Kenny Demens is a Wolverine!

Kenny Demens verballed to Michigan at 1:00 p.m. this past Saturday. He is a WILL linebacker. Demens is a little taller and faster than current starting WILL Chris Graham. Hopefully Kenny’s football skills and football speed are significantly further ahead of Graham as well. Demens is rated as a 4-star recruit and top 250 player. Current red-shirt freshman Jonas Mouton out of California (a former 4-star and top 100 recruit) will likely have a leg up on Demens for the WILL position next year. Mouton would be seriously pressing Graham for the job this year if not for injuries. Marcus Witherspoon (NJ) is another 4-star top 250 recruit at the WILL that is part of this year’s class. So we are obviously deep at the WILL now going forward. The SAM of the future is current red-shirt freshman Obi Ezeh. The MIKE of the future is J.B. Fitzgerald, a 4-star and borderline top 100 player from this 2008 class. Last years’ two 3-star linebacker recruits (both currently red-shirting) will provide depth at the SAM and MIKE in upcoming years. Also, look for Michigan to add another 4-star recruit at the Mike and SAM positions in next year's class (Zack Boren for one). Of course for next season there will still be senior MIKES John Thompson (the starter) and Austin Panter (so far…nothing) and senior WILL Brandon Logan (see special teams).

Demens originally was thought to be just another WILL recruit that we didn’t need. However, after this season you couldn’t get Michigan to turn down any athletic linebacker. Demens chose UM over Nebraska and Michigan State. He is from Detroit Country Day and was heavily pressured by Jonas Gray (and every other significant Nebraska recruit) to go to Nebraska. Plus Fred Smith was in his ear about MSU. In the end however, Demens grew up a UM fan and he had family go there and his family (especially mom) wanted him to go to UM. So UM it is and we are glad to have him.