Favorite player that never lived up to expectations
After getting a little excited with the whole Derrick Green hoopla I decided to watch some old hype videos and remembered one of my favorite players that never quite lived up to my expectations…Brandon Minor. I’m sure some will remember some key fumbles. But, I recall being very excited about his bruising style and runs as a freshman backing up Hart(?). And, when his turn finally came I was really excited about the year(s) he was going to have. If memory serves me correct his junior and senior years were plagued by nagging injuries (and Rich Rod), but I still remember some big powerful runs and laying the wood to defenders. It’s a shame there are no highlight videos of him out there because he put his head down and had quite a few nice collisions. Who is your favorite Michigan player that never quite lived up to your expectations?
EDIT: More along of the lines of who you're disappointed with based on what you say in their early days at UM versus based on their recruiting hype.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:10 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
Denard Robinson.
While that may be an unpopular response, the Sky is the limit for most kids. For Dilithium, the limit was unimagineable; Heismans, MNCs, his own cooking show (#eating). Imagine what could have been accomplished with a competent D coordinator in years 1 &2.
Team 133 showed us all a glimpse of what we could expect in 2012; only to have it derailed by a rebelious ulnar nerve.
When I think of all he accomplished, despite those circumstances, and his willingness to support the Team with a smile...
God Bless Denard Robinson
January 27th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
I really liked the last bit you shared and I also agree that he fared better in RR's offense than in Borges'. However, his biggest weakness was his lack of passing skills. He was one of the best in the country with the ball in his hands, but his abilities as a passer and his decision making in reading coverage are what held him back. And, those are just as much of liabilities as a QB as his running skills are dangerous. So, I guess in my mind he did pretty well with his skill base.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
I know it was a while back but he was supposed to be another great #1... never lived up to the number.
Drew Hnson and Matt Guiterrez were also very talented kids that never quite lived up to expectations.
January 27th, 2013 at 4:37 PM ^
Had a really good career at Michigan and was a 3rd round NFL pick. Bo gave him that number as a freshman and he represented it well. Quiet kid who ran like a gazelle and made a lot of big catches in his career. He even threw a 45 yard TD to Chris Calloway against Indiana in 88.
January 27th, 2013 at 7:04 PM ^
Yeah, I wasn't expecting to see McMurtry on this list.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
I am 41 years old. I remember the Bo and Lloyd teams. I have a decent subset of athletes to pull from, and even with over three decades of watching UM football, my biggest disappointment is still Tate Forcier. Watching Tate play crazy-good at home vs Notre Dame convinced me Forcier would be UM's next heisman winner. Ugh.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^
As others have said, Drew Henson was probably the one who fit in this category. Incredibly hyped out of Brighton when he re-wrote several HS football and baseball records. He was actually pretty good at Michigan with a strong arm as a QB, and could scramble. But alas he spread himself too thin trying to make it in baseball, then a very brief stint in the NFL (like one game with Dallas as I recall).
January 27th, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Boubacar Cissoko. Combo of great player and great name.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
Following year loses starting job to Michael Taylor, regains job mid season after Taylor gets hurt and leads Michigan to the Rose Bowl beating Jeff George and the Illini to clinch berth then ohio in Columbus with the Dick Vermeil "oh my god" Kolesar hook up. Beats a Rodney Peete USC squad in the Rose Bowl giving Bo his second and last Rose Bowl win. 0 picks that year.
Dismissed from team before the following season. Kid had a cannon, one of the strongest arms I've seen at Michigan. He was also really fast. Such a shame.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
he was supposed to be the next Woodson, only better. (i think those were Woodson's own words.)
Basketball: Sean Higgins. All the hype, total hassle with the prop 48, left early. The very last guy drafted in his draft.
January 27th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
Yeah, but a single put-back basket (Final Four, Illinois) made it all worthwhile. He gets a pass just for that.
January 27th, 2013 at 1:55 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
David Cone! I miss him and his rapping!
January 27th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:43 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:56 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 2:58 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^
Jim Detwiler was a 6'3" 215 HB in themid-1960s. I recall two major knee injuries that kept him from becoming what might have been the best running back in UofM history.
January 27th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 3:10 PM ^
Justin Feagin. Did he ever actually do any jail time?
We'll always have the Metrodome...
January 27th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
When he committed, he was rated as the number 4 pro-style QB in the country and we hoped that he would be a strong replacement for Matt Gutierrez for at least his senior season. Instead, he dropped football after Henne passed him, played a year of baseball here, got drafted by the White Sox, and wound up going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA against the Tigers while there.
January 27th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
Clayton has actually gone on to become a fairly good Major League pitcher for the Padres, sub 4.00 ERA the past 3 seasons.
January 27th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^
I also have to go with Sam McGuffie. Not for the flip but, he was from Texas and dominated there. So dissapointing. I thought he would have been able to take a hit.
January 27th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 4:39 PM ^
So I think I've gone through the thread and am amazed to see not a single Kelly Baraka reference? He was lightning quick and had all the billings of the next Wheatley in terms of pure speed, and never saw the field once in his year and a half at Michigan.
January 27th, 2013 at 4:53 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
Would be another minus his game against Northwestern in the monsoon game.
January 27th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
William Campbell...
January 27th, 2013 at 6:42 PM ^
January 27th, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^
...how about every RB who has been described by Fred Jackson.
January 28th, 2013 at 12:42 AM ^
January 28th, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^
Campbell. It's amazing what a solid D line guy can do up the middle and he just never showed it. Even through the RR years I have to imagine he would have bolstered our defense. After the dancing and all, that was a painful few years to watch..