Story and photo courtesy of Michigan Athletics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke announced the signing of 25 student-athletes to binding National Letters of Intent on Wednesday (Feb. 1), the first day of the signing period. The announcement was made during a press conference held at 2 p.m. in the Junge Family Champions Center.
2012 Michigan Football Signees
(* Enrolled at Michigan in January)
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)
Blake Bars OL 6-5 275 Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell Academy)
Joe Bolden* LB 6-3 230 Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain)
Ben Braden OL 6-6 319 Rockford, Mich. (Rockford)
Jehu Chesson WR 6-3 175 St. Louis, Mo. (Ladue Horton Watkins)
Jeremy Clark DB 6-4 195 Madisonville, Ky. (Madisonville North Hopkins)
Amara Darboh WR 6-2 200 West Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling Catholic)
Devin Funchess TE 6-4 205 Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison)
Allen Gant DB 6-2 205 Sylvania, Ohio (Southview)
Matthew Godin DT 6-6 265 Novi, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central)
Willie Henry DT 6-3 273 Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)
Sione Houma RB 6-0 215 Salt Lake City, Utah (Highland)
Royce Jenkins-Stone LB 6-2 215 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical)
Drake Johnson RB 6-1 205 Ann Arbor, Mich. (Pioneer)
Kyle Kalis OL 6-5 305 Lakewood, Ohio (St. Edward)
Erik Magnuson OL 6-6 275 Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon)
Dennis Norfleet RB 5-7 170 Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King)
Mario Ojemudia DE 6-2 220 Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison)
Ondre Pipkins DT 6-3 320 Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill)
Terry Richardson DB 5-9 165 Detroit, Mich. (Cass Technical)
Kaleb Ringer* LB 6-1 225 Clayton, Ohio (Northmont)
James Ross LB 6-1 215 Orchard Lake, Mich. (St. Mary's Prep)
Tom Strobel DE 6-6 265 Mentor, Ohio (Mentor)
A.J. Williams TE 6-6 275 Cincinnati, Ohio (Sycamore)
Jarrod Wilson* DB 6-2 190 Akron, Ohio (Buchtel)
Christopher Wormley DE 6-5 250 Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer)
NOTES
• Eighteen of the 25 players are from Michigan (9) or Ohio (9). Eight states in all are represented: Missouri (2), California, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah.
• According to ESPN.com rankings, Michigan signed the top five prospects and seven of the top eight players from the Wolverine State: Terry Richardson, Royce Jenkins-Stone, Devin Funchess, James Ross, Mario Ojemudia, Ben Braden (7), Matthew Godin (8).
• According to ESPN.com rankings, the Maize and Blue signed four of Ohio's top nine recruits: Kyle Kalis (4), Joe Bolden (5), Chris Wormley (6), Jarrod Wilson (9).
• Michigan has 13 players in the top 36 of the Midwest 150 according to Scout.com, led by Kyle Kalis at No. 3.
• U-M has four players among the ESPNU 150: Terry Richardson (68), Royce Jenkins-Stone (113), Kyle Kalis (132) and Joe Bolden (142).
• Michigan has nine players in the final Rivals250: Ondre Pipkins (14), Kyle Kalis (22), Erik Magnuson (78) Joe Bolden (111), James Ross (172), Royce Jenkins-Stone (184), Amara Darboh (215), Terry Richardson (224), Dennis Norfleet (236).
• The Wolverines signed nine of the 15 players listed on the Detroit News Dream Team. The group includes six of the top seven recruits.
• Five recruits played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
• Five players are listed at 6-6.
• By Position: 14 Defense - 6 DL, 4 LB, 4 DB; 11 Offense - 4 OL, 2 TE, 2 WR, 3 RB.
• Three players -- Joe Bolden, Kaleb Ringer and Jarrod Wilson -- enrolled early for U-M's winter 2012 semester.