Richard75

September 18th, 2012 at 1:59 AM ^

Michigan's track record book says Wheatley ran the 100 in 10.46. Robinson did a 10.44 in high school. Robinson ran a 6.81 60m at least once, according to U-M's site; Wheatley's best time was 6.80, although that was converted from 55m. So they're basically equal, which shows what a ridiculous athlete Wheatley was. The guy was 25 pounds bigger.

Joined: 09/23/2008

MGoPoints: 5291

Rhino77

September 18th, 2012 at 8:15 AM ^

Wheatley was fast, but he lost a little speed as he bulked up over his career. His freshman year he was a track guy playing football. As he transitioned to a RB body he lost that "elite" speed they talk about. He didn't have it in the NFL. Denard's position hasn't required that change, and I would say just from the eye test his speed is unchanged.

Joined: 05/27/2011

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M-Wolverine

September 18th, 2012 at 7:18 PM ^

Even though the GM did because the coach preferred big bowling ball backs. It wasn't till his leg healed and he got te hell out of New York to the Raiders that he started putting up some good numbers. And by then his self life as a RB was on the downside.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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The Bugle

September 18th, 2012 at 2:55 AM ^

I don't know if I'm the only one who has the two forever linked -- but a running tandem like Biakabutuka and Wheatley was a sight to behold and I hope we can come close to approximating it sometime in the future.  For my money -- those two are some of the greatest M backs of all time.  Combined they ran for almost 2000 yards in 1994 at 6.2 and 5.4 YPA respectively.  Could you imagine how lethal a running attack of Tim, Tyrone and Denard would be?

I know my young impressionable mind put those two high on Mt. Olympus, but that was a spectacular backfield, even when compared with other M greats. 

Joined: 10/22/2009

MGoPoints: 129

LSAClassOf2000

September 18th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^

I will say that it has been an honor to watch both of them during their careers at Michigan, and in reality, Denard doesn't have a whole lot of ground to cover to more or less match Wheatley's careers statistics for rushing. Both of them, as others have mentioned, have been potentially lethal with the ball in their hands (Denard perhaps a bit more so by virtue of being a QB as well) and a threat for six virtually every time.

As for statistics and what it would take for Denard to match arguably the best RB Michigan has had in the last 25 years - Wheatley had 688 carries for 4,178 yards and 47 TDs. Right now, Denard stands at 586 carries for 3,580 yards and 39 rushing TDs. 102 more carries for 598 more yards (average of 5.8 yards, which is less than his career average to date) and 8 more rushing TDs and he matches them exactly actually.

Joined: 01/07/2011

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Champeen

September 18th, 2012 at 9:28 AM ^

Many here probably were too young to know the Wheatley story.  He may have been the all-time biggest recruit Michigan has ever landed.  He was sooooo in-demand from every school in the nation - it bordered on the level of Marcus Dupree.  He was just that good in high school and as a freshmen.

Joined: 04/07/2011

MGoPoints: 14961

mjv

September 18th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^

Wheatley was exactly like Bo Jackson.  Fast, powerful, home run threat with a mean streak that loved trucking over DBs.  He probably cut a meaningful number of yards from his total because he would occassionally punish a DB that he probably could have juked.  

I think the Minny coach, Jim Wacker, after the 1992 game (a 63-13 beatdown) described Wheatley as Superman with a #6 on his cape.  (I couldn't find a game summary online).  

The best way to describe him is to compare the thoughts that we have every time Denard gets into the open field and you EXPECT him to score.  When Wheatley got the corner or made it to the second level between the tackles, you assumed 6 points was going on the board. 

Denard is fantastic, and so was Woodson, but I honestly think Wheatley was the best Michigan football player (I'm not considering OL and DL) I have seen in the 40 years I have followed and 21 years I've had season tickets for M football.

Regarding his speed, Wheatly probably had the same or better top-end elite speed Denard has, but Denard is far more elusive and has a quicker first 10 yards. 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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