Posted on Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 7 a.m.
Denard Robinson ranked 2011's most explosive player by Rivals.com; Vacation from coaching might be good for Rich Rodriguez and more
By Kaleb Roedel
Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com, released his rankings of the 10 most explosive players in college football heading into the 2011 season.
Ranked No. 1? The Michigan football team's dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson.
Writes Buchanan, "Robinson is like a time bomb. Sooner or later, he's going to explode.
Each time Robinson tucks the football, opposing fans hold their breath
because he always seems one step away from making a big play."
The only other Big Ten player in Buchanan's top-10 is one similar to Robinson, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez (No. 7), who will make his Big Ten debut with the Cornhuskers in 2011.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- AnnArbor.com: Michigan recruit Keith Heitzman brings flexibility, durability to U-M
- Detroit Free Press: Michigan gets recruiting growth spurt
- Detroit Free Press: Michigan recruiting targets set decision dates
- Detroit News: Vacation from coaching might be a 'good thing' for Rich Rodriguez
- ESPN.com: Adam Rittenberg looks at the outlook for Big Ten RBs in 2011 (video)
- ESPN.com: MarQueis Gray thrilled to return to QB spot for Minnesota
- SI.com: C.J. Johnson latest elite recruit to meet trouble on Facebook
- Des Moines Register: Why are 13 Iowa players hospitalized? No firm answers
- New York Times: UConn says talks continue with unhappy donor
- Dallas Morning News: Aggies' AD says Texas' cable network could conflict with NCAA recruiting rules
MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
- AnnArbor.com: Michigan players outline what Michigan State rivalry means
- Detroit News: U-M seeks revenge for beatdown at Breslin last season
- Grand Rapids Press: If Korie Lucious is done at MSU, who fills point guard role?
Comments
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 1 p.m.
STOP! DRob got the offer AFTER the two QBs the WCiMFH wanted turned their back on him. He rarely played as a freshman. Let's not re-write history here. I guess we should be grateful that TF messed up so bad last spring and summer that DRob was given tons of time, making it so obvious that even a "sight-challenged genius" saw his talent. (he didn't do much of that in the second half of the season.) Why wasn't DRob able to run as much later in the season, Dusty? Was it better defenses or bad coaching? Well that's all over. With a better prepared team offense, balanced to keep teams from focusing just on DRob and saving him the wear and tear of being hit 30 plus times a game, things will be less predictable. TiM Go Blue!
umgoblue47
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.
dr was a great pickup by rr when he was are coach! i hope coach hoke keeps some part of the spread in are offense. dr is to fast to just pass, kids gotta run. . . GO BLUE. . .
Mick
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.
It seems we'll be playing The Air Force Academy @ home in 2012,no home and home, I like it. Good job DB, that's a credible opponent for that season along w/Ala, Neb, OSU, MSU, ND. Wow, what an exciting schedule and w/Hoke being in his 2nd yr and getting things going in the right direction. Congrats to Air Force for the million or so they'll be getting for that game. It's gonna be fun folks.....Go Blue!!!
RudeJude
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 12:03 a.m.
Texas launched its new network and may have pushed the first domino of the second phase of BCS conference realignment. It has been reported that Texas A&M and Oklahoma are threatened and may consider jumping to the SEC. If that happens, I wonder if Texas would consolidate the remaining Big XII members or would opt for independence like Notre Dame? Would the Pac-10/12 be interested in the remaining undistinguished Big XII members like Texas Tech and Oklahoma State? Whatever happens, it seems unlikely the Big Ten would be involved, though I like the idea of rivals Mizzou (an AAU school) and Oklahoma (non-AAU but storied program) joining their rival Nebraska in the Big Ten. We'll wait to see if this is just huffiness by Texas A&M and Oklahoma or if they are serious about dumping Texas.
RudeJude
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
Texas launched its new network and may have pushed the first domino of the second phase of BCS conference realignment. It has been reported that Texas A&M and Oklahoma are threatened and may consider jumping to the SEC. If that happens, I wonder if Texas would consolidate the remaining Big XII members or would opt for independence like Notre Dame? Would the Pac-10/12 be interested in the remaining undistinguished Big XII members like Texas Tech and Oklahoma State? Whatever happens, it seems unlikely the Big Ten would be involved, though I like the idea of rivals Mizzou (an AAU school) and Oklahoma (non-AAU but storied program) joining their rival Nebraska in the Big Ten. We'll wait to see if this is just huffiness by Texas A&M and Oklahoma or if they are serious about dumping Texas.
Blu n Tpa
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
Well, if Dusty said it, it's got to be right.
Dusty
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
Texas could probably pull of being an independent, too.
1st Down
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
What no Pryor on that list? Oh yeah....he's suspended for the first 5 games for selling his gold pants and other items. It is hard to be explosive when you are sitting on the sidelines with the other fake Buckeyes.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
Thank-you, whatshisname, for going on vacation (even if it was involuntary). Good Night and Good Luck
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
Thank you RR for giving Mich. such an exciting player and possibly the most exciting player in Mich. history.
DonAZ
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
Denard is a very exciting player ... no question about that. He's not the fastest player -- I think Jeff Demps from Florida holds that distinction. He's probably not the quickest in his first step, or in his cuts. He's very good going squirting through a hole when he's already in a gallop. That, I think, is where his speed is really something. Nobody is going to catch him from behind. But plenty caught him from the front and the side during the latter half of the season. They knew he was going to run, and it was just a matter of containing him and him only. And the good teams did just that. If only Michigan had a good power back to compliment Robinson on runs, it would have provided even more for defenses to worry about. Imagine all those 3rd-and-3 downs where the defense would have had to defend against the interior run *and* contain Robinson to the outside.
Dusty
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.
Actually, Denard ran between the tackles or off-tackle about 90% of the time. He very rarely ran outside, and that was almost exclusively on read-option keepers (which he didn't do much of at all in the second half of the season.). ANY good, consistent back would have been a huge help. Unfortunately, the only back who could stay healthy was Vincent Smith. Shaw was very good when he was healthy, as were Toussant and Hopkins. This backfield is young and is going to surprise many of you when and if they manage to stay healthy.
Mick
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
I love that Denard is considered #1 in this regard, however I prefer the WHOLE team be ranked #1, call me crazy I guess. I look forward to that possibility in the near future, not the crazy part btw. Go Blue!!!