Favorite player that never lived up to expectations

Submitted by MGoStrength on

 

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.

MaizeMN

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 

MGoStrength

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. 

grmilton

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. 

DemetriusBrown

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.  

greymarch

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.

maizenblue87

January 27th, 2013 at 1:30 PM ^

A favorite player implies living up to the expectations. /s



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).

DemetriusBrown

January 27th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^

After awful first year as a starter with a 7 pick game at MSU leads team to Hall of Fame win with Gary Moeller subbing for Bo with a last second 4th down toss to Kolesar to beat Alabama.

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.

gustave ferbert

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.  

Gitback

January 27th, 2013 at 2:56 PM ^

Guy was an absolute man/child specimen coming out of high school. His wingspan... My God... He would be sitting down with his hands on his knees and then stand up, and his hands were still on his knees. He was a prototype pass rusher who just couldn't put the mental aspects together. Kerwin Waldrop was another.

MinWhisky

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.

Gitback

January 27th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^

Also would have been a dominant OLB in the mid-90's but a shoulder injury kept Jim out. He had all the tools. His injury and Scott Driesbach's are two that I wish I could just erase. Two great guys with great potential.

Seth9

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.

Hokeforprez

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.

M-Wolverine

January 27th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^

LaVell Blanchard. Good player, better guy, but his recruiting rankings had him as one of the top players in the nation, more a destined for the NBA soon guy who would carry your team rather than a four year leading producer on bad basketball teams. He was really good, but his rankings made you think he'd be all world.

WingsNWolverines

January 27th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^

this isn't a favorite player of mine and to be honest I never really liked the guy but Eric Lindross has to be one of the biggest disappointments in NHL history. He was said to be the next Lemieux but sadly concussions kept him out injured sometimes a majority of the season. His career was over after he was signed by New York. Definitely is on this list.

WMUgoblue

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. 

WolverineFanatic6

January 27th, 2013 at 6:42 PM ^

I was really thinking Terrance Robinson was going to be better or as good as Darius Reynaud. After watching his dream shake highlight on YouTube I became convinced he was going to be a dominant force in the spread game.

backtoblu

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..