Norfleet is now the all-time leader in kickoff returns
With 3 returns yesterday, Dennis Norfleet passes Steve Breaston and is now the career record holder for kickoffs returned at 84.
Here is the top-10 list.
|
Place |
Player |
Stat |
Career |
|
1. |
Dennis Norfleet |
84 |
2012- |
|
2. |
Steve Breaston |
81 |
2002-2006 |
|
3. |
Anthony Carter |
63 |
1979-1982 |
|
4. |
Darryl Stonum |
62 |
2008-2011 |
|
5. |
Martavious Odoms |
54 |
2008-2011 |
|
6. |
Mercury Hayes |
53 |
1992-1995 |
|
7. |
Jamie Morris |
52 |
1984-1987 |
|
8. |
Desmond Howard |
45 |
1988-1991 |
|
9. |
Ron Johnson |
40 |
1966-1968 |
|
10. |
Jeremy LeSueur |
35 |
1999-2003 |
October 5th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
Quantity over quality?
October 5th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^
Norfleets avg yards per return is 23.7. Which is good for 8th all time and only .9 yards less than Breaston's avg. He may not be the homerun threat Breaston was, but he is a quality return man as well.
October 5th, 2014 at 7:03 PM ^
Yeah and no. He's had way more opportunities, but he also had much better blocking in front of him. The number of returns is an indictment of the team in front of him; the yardage is more impressive because he's doing it without much help in front of him.
I think Norfleet will remain one of the criminally underused players in recent Michigan history, but he at least seems to give a crap out there. Nothing wrong with that.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
Even worse its an indictment of our defense. The more points you give up the more kickoff return opportunities you get. So I guess Norfleet is "fortunate" to be in a period of a lot of touchdowns and field goals we have given up. Go team?
October 6th, 2014 at 3:24 AM ^
Bando, if you're referring to Norfleet's KO returns or WD's OP...
October 5th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
that so many opportunities have been arising for him.
at least he looks like he's still trying to have fun out there.
October 6th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he had one against OSU last year that was called back?
October 5th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
No. He's only made it to midfield a handful of times.
October 5th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
He's got decent quickness, but he's not remotely in somebody like Ace Sanders' class when it comes to flat-out speed.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
because I think it just points out how easily we give up TDs these days
October 5th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
He gives it his best but regularly misjudges the situation, fielding punts inside the 5 while letting them bounce at midfield, and trying to reverse field against three defenders.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
Norfleet does not even sniff Breaston's level of play.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
My favorite player on the team. Never a question as far as effort goes; this guy BRINGS IT whenever he's on the field. Lays out blocks, smacks people on special teams. Most importantly, he brings much needed energy to the team that nobody else seems to do. Was at the game last night and he was only guy on the field who seemed like he wanted to be out there. Can't wait for him to get his first TD.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:29 PM ^
On the flipside, I've never seen a guy carry himself with such swagger (to the extent of occasionally taunting opponents), yet never even come close to sniffing the endzone.
At some point, the kid's going to have to spend less energy jumping around and singing along with the RAWK, and start actually putting points on the board. Nay, actually getting a kickoff return past the 40. It's clear there's talent in there somewhere; he just never seems to capitalize on it.
October 5th, 2014 at 6:02 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 6:11 PM ^
Norfleet is not criminally underused.
There is no justification for the insane level of hype he receives on this blog.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
If his name was Dennis Smith I don't think he'd get nearly the hype he does currently. He has a name which implies speed and excitement but yet I haven't seen anything more than Jeremy Gallon without the ability to get open and catch passes.
As bad as we think the coaches are I don't think they would "underutilize" somebody who was truly able to bust one every time he touched the ball or could be a CB in coverage every time he runs his route.
He is an asset to the team but he's never going to be more than he is right now.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
STEVIE B!
Seriously guys - Norfleet couldnt carry Breston's jock when it comes to return yardage.
In fairness to Norfleet though I'm pretty sure Lloyd remembered to put all 11 guys on the field durning his returns. Apparently that nuance of the game has eluded today's staff.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^
Breaston is nothing short of amazing.
He currently leads the return yardage for punts, kickoffs and total returns.
The punt return category is his to keep for years to come. His final return TD was a punt return at IU in 2006. The last game Bo saw.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
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October 5th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^
Breaston was better, plain and simple. He had fantastic feet and could make anyone miss, and also had excellent acceleration. Norfleet is somewhat shifty but not at Breaston's level.
October 5th, 2014 at 6:17 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
Breaston spent most of he last two years at Michigan being kicked away from
October 5th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
And fighting off a bunch of injuries. Kid was as exciting and versatile as any Michigan player in the last ten years.
October 5th, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
It is ALWAYS too soon.
October 5th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
Took the name out of my mouth.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
Interesting that Desmond is down to 8th.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
Everyone knows you can't be a good WR when you're under six feet.
/s
October 5th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^
...the fewer the chances. Plus they typically played only 11 regular season games. Also, had Tripp Welborne and Derrick Alexander during his time there so maybe they may have taken some of those kicks.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
October 5th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
When was the last time we returned a kick? Not blocked punts either
October 5th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
We blocked one against Appalacian State.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^
Last true punt return for a TD was Martavious Odoms in 2008 at Purdue.
Counting blocked punts, Michigan has had four since then (Ricky Reyes vs NU in 2008, Brandon Graham vs Baby Seal in 2009, Joe Reynolds vs CMU in 2013 and Ben Gedeon vs App State in 2014), 2013-2014 was the first time since official stats were kept in 1948 that Michigan returned a punt (blocked or true) for a TD in consecutive season openers.
Last kickoff return for a TD was by Darryl Stonum in 2009 vs ND.
Michigan has had only 2 kickoffs returned for a TD in the 21st century.
Interestingly enough, since 1948, Michigan is 41-5-1 when returning a punt for a TD, but only 5-4 when returning a kickoff for a TD.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
BUT, do you know Michigan's record since 1948 when a player catches the ball with his left hand? /s
October 5th, 2014 at 5:47 PM ^
It's hard to return kickoffs for TDs. Those are rare events. What bothers me more is that we rarely get it beyond our own 35.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
1990 #21 vs MSU
and I think 94 Seth Smith vs Wisc at home both were L's
October 5th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^
Wheatley had one, against Houston IIRC.
October 5th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
All 9 kickoff returns for a TD.
|
Date |
Player |
Yards |
Opponent |
|
10/1/1960 |
Dennis Fitzgerald |
99 |
at Michigan State |
|
10/21/1972 |
Gil Chapman |
73 |
at Illinois |
|
11/4/1989 |
Tony Boles |
85 |
vs Purdue |
|
10/13/1990 |
Desmond Howard |
95 |
vs Michigan State |
|
9/7/1991 |
Desmond Howard |
93 |
at Boston College |
|
9/26/1992 |
Tyrone Wheatley |
99 |
vs Houston |
|
10/29/1994 |
Seth Smith |
100 |
vs Wisconsin |
|
10/8/2005 |
Steve Breaston |
95 |
vs Minnesota |
|
9/12/2009 |
Darryl Stonum |
94 |
vs #18 Notre Dame |
October 5th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
How do you find this shit?
