List of Freshmen Walk-Ons

Submitted by Germany Shultz on

List of Walk-On Freshmen, from mgoblue.com:

 

Andrew Offerdahl, #31, S, 5-11, 199, Fort Lauderdale, FL Prep ... attended Cardinal Gibbons High School (2012) coached by Mike Morrill ... three-year letterman in football ... national honor society ... Other Sports ... also participated in soccer, swimming and track and field. (Son of five-time Miami Dolphin Pro-Bowler, John Offerdahl)

Bo Dever, #3, WR, 6-2, 193, Lake Forest, Ill. Prep ... attended Lake Forest High School (2012) coached by Chuck Spagnoli ... three-year letterman in football ... earned first-team all-conference recognition at wide receiver as a senior ... Other Sports ... also participated in baseball. (TTB interview)

Chris Maye, #46, DB, 5-11, 182, Union City, MI Prep ... attended Union City High School (2012) coached by Eric Tundevold ... four-year letterman in football ... Honors and Rankings ... received all-state recognition junior and senior seasons ... Other Sports ... four-year letterman in track and field. (Board fluff) (He's fast)

Brian Cleary, #6, QB, 6-3, 204, Detroit, MI Prep ... attended Detroit Jesuit High School (2012) coached by Jeff Putnam ... national honor society ... four-year varsity letterman in football ... Honors and Rankings ... earned first-team All-Catholic League honors as a quarterback during junior and senior seasons ... added second-team all-city accolades as a senior.

Kenneth Allen, #91, K/P, 6-3, 205, Fenton, MI Prep ... attended Fenton High School (2012) coached by Jeff Setzke ... two-year varsity letterman in football ... Honors and Rankings ... first-team all-district punter senior year ... Other Sports ... also participated in basketball and soccer. (Held offer from Oregon State)

Dan Gibbs, #79, OL, 6-7, 311, Birmingham, MI Prep ... attended Seaholm High School (2012) coached by Jim DeWald ... three-year varsity letterman in football ... Honors and Rankings ... earned first-team all-state honors at offensive tackle senior year ... received first-team all-conference recognition sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... Other Sports ... also participated in track and field and wrestling. (Scout: 3 stars, #97 OT)

Ben Pliska, #63, OL, 6-3, 269, Kirkland, WA Prep ... attended Lake Washington High School (2012) coached by Stephen Supple ... three-year varsity letterman in football ... national honor society ... Honors and Rankings ... earned all-conference recognition junior and senior seasons ... Other Sports ... four-year letterman in lacrosse. (Video highlights from hudl.com)

Ryan Glasgow, #96, DL, 6-4, 294, Aurora, Ill Prep ... attended Marmion Academy (2012) coached by Dan Thorpe ... national honor society ... two-year varsity letterman in football ... Honors and Rankings ... recognized as Suburban Christian Conference Defensive Player of the Year senior year ... Other Sports ... two-year varsity letterman in basketball. (Brother of Redshirt Freshman OL Graham Glasgow. One or both of the brothers had preferred walk-on offers from Ohio (yes, that Ohio))

Mark Lawson, #59, LB, 6-2, 213, Ada, MI Prep ... attended Forest Hills Eastern High School (2012) coached by Tim Gibson ... three-year letterman in football ... earned all-state and all-conference accolades as a senior (2011) ... national honor society ... Other Sports ... also lettered in lacrosse and wrestling. (Ann Arbor.com article)

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

CRex

August 6th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^

Bo Dever: NR WR, Scout

Chris Maye, Board Fluff

Dan Gibbs: 3 Stars, #97 OT, Scout.  MAC Offers

Brian Cleary: 2* QB, #159 Scout.  No word on his musical talents.

Kennet Allen: NR Punter, held offer from Oregon State

Ryan Glasgow: 2* NR DE, Scout

Not listed means I couldn't find anything on them via a quick Google check of Scout and Rivals.  By quick I mean about 5 minutes worth.  

mzdmv

August 6th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^

About Kenny Allen,

 

Why would he want to come here as a walk-on when he had an offer from a Pac 12 school (Bad school, but still BCS)?

Especially since we had just taken a K/P in Matt Wile the previous class and Hagerup was only a year older...

 

No "this is Michigan fergodsakes" or any of that crap, does anybody have a serious idea or know why?

OverDey

August 6th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^

maybe it is because there is a lot of similarity between oregon state and msu, both primarily agricultural schools, campuses are similar, a bit over shadowed academically, prestige and sports-wise and only about 50-60 miles apart between the two major universities. just sayin..

thisisme08

August 6th, 2012 at 12:08 PM ^

Could also depend on what type of "offer" it was.  Was it commitable? Did OSU (NTOSU) take another punter before him? Was it a 1 year offer, not multi?

He may have just said man I am better off attending Michigan for the academics as I like football but dont need to play it. 

WolvinLA2

August 6th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^

Look at it from an academic standpoint (since there isn't a big difference in how walk on and scholarship punters are treated). Let's say you are a high school senior and you have a full ride to attend a pretty crappy school, and an acceptance letter from an elite school, in state tuition. Both schools are going to let you fight for the punting job, if you're good enough.

Honestly, a lot of us who went to Michigan had that choice - go to Michigan at full price, or a far lesser school on scholarship, and we chose Michigan. It's not a no-brainer, but it's probably the more common choice, unless your family simply can't afford it. Throw in the fact that Michigan is close to home and Oregon State is 2500 miles away and it doesn't sound all that crazy to me.

CRex

August 6th, 2012 at 12:52 PM ^

If you have minimal odds of ever making the pros, go to the school that offers the best future for your post football career.  4 years of instate at Michigan and higher career earnings potential is better than 4 years free at some other school and less career potential.  I assume he liked our program in his chosen major the best.  Or his parents are sitting on a nice stash of money and didn't care.  

 

allenfamilyfive

August 6th, 2012 at 1:14 PM ^

Its the Michigan difference. Although he was greatful for the full ride offer, he wanted to attend Michigan for academics and tradition. Competition is welcomed and Kenny has lots of confidence. Also his mother attended and graduated from Michigan. Tuition is always a concern but  not as much as and how his future will be shaped by Michigan.

BiSB

August 6th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^

I think we often ignore the actual kitchen table discussions that take place with recruits everywhere.

Glad to have Kenny on board. We look forward to his nomination for the Jareth Glanda Ridiculous Special Teams Play of the Year Award in the near future.

cltjr

August 6th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^

I haven't been this excited about a freshman walk-on since Mike Kaselitz.

Seriously though, despite the fact that he probably will never see any meaningful action, i've heard good things about him - smart, good size, good all-around kid..  Great to have him aboard - hopefully he can at least lead the scout team and help prepare the defense each week..

raleighwood

August 6th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^

I'm assuming that Andrew Offerdahl is the son of John Offerdahl who played linebacker at WMU back in the mid 1980's (when I was there).  He was quite a player, possibly the best Bronco football player of all time....and a five time Pro-Bowler in the NFL.

Hoke and Mattison were both coaching at WMU back in those days so there's a connection.  It's great to see how these players and coaches are still connected so many years down the road.

 

JeepinBen

August 6th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^

Not trying to kid here, as these guys will make an impact. As Wellman said about the walk on seniors in the Countdown to Kickoff videos, they may not bring it on the field Saturdays, but they bring it on the sidelines and the other 353 days of the year.

Besides the big fat tuition/room and board/etc check, is being a walk on any different from being on scholarship? Do they still get to go to training table? Get all the michigan clothing? Get to use the Athletic Academic Center? Obviously they got to go on the leadership retreat, I guess, besides the money, is there a difference?

readyourguard

August 6th, 2012 at 1:34 PM ^

Training table during camp but not during the school year.

If they travel, they do everything with the rest of the team

Bowl gifts and per diem are the same.

Study table is also open to everyone.

They get all the gear and swag as the others, although sometimes Big Jonny Falk busts your balls when you ask for a new pair of shoes. He'll tell you to GTFO just to see your reaction.. He wants to see how far he can push your buttons before you crack.



LSAClassOf2000

August 6th, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^

Having Chris Maye potentially in the defensive backfield could be intriguing from a coverage standpoint - some of his track stats from the 2012 outdoor season, as evidence (Link).

Also, as I recall, his 60m time is within earshot of Denard's (.2 seconds or thereabouts), so he's an excellent athlete that could get to a receiver, or indeed, the ball incredibly quickly. If he can find his way to the field as a safety or a corner, even in spot duty, he could possibly make an impact.

 

RowoneEndzone

August 6th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

Two of them are 4 year letterman in football.  It's quite and accomplishment to be brought up as a sophmore in HS, but wow, as a freshman.  Kids must be beasts.  Best of luck to them!  So who is the next Kovaks?

Yo_Blue

August 6th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

There is also the tailback from CC's state champion a few years back, Anthony Capatina.  The FB from that team (Niko Palazeti) is playing for Sparty. Oddly enough, Capatina is listed as a kicker although I don't think he kicked in HS.

Blazefire

August 6th, 2012 at 2:43 PM ^

After a couple of loaded O-Line classes, we'll miss out on at least one or two recruits eventually. We'll have an opening somewhere on the O-Line and Gibbs will step up. The kid has all the size you could want. a year or two working with the coaches and he'll earn a schollie.

CRex

August 6th, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^

I think he might end up as the surprise true freshman contributor.  Has the height and the weight to slot in now.  If we suffer some attrition and need to run a true freshman out for a play or two, he seems like the guy to send.  To look at it purely from a utility point of view, you want to burn the redshirt of a top recruit al la Gardner or burn the walkon's?  For Gibbs it gives him a chance to prove he should be upgraded to scholarship player and saves redshirts of the prime targets.  

No offense if you're reading this Gibbs. Please don't find me and kill me.