jason avant

[Toledo Blade]

A couple weeks back I put a post on the MGoBoard about an upcoming series I was planning that would be revisiting great games in Michigan Football history, told by someone who had never seen the game before (me) using insight from someone who had (Craig Ross). This is the first piece in that series and it revisits the most recommended game in the thread I put up... 2004 Michigan State also known as "Braylonfest". 

 

The team: The 2004 Michigan Football season saw a changing of the guard at the two most prominent positions of the era, with the graduations of QB John Navarre and RB Chris Perry in the offseason. In stepped the true freshmen who would define the program over the next four seasons, Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Though being a true freshman starting QB is quite difficult, having returning production in the passing game helped Henne. It especially helped to have a superstar to throw to in Braylon Edwards. Coming off an 1100 yard, 1st Team All-B1G season in 2003, Edwards would be the star of the season and of this game. Fellow wideouts Jason Avant and Steve Breaston also returned, as did TE Tim Massaquoi, meaning four of the top five players in receiving yards in 2003 returned for '04 and were at Henne's disposal (Perry was the other). 

On the offensive line, starters returned at LT (Adam Stenavich), LG (David Baas), and RG (Matt Lentz). The team graduated All-B1G C Dave Pearson and RT Tony Pape, plugging Mark Bihl into the C spot and RS Fr Jake Long into the RT spot. By the time this game rolled around, Bihl had been injured, with Baas sliding to center and Rueben Riley taking over LG. Kevin Dudley returned as fullback for his senior season, while David Underwood and Jerome Jackson returned to the 2004 squad at RB, though Hart got the vast majority of the carries (Max Martin was on the depth chart as a freshman as well in '04). 

[Bentley Historical Library]

The defensive side of the ball was led by star corner Marlin Jackson, the team's lone defensive All-American (1st team). Opposite him at corner was Markus Curry to start the season, eventually supplanted by sophomore Leon Hall. The safeties were a duo of Ryan Mundy at FS and Ernest Shazor at SS, the latter a hero the week before this game. Scott McClintock manned the middle at MIKE LB, while Lawrence Reid was the starter at WILL. Neither LB earned postseason honors and this game will provide a decent window into why. 

Along the defensive line, the gargantuan (6'8") Pat Massey and Gabe Watson, a fellow junior, started for the Wolverines. Watson earned 1st/2nd Team All-B1G for his work that season and they were joined by sophomore OLB/EDGE LaMarr Woodley, who earned 2nd Team All-B1G. Rotational pieces down along the defensive line included Larry Harrison and Alex Ofili, among others. At special teams, Garrett Rivas was a sophomore at kicker (his second season of starting duty), while Adam Finley was a senior at punter, his third and final year as the starter. Steve Breaston handled returns for the Wolverines.  

[Ronan Silberman/AP]

The opponent: Michigan State was in year #2 of the John L. Smith era in 2004. They had gone 8-5 the previous season, ending the year with a loss to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. Multi-year starter at QB Jeff Smoker had graduated, with Drew Stanton taking over command of the offense in '04. He was given reasonable stability at the skill positions but a defense that would take a sizable step backwards in 2004 relative to the prior year. The Spartans went 1-2 in non-conference to start the season, with losses at home to Notre Dame and at Rutgers, but strung together strong results to open the B1G slate. They knocked off Indiana, lost at Kinnick to Iowa, but then defeated Illinois and ranked Minnesota at home to situate themselves at 3-1 in the conference heading into the bye week, prior to this game (4-3 overall). 

[AFTER THE JUMP: The game and my takes on it]

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WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOHN NAVARRE

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Previously: 1879, 1901, 1918, 1925, 1932, 1940, 1947, 1950, 1964, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1985 p.1& p.2, 1988, 1991, 1999, 2011 p.1 & p.2

[Writeup and player after THE JUMP]

[Bryan Fuller]

Carton on campus. In addition to the wave of football commits, Michigan's top remaining basketball target is also in the house:

Carton's previously said he intends to take trips to all of his six finalists before deciding in late summer, so this is not a commit watch situation. Still, given his stated decision criteria...

“The most significant factors in the choice are just… getting me to my future,” he said. “Who can develop me the most (to) become NBA ready, winning, and just the relationships. I want a team that I can call my brothers and stuff like that… that I can go back in like 60 years from now and still know those guys and still talk to them. So, I want my team to feel family-like, and get me to my dream.”

...and Michigan's unmatched ability to put recruits ranked significantly lower than Carton into the NBA, Beilein and company have to feel pretty good here. Also of note: Carton credits Yaklich for initiating his relationship with him while he was at Illinois State; Yaklich is also Jalen Wilson's primary recruiter. Pay that man his money.

ESPN has scouts that avoided the axe. At least in basketball. ESPN's released a new 2019 top 100 featuring Carton at #28; their accompanying article mentions him and a couple other targets. Carton is one of the "fastest risers":

Carton didn't make the final cut of USA Basketball U-18 national team, but he nonetheless opened eyes over the first four days of trials. That, followed by a solid showing at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, helped him go from unranked to top 30.

The southpaw lead guard plays at multiple speeds and navigates well in ball screens by creating separation between defenders. He is a high assist maker both in the open floor with the advance pass or in tight spaces as he reads the defense.

Potential 2020 one-and-done RJ Hampton, Jalen Wilson's best bro, is super super highly touted:

R.J. Hampton, No. 3 in 2020

PG, 6-4, 180, Little Elm (Texas)

Hampton is a big point guard with speed and scoring ability. He is more comfortable putting points on the board at this stage in his development, but he continues to show the vision and the ability to read the game.

The NBA covets big point guards and Hampton checks a ton of boxes. Strength and a consistent jump shot are what he needs most.

Camp Sanderson and John Beilein SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA SIR. FWIW, Michigan is in on #3 Cole Anthony (sort of) and #4 Jaden McDaniels, though those guys are in a stratosphere Michigan's recruiting rarely touches. Jalen Wilson is #68.

Also I have just discovered that Fran McCaffrey's kid Patrick is #50. Naturally, he is a 6'9" guy.

[After THE JUMP: American ninja Avant.]