Taylor Lewan ranked #22 in Yahoo Sports top 100 Countdown
Taylor Lewan was ranked the #22 player in the country by the Yahoo top 100 players countdown.
"Particulars: 6-8/302, Jr.; Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral
Buzz: Lewan redshirted as a true freshman in 2009, then moved into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season and looks to be the next great Wolverines lineman. He didn't play offensive tackle until he was a senior in high school; before that, he had been a defensive end. Lewan plays with a mean streak and it got him in trouble a couple of times in 2010, including being called for a personal foul after Denard Robinson scored the game-winning TD against Indiana."
He is currently the only Michigan player on the countdown. Denard is sure to be somewhere in the top 20.
Source:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--fbc-top-100-players-countdown.html;…
Also, Nebraska ranked #19 in the preseason countdown.
#5 behind Matt Barkley, The Honey Badger, Robert Woods, and (darkhorse) Geno Smith of WVU. I am probably missing a dominating DL/OL but in terms of skill guys, Denard would likely not be far behind those guys.
Landry Jones?
Barrett Jones.
Jadeveon Clowney.
Sam Montgomery.
Reid (FSU)
Already made the list. Clowney was in the high 60's somewhere.
It's good for UMich that sportswriters haven't been paying close attention to UMich football:
"... looks to be the next great Wolverines lineman ..."
It has been over ten years since UM could claim to be an O-line factory. Times are changing, though, for the better.
Seems like this is a stretch. It is not like they said "...next in the continual line of great Wolverines lineman..."
Could be, but I'm guessing otherwise. With the help of the writers here, we've seen numerous cases over the past few years where sportswriters choose quick and easy over lengthy and thoughtful. Anyway, as I noted, it's more of a good thing than a bad thing for the team.
Last school to produce a lineman that was the first overall pick...Michigan.