Darryl Stonum Sets Single Season Return Record
In 12 games this year, Darryl Stonum was the first player in Michigan Football history to surpass 1,000 return yards in one season. So we're talking about a feat never accomplished by Anthony Carter or Steve Breaston or anyone else. By a sophomore. That's exciting, right?
Nice job D-Stone! And here's to 2 more great years!
November 25th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
You should also tip the cap to the defense for creating so many kickoff opportunities.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
I think that would be a wag of the finger
November 25th, 2009 at 12:33 PM ^
I can see you're feeling down today. Cheer up, buddy!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Much like the OP I was thinking this little stat was a silver lining to the cloud that was our season, but as I sat there against OSU last weekend, the fact Bando mentioned hit me like a ton of bricks...maybe he just had a ton more opportunities than the other folks, bummer...
I guess someone could look to try to find the actual stats and determine whether Stonum's were artificially inflated...
Aug
edit: I see RDL pretty much knocked this down...good post...
November 25th, 2009 at 5:23 PM ^
I have never felt quite so guilty laughing out loud in my entire life. It would be interesting to see the per return statistics to shake this comparison out a little better. I suspect you may be right.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
Do you know if he leads in average yards per return, though (with some minimum number, obvs)? The first thing people will say is HURR HURR we got scored on a lot.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:36 PM ^
Among players who have returned at least 15 kickoffs in a season, Stonum has the sixth-highest average in school history.
1. Desmond Howard, 1990 - 29.6
2. Anthony Carter, 1980 - 28.5
3. Steve Breaston, 2005 - 28.1
4. Desmond Howard, 1991 - 27.5
5. Anthony Carter, 1981 - 27.1
6. Darryl Stonum, 2009 - 25.7
7. Steve Breaston, 2004 - 24.8
8. Seth Smith, 1994 - 24.8
9. Boubacar Cissoko, 2008 - 23.4
10. Martavious Odoms, 2008 - 23.1
If you limit it to players who recorded 20 or more returns, Stonum is second, behind only Breaston in 2005. Obviously, the more you return, the less any one great return is weighted in the average, so for Stonum to keep up an average of over 25 yards per return over 39 returns is very impressive. In terms of total KO return yardage, Stonum absolutely shattered the record:
1. Darryl Stonum, 2009 - 1,001 yards
2. Steve Breaston, 2004 - 689 yards
3. Steve Breaston, 2005 - 646 yards
4. Jeremy LeSueur, 2002 - 583 yards
5. Desmond Howard, 1990 - 504 yards
November 25th, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
We have a pretty good special teams coach in terms of setting up returns. 3 of the top10 average kick-returners have come in the past 2 years.
Now, if we could just get the coach to resolve our fumbling issues...
November 25th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
Wow, that is big. Even though to be fair, he played in more games this season than AC would have played in.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
Indeed, that kickoff return vs. ND was one of the season highlights, for sure...
He did it in less opportunities, too, the U-M record for kick returns in a season is Steve Breaston with 54, Stonum had only 39!
November 25th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
Stonum's 39 returns was the most ever by a Michigan player by far. The most Breaston had in a year was 28 attempts (689 yards) in 2004. That was the Michigan record before this year. Breaston had 1002 combined punt and kick returns in 2005, which is one more yard than Stonum (1001 KO, 0 PR). Breaston did have 54 total returns in 2003, but 45 were punt returns and only 9 were kick returns.
The record for highest KR average with a minimum of 1 KR per game is Dave Raimey with 30.8 in 1961, Desmond Howard is 2nd with 29.6 in 1990. Anthony Carter is 3rd (1980) and Breaston is 4th (2005)
Carter is first in career average for those players with more than 20 returns with an average of 26.9. Stonum is 2nd on that list currently (but could move up or down) with a 25.6 average. Breaston's career average was 24.6.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:06 PM ^
Ok, good call, thanks for the correction...the record book just said "returns" and I didn't put 2 and 2 together...
November 25th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
Stonum definitely has a knack for finding the seam on the kick return and is deceptively fast. I'm hoping to see him have more success in the vertical passing game next season. Need a solid deep threat to emerge.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
That is amazing. He had a really great season. It's nice to know that we have a fairly dependable return guy after the last two years gave us very little to nothing in returns.
Now, I don't know about you guys, but I was getting REALLY SICK AND TIRED of reading the Daily RIP our special teams apart. In their 'Quick Breakdown' on Sports Monday, they would always say that Stonum was very ineffective after the Notre Dame game. Granted, he lost a BIT of production, but he was still consistently getting us decent field production. Also, after the OSU game, they gave us one Zoltan (their measurment for performance on special teams) and it said, "Poor Jason Olesnavage. The 5th yr senior was 1 for 4 on fgs 26 yards or less, and 10 of 11 from 27 or farther." They also said that if he would have made the field goal, it would have been a different game, but, come on. That constitutes a single Zoltan? It seemed like the Daily was always rooting against our team.
Sorry. End rant.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:19 PM ^
olesnavage stat. the kid had a leg from afar, but was very garret rivas 2004 from up close
November 25th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
I had no idea. This is huge... Stonum and DiLeo returning, and holding on to, kickoffs next year should be great!
November 25th, 2009 at 12:49 PM ^
Stonum was great on kick returns all year. Also, his receiving touchdown against State was one of my favorite moments of the season, weaving through defenders and stiff-arming some db. It's fun to watch him with the ball in his hands.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:55 PM ^
Until Roundtree emerged I was kind of hoping that he would be moved to the slot. Kid seems like he could destroy people on those bubble screens, but he just needs to learn how to catch the damn ball, and he will become a huge threat in the passing game as well.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:07 PM ^
We had a lot of good field position after kickoffs on Stonum returns. The touchdown was obviously great, but we were pretty regularly somewhere between the 35 and midfield. He's a weapon back there.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^
the D did allow stonum to get a lot more returns than the average michigan returner would usually get, it's still very obvious that darryl is a great returner. darryl was probably the best (pleasant) surprise of the season
November 25th, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^
Don't forget that they moved the kickoffs back to the 30 from the 35 a couple of years ago. That also helps, mainly in reducing touchbacks.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
Actually, this is also the record for most Kickoff Returns in a season. Breaston never had 54 kickoff returns in a year (in 2003, he had 9 kickoff returns and 45 punt returns, maybe that's where you are getting the 54, QuarterbackU).
November 25th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
Stonum has definitely found a calling in the kick return thing.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:00 PM ^
He's one of those players that makes me think how bright the future could be. I have watched his KO-return-for-TD vs. ND at least a 100 times. Never, ever get tired of that stuff.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
I agree with you a2blue, it's fun watching D Stonum on returns. I hope our punt return game can find a similar nitch.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:25 PM ^
stonum's a solid return man, but this is nothing more than the result of having one of the worst defenses in uofm history and getting kicked off to a lot.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:52 PM ^
and you figure out a way to piss on it. Nice work.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:08 PM ^
The only neg is that he set the total return yards record in like 9 games. While it took Breaston 12. But still great job Stonum.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:56 PM ^
Good for him. I love watching the ND clip just to hear the crowd's crescendo as he breaks away