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Posted on Thu, Jan 5, 2012 : 6 p.m.

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke didn't pressure anyone to enroll early; 3 recruits have

By Kyle Meinke

Michigan football coach Brady Hoke will hit the recruiting trail for much of the next month as national signing day approaches.

But he already has three guys in the bag.

Hoke affirmed previous reports that 2012 recruits Joe Bolden, Kaleb Ringer and Jarrod Wilson have enrolled early at Michigan. Each is listed in the online database of current students.

Each also happens to play defense, which pleases the defensive-minded Hoke.

Wilson is a four-star safety from Butchel High School in Akron, Ohio; Bolden is a four-star linebacker from Colerain High School in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Ringer is a three-star linebacker from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio.

Bolden is considered to have the best potential of the three and could crack the rotation next year, even though Michigan will return every player from its two-deep at linebacker.

Wilson also could see the field, particularly with the graduation of senior Troy Woolfolk, the midseason departure of Carvin Johnson and the ongoing legal troubles of Marvin Robinson.

Enrolling early allows players to get a seven-month jump on strength and conditioning, which better positions them for making contributions as true freshmen and catapults them past their classmates in picking up the schemes.

The early enrollees also will participate in spring ball.

Forgoing the final semester of high school is becoming more common for elite high school prospects, but Hoke emphasized the program did not pressure any recruit to enroll early.

"To be honest with you, it was really they were just able to," Hoke said of process behind who enrolled now. "We didn’t push any of them to come early. I think at some point, kids miss their senior year of high school.

"We don’t encourage anybody, but they wanted to and their clock made it work."

Hoke said enrolling in January allows the freshmen to become acclimated to the rigors of college coursework without also having to deal with the demands of a season.

"That, to me, is as important as anything," Hoke said.

Ringer and Wilson are on campus this week. Bolden will join them after competing in tonight's Under Armour All-America Game.

"There are so many daggone games now," Hoke joked. "I may even be able to play in one."

Meantime, Hoke will hit the road hard for the next month to fill the final four or five spots of the 2012 class. He also will keep in touch with current commitments.

"You always do," Hoke said of recruiting current recruits. "But, no matter where you are, if you’re at Ball State, you’re always recruiting commitments and doing your due diligence with that."

Other items of note from Hoke's news conference:

No update on Robinson, Floyd

J.T.-FLOYD.JPG

J.T. Floyd.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Hoke said quarterback Denard Robinson and cornerback J.T. Floyd have not yet heard back since filing paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory board, requesting information on their pro stock.

He said he expects to know more by Friday or Saturday.

Denard injury rumors false
Hoke dispelled a wide-spread rumors that Robinson suffered a leg injury before Tuesday's Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech, noting the junior was "100 percent" for the game and that "he didn't tweak anything."

Hoke, when asked to evaluate Robinson's wobbly performance (he threw one interception, had two others overturned, completed only nine passes and had a career-worst 13 yards rushing): "We won the football game not playing our best anywhere. That’s how I would assess it."

Three players have career nights
Hoke said three players had the best games of their careers in the Sugar Bowl win, whether or not that showed up in the box score: defensive linemen Mike Martin and Frank Clark and linebacker Jake Ryan. Clark and Ryan are freshmen.

Martin, playing in his final game at Michigan, played more than 70 snaps because of key injuries to the defensive line.

Van Bergen limited

Thumbnail image for VanBergen_Ryan_11.jpg

Van Bergen

One of those injuries was to senior Ryan Van Bergen, who suffered a foot injury in the Sugar Bowl and was seen after the game with crutches. The senior lost feeling in the foot and had trouble pushing off, particularly on his final six or seven plays.

Michigan adjusted its personnel groups during the game to give Van Bergen more of a break than he typically receives.

Snapshot into 2012
Hoke said his chief concerns for next year are replenishing the talent and depth at offensive and defensive line.

Michigan loses starters Martin, Van Bergen and Will Heininger up front defensively, and starters Mark Huyge and All-American David Molk on the other side of the ball. It had just eight scholarship offensive linemen this year, roughly half what Hoke desires.

"We have some work to do," Hoke said.

Odds and ends
Hoke plans to attend the national coaches convention next week. ... Hoke once again said he expects his staff to return intact next season, although he declined to discuss possible attrition among players. ... Hoke, on his first season at the helm: "Every day is a little different. There’s a couple knuckleheads you deal with, but that’s OK. I was one of those at one point." ... Hoke said there will be no motivational signs regarding the team's four-game losing streak to Michigan State.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.

Comments

81wolverine

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.

The early enrollment is a very interesting development in recent years. In following Michigan football for a very long time, I never heard of any players coming in here in January until just the last 5-6 years. I think Kevin Grady was one of the first I remember - he actually dressed for the Rose Bowl that year.

knotch

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 6:53 p.m.

Ok...Ill bite: Please explain to me how they enroll early....have the graduated early....what gives

tulsatom

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.

Study Hall was always one of my highlights of the day, haha.

tulsatom

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.

In short, they cram 4 years of high school classes into 3.5 years. Most high schools require for graduation that you take (and pass, with at least a 'C' average) a certain amount of courses/credits. Those who graduate early usually are good students who take another class instead of study hall starting their freshman year and also take a class or two during summer school each year. Therefore, they get four years of classes done in only 3.5 years. I think most of the student who come out early do that sort of thing but there may be other ways to do it, too.

tulsatom

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.

It's great these guys can come out early. It will interesting to see who who fill the void at offensive line and defensive line and which recruits can contribute out of the gate. I am looking for Kalis and Magnuson to contribute right away on the OL and Pipkins to possibly start out of the box on the defensive line.

MRunner73

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 10:12 a.m.

To set the record straight, both David Molk and Ryan Van Bergen both played through foot injuries that significantly impacted their performance. As it turned out; the Sugar Bowl was a game of inches and nano-seconds so the restrictions that these two men had to deal with was a serious blow to the Maize and Blue during that game. It once again shows how devoted our players are to the Michigan football team. They sold out during that game and now they will have as long as it takes to heal physically from these injuries. Michigan won despite the handicap. Good luck to Brady Hoke on the recruiting trail...GO BLUE!

tulsatom

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.

Molk and Ryan Van Bergen deserve kudos for playing through painful injuries. These guys are truly tough and team layers. However, I recorded the Suagr Bowl game and have watched it at least three times, stopping and rewinding it to watch certain plays multiple times. The rest of the offensive line besides Molk were reportedly healthy but didn't appear to have banner games. I'm refering to Lewan, Omameh, Huyge, and Schofield. They looked slow and were seen more than once watching their man bring down Denard or Toussaint for a loss after running by or over the U-M blocker. The OL needs to get stronger to beat the MSUs and Alabamas on the schedule. That's why I am excited about players like Kalis, who I hope will step up and play big for U-M next year. U-M needs to be able to win the battle of the line of scrimmage against everyone if they want to compete for Big Ten and national championships.

UofMbeBetter

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 9:37 a.m.

This is Divison 1A Football, and its not your grandpas football anymore. High level recruits know that enroling early is a part of the game. If you can do it, then do it.

RWBill

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.

Finally got sleep after 2 short naps the previous 2 nights going and returning to Virginia from the game. Michigan's lines got worked over by the Hokies, I'm sure they missed the rotation they normally have. I was pretty sure Tech was going to move the ball 90 yards to score after Micihgan went up 20-17. By the way, Tech returns 9 starters on that Defense that Michigan coudn't move the ball against. Brady has talked since his first day about recruiting big shoulders and butts. Roh looked slender compared to the Hokies on the other side of the line. Hope most of these recruits work out, we need a lot of help next year to equal this year in wins. Thanks Kyle for all the news all year.

Saline Rosebud

Thu, Jan 5, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.

Nice report. Hoke is doing everything right. Good for the team. Just a little proof-reading would help. What is "That's how I would axxes it". I find it hard to understand.

Rich Rezler

Fri, Jan 6, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.

That typo has been fixed. Thanks.