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MGoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football program signed 23 individuals to binding National Letters of Intent on Wednesday (Feb. 6) during the first day of the signing period. First-year head coach Rich Rodriguez announced the first 21 signees during a press conference held in the Junge Family Champions Center at 3 p.m. EST, and two individuals -- running back Sam McGuffie and linebacker Kenny Demens -- signed later in the day.

The Wolverines' recruiting class consists of players from eight different states, including seven from the state of Ohio, five student-athletes from Michigan and three each from New Jersey and Texas. U-M gained at least one player at every single position group.

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U-M RECRUITING: Rich Rodriguez meets with press, discusses QBs, the class and speed

February 7, 2008

BY SHAWN WINDSOR

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Almost a year ago to the day, Lloyd Carr announced the signing of one of the top-rated high school quarterbacks in the country, a player that Michigan would build around for several years. That player, Ryan Mallett, is no longer in Ann Arbor.

Because of that, U-M's biggest question for this year's national signing day was: Who would fill Mallett's shoes?

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U-M SIGNING DAY INFO: National and Big Ten rankings; Lloyd Carr speaks

Retired U-M coach Lloyd Carr spoke on CSTV on Wednesday:

On recruiting: "I will never, ever lose my interest in the recruiting process because I know how hard it is and I know the pressure it places on particularly the players signing today. .... There's going to be a lot of guys that aren't going to be mentioned much today but are going to become great players."

About Rich Rodriguez's recruiting: "We are extremely excited that Rich is at Michigan. ... He got a staff in here before the first of the year and was able to hit the road running in January and of course he's a very gregarious guy, a guy that has great passion for the game and I know that he is a tremendous recruiter as well as being a tremendous coach."

Was he disappointed that Ryan Mallett transferred? "We were all disappointed because what he had done in the year the he was here, he made great progress. ... He felt like the system was not something he could thrive in."

U-M RECRUITING: Class highlights

Biggest catch: Darryl Stonum, WR, Dulles High, Stafford, Texas, 6-feet-3, 185 pounds. Stonum has good size and is fast, the kind of receiver U-M has been feeding the NFL over the last 15 years. Rich Rodriguez called him an impact player. He is currently enrolled at U-M and played in the Under Armour All-American game.

Sleepers: A few of the offensive lineman, including Ricky Barnum, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound guard/center from Lakeland, Fla., and Patrick Omameh, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound tackle from Columbus, Ohio, whom Rodriguez said can really run. U-M came onto Omameh late, as did other schools. Overall, the coach said this group of six offensive linemen had a chance to be special.

Could play in 2007: Running back/athlete Michael Shaw will compete for time in the backfield and possibly in the slot, defensive back Brandon Smith will have a chance at safety, cornerback J.T. Floyd has a chance to make an immediate impact and Stonum will get a chance at receiver.

U-M RECRUITING: Rich Rodriguez's press conference highlights

U-M RECRUITING: Bios of all the Michigan signees