Friday Night Lights 2009: 8-26 Comment Count

Tim

The high school football season is officially underway. Only one of Michigan's commits (Cornelius Jones) has played in an official game thus far, but there have been several scrimmages that are at least worthwhile to mention, and lots of season previewin' has been going down. If you run across a game article on any of these guys, make sure you drop it in the comments.

SC QB Cornelius Jones

cjones.jpg 

Season preview fluff.


Last Week: Spartanburg lost to Dorman 20-7. Dorman ran for 295 yards, and Jones had a somewhat rough outing. Video. MGoMember Clarence Beeks was there, and gives a somewhat grim scouting report.


This Week: Spartanburg (0-1) @ Union county on Friday.

Cornelius Jones 2009

Passing
Game Result Comp Att Yds TDs Int % Yds/Att
Dorman 8/21 L 7-20 7 24 42 0 0 29.17 1.75


MI QB Devin Gardner

Pre-season fluff.


This week: Inkster v. Pioneer at Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 8PM. MGoBlog will be there will photo & video.

MI WR Ricardo Miller

Ann Arbor area capsules.


Inkster v. Pioneer at Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 8PM. MGoBlog will be there with photo & video.

OH WR Jerald Robinson

He'll produce this year, despite drawing heavy coverage from opponents.


This week: Dover @ Canton South on Thursday. MGoBlog tentatively plans to be there with photo and video.

OH DT Terry & CB Terrence Talbott

Wayne #3 in preseason power rankings. Dayton-area season hype.


This week: Princeton @ Wayne on Thursday. MGoBlog tentatively plans to be there with photo and video.

TX RB Stephen Hopkins

Hopkins is a player to watch on Marcus's improved squad. They may challenge for the district title. Hopkins will play both RB and LB this fall.


This week: Marcus @ Grapevine on Friday.

MI RB Austin White

White hopes to lead Stevenson to a state title.


This week: Stevenson @ Livonia Franklin on Friday.

OH WR/DB DJ Williamson

Warren G. Harding preseason preview. Williamson will start at WR and play some corner as well.


This week: East Cleveland Shaw @ Harding on Friday.   

LA WR Drew Dileo

Dileo #46 player in the state.


This week: Parkview @ Christian Life Academy on Friday.

MI WR/TE Jeremy Jackson

Ann Arbor area capsules.


This week: Huron v. Chelsea @ Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 5PM.

OH OL Christian Pace

Avon Lake predicted to be conference champions.


This week: Maple Heights @ Avon Lake on Friday.

FL S Marvin Robinson

Preseason 2nd-team all-state. #22 player to watch this year in Florida.


This week: Lake Region @ Mulberry on Friday.

averystatue.jpgOH CB Courtney Avery

Featured on the cover of the Mansfield News-Journal's preseason magazine (seen at left).


This week: Lexington @ Smithville On Friday.

OH LB Antonio Kinard

A regional player to watch:

Antonio Kinard, Youngstown Liberty, RB/LB, Sr., 6-4, 210: Michigan recruit has size and mobility between the tackles. Collected over 80 tackles and six sacks as a junior.

This week: East @ Liberty on Friday.

TX RB Tony Drake

Skyline is pre-season #3 in their district.


The Raiders don't start their season until next week.


PA DE Ken Wilkins

The Hillers don't start their season until next week.

PA DE Jordan Paskorz

The Talbots don't start their season until next week.

Comments

tomhagan

August 27th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^

Im in the minority here but I dont see Cornelius panning out in to a viable QB. He has far to much work to do to develop. Im actually surprised they would take a flyer on a kid who really has not done much of anything at the HS level. Yes he has "potential" but sooner or later he will have to produce.

go ahead and neg me now...

me

August 27th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^

He may or may not pan out but I think he's as close to a perfect 2nd QB as you could get in this class. UM wasn't going to get a Fourth 4* QB in two years so they were going to have to take someone lower rated. They offered him, got him to camp, and worked him out at other positions. He did well enough at those other positions that they took his commitment. If he works out, great, if not he moves positions and doesn't really cost you depth at QB.

tomhagan

August 27th, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^

This kid's stats as a HS QB have been TERRIBLE... both last year and to start this year. He has done nothing.

Call me old-fashioned, but I grew up in Michigan and only top notch HS players got scholarships to Michigan.

People bitch about Dileo, but IMO this kid has done far less at his level and production does have to be taken in to account...especially at the QB position.

so go ahead and neg me again since you disagree but unless he can turn it around and produce, then my opinion wont change much.

me

August 27th, 2009 at 5:32 PM ^

First of all, I didn't neg you the first time (and not negging you now). I don't neg people that I simply disagree with, so get over yourself about your damn points. I responded how I felt.

Second, I understand what you're saying and he hasn't done much. Last year was his first year playing QB so I would expect his stats to be somewhat craptastic.

But like I said, I don't think you can honestly expect to get another top notch QB in this class. You either are going to have to take 1 or take a project. This kid is a project and no one is disputing that. But as Brian said, he's not being asked to come in and compete right away and he he looked good at other positions.

BiaBiakabutuka21

August 27th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^

The only other option that I think we even had a chance at is Munchie Legaux. Sure I would probably have rather had him too for various reasons (one being his name) but I just don't think we had a realistic shot at him after Gardner committed.

Also, I am not sure about Munchie's willingness/ability to switch positions.

I agree with Brian and Me. Jones is the best option for a 2nd QB in this class.

Why don't we just wait and see how the rest of his senior year goes before you write him off?

Clarence Beeks

August 27th, 2009 at 9:19 PM ^

You need to keep something in mind with your assessment: stats aren't everything. If you would have taken the time read the assessment that I gave of Jones from his first game you would have realized immediately that he doesn't play for a good team and plays in the toughest league in South Carolina. His stats for the first game this year aren't indicative of anything other than his team got its ass handed to it by one of the two or three best teams in the state of South Carolina. As for last year, take a moment and realize that it was his first year playing organized football. Let that sink in for a minute. This kid has a ton of talent, and frankly more passing talent than I would have thought before seeing him in person, and after having seen it in person I don't have any doubt as to why Michigan took a chance on this kid.

Brian

August 27th, 2009 at 5:16 PM ^

It's a little early to write him off, and even if you're right Jones has stated he's open to a position switch. With the QBs on the roster now Jones won't be pushed into action for a while, if ever, and assuming a solid recruit in 2011 he can get switched somewhere else.

Clarence Beeks

August 27th, 2009 at 9:22 PM ^

It's way too early to write him off. Like I said in my assessment last Friday, people need to keep in mind the quality of the opponent. The overall athleticism looked very good, as did the size. Bodes well for a position switch down the road if necessary. I'll report again after tomorrow's game and I should be able to get a better assessment at that point (i.e. more points of comparison).

beileinball

August 27th, 2009 at 8:55 PM ^

Live in Grapevine,TX and might be able to attend tomorrow night's game, considering it is 5 minutes away. If I am able to attend, I can provide pictures, and a report on how Stephen does....also I'll make sure to wear a Michigan T-shirt and sit on the Marcus sideline to get some more background on him.....

wiper

August 27th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^

is really, really fast, (he won the 100m at State as a JR) but not really a football player yet.

and don't plan on the coaching staff coaching him up much, they're not really good, knew the right people and drove a state-powerhouse into the ground.

i'll probably catch him several times this year, so i'll be sure to report back.

wiper

August 27th, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^

missed this the first time through, and actually my buddy and i are planning to go see Liberty/East as a) it's 3 minutes from my house, b) our friend is the head coach at East, and c) i've heard some really good things about Kinard.

i kinda remember him from last year, but i was more focused on Fitz and Isiaih Bell last year..

Koyote

August 27th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^

Is this MGoBlog planning on being at various high school games of our recruits going to be a regular occurrence? Or is it just a first game thing until Michigan starts up? Either way, awesome and very much looking forward to seeing the results.

jamiemac

August 27th, 2009 at 8:49 PM ^

Just to clarify something for folks skimming the links. Huber Heights Wayne is not the #3 team state in Ohio. That's an area poll of the Dayton area being linked to.

Wayne is a good team. If the MGoCreeperVan makes it down I-75 to H.H. I'd be interested in hearing their take, not just on our verbal recruits, but just the team in general and QB Braxton Miller. They didnt lose a game he started all of last season.

Clarence Beeks

August 27th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^

Also, FWIW regarding Jones, I disagree with the use of the word "grim" in regard to my write up. I tried to be very clear that my assessment was that he was raw, rather poorly coached, and playing a tough opponent, but has a lot of potential. It might look a little worrisome for a few reasons, but I don't feel like that description conveys the message I was trying to say in that review. I'm not trying to be picky, but rather I'm saying this because I know a lot of people won't actually read the review and will come away from the FNL posting believing that's what my assessment was.

mgovictors23

August 27th, 2009 at 10:18 PM ^

Lets wait to see what he looks like when he gets to Ann Arbor. He isn't playing with any talent this year and also was going up against one of the top teams in their league.