SIAP: Potential moves to CB?

No. 1 possibility based on pure sense is Jerald Robinson. He was a great high school defensive back. However, he is going to be an even better receiver, and I haven't heard of Magee being willing to let him go. I was half-expecting to see him as our free safety in Spring (he was an early enrollee) but alas instead he was passing up his classmates Miller, Williamson and Jackson, and pushing the starters at wideout. This is what Brian had to say on his defensive (safety) possibility in his 2010 Recruiting post:

About that safety possibility: due to Robinson's widely quoted 4.59 40 (not even a little fake), the seven interceptions he had as a junior, his large frame, and the composition of Michigan's recruiting class people keep bringing it up. Lemming's breathlessness above continues by calling him a "potential All-American" at safety, and the opposing coach he victimized for three interceptions in a state playoff game reacted predictably in the aftermath:

"We throw the ball around pretty well, and I trust my quarterback completely, but in that first half, every time we threw to Robinson's side of the field we got burned," Ifft said. "At the half, I grabbed my quarterback and said, 'I know you've got pride on the line and so do I but we have to avoid this kid. You find No. 4 every time you drop back and you throw somewhere else.'

But he wants to play offense and when he showed at Michigan's camp most observers thought he was the most impressive kid($) around because of the hands and the leaping and you know by now. Afterwards, Michigan receivers coach Tony Dews told him he was playing offense($) "for sure." He's been on campus since January and has gotten more buzz than the other freshmen; with Michigan's two-deep at outside receiver guaranteed to have either a freshman or a slot playing slightly out of position Robinson's no farther from the field on offense than he is on defense. He's likely on offense to stay.

That is, of course, before a vicious and uncaring god decided that Woolfolk, Floyd and a freshman free safety (not to mention RR's job and the possibility that a 5-7 season could lead to going through all of this again) weren't enough concern, and offed the most important guy on the team.

Remember that Courtney Avery (a redshirt in any other year) and Terrence Talbott join the corps this year. I would guess they are your two-deep now, along with Teric Jones, who is practicing as a corner again now, and James Rogers, who is the Coner of the defense. Free safety Ray Vinopal may join them for depth, since he is behind Cam Gordon, Marvin Robinson, Vlad Emilien (still recovering) and Carvin Johnson.

I kinda wish Adrian Witty made it to campus now. Or that Feagin (who was slated to move to DB when "real" QBs arrived on campus) had not made stupid decisions that might fly with MSU but not at Michigan. Or that Dorsey was a Straight A student and volunteered at the local shelter every weekend. Or that Cissoko didn't flame out the second he was off his grandma's purse strings. Or that Justin Turner had Charles Woodson's work ethic. Or that Donovan Warren returned for his senior season. Or that Troy Woolfolk didn't get hurt.

If wishes were horses, the Kentucky Derby would move to Ann Arbor's defensive backfield.

With his bad hands and playing time in short supply at slot, Terrence Robinson (who is Cissoko size) might be an option, but he is more slot-buggy than defensive back-y -- he would need a year to learn the position anyway. The chances are really reallly slim but if anyone would ask RR to try him at CB, I think it's him, since he's buried at the one position of real depth, and is from all accounts an extraordinarily team-first kind of guy.

Wide receiver has guys more likely to be good Big Ten CBs, but that's not a position with a ton of depth, and that depth is stiff. I see Stonum, Stokes and Hemingway staying put, with the freshmen behind them.