field.
Michigan is famous for the running backs it has produced over the years, and Mike Hart is among the most accomplished of them. Starting as a true freshman, he set the school record for a first year player with 1455 yards rushing. He finished with 5040 yards, which is a Michigan school record. He had 28 games with at least 100 yards rushing and five with 200 yards or more. His pro career was met with marginal success, but he did go to the Super Bowl with the Colts in 2009. Mike Hart was a great leader destined for success and it seems he has found it, joing the Eastern Michigan football coaching staff after his retirement from the NFL in 2010.
Update: Denard Robinson advances with 65% of the vote!
(4) Drew Henson vs. (5) Jim Harbaugh
Drew Henson may be best known for taking the quarterback reigns from Tom Brady, but he was also a very good baseball player for the Wolverines. Drafted in the third round of the 1998 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, Henson had marginal success at the major league level before announcing his retirement from baseball in 2003. From there, he was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2003 by the Dallas Cowboys. He was never really able to seize any opportunities to play consistently in the league and retired after he was cut by the Detroit Lions in 2008. Although his pro careers did not bode well, it takes a special athlete to make it pro in two sports.
Jim Harbaugh may be best known for throwing temper tantrums on the sidelines as an NFL coach, but before then he was one of the more successful quarterbacks in Michigan football history. Playing for Bo Schembechler, he finished his college career in the top five in passing attempts, completions, completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes in school history. In his junior year in 1985, he was one of the most efficient passers in the country, leading the Wolverines to one of their best seasons under Bo. He went on to have mixed success in the NFL as a player, but is now coach of the 49ers and is one of the best in the league. Regardless of your opinion of his demeanor, he has represented the University of Michigan well since leaving.
Update: Jim Harbaugh advances with 80% of the vote!
So who comes out of the Yost Region? YOU DECIDE. Voting ends 3/1 at midnight and is unlimited!
Many times when a recruit speaks about why they like the University of Michigan, they will say it has a lot to do with the tradition of the athletics program in Ann Arbor.
Last week, I posed the question on our social networks,”Who is the greatest Michigan athlete of all time?” and received many different answers. Being the curious Wolverine fan that I am, I got to thinking, “Who IS the best Wolverine ever to step onto campus?”
With that in mind, I bring you the Wolverine Legends tournament. The 32-man field is broken down into four regions, which you will be able to see below. Each match-up will include it’s own breakdown and a poll where you can cast your vote. The match-ups will be posted throughout the week, but you can check out the field of teams below.
Schembechler Region:
Berenson Region:
Yost Region:
Crisler Region:
So, is it Charles Woodson or Tom Brady? Michael Phelps or Glenn Rice? Or will someone else emerge from the pack? YOU DECIDE! Match-ups will be posted later tonight with the first breakdown coming Tuesday morning, February 20th.
Make your voices heard! Who is the undisputed champion of Michigan Wolverines athletics? Keep it locked in here for more info.
Bleed Blue Recruiting 