Sections

Carr's first recruiting class highlighted by speedy Texans

By John Leroi
Daily Sports Editor

Not many recruiting trips include an eight-hour plane ride to the western Pacific. But included in Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's itinerary was a long trip to the tropics.

Carr didn't get the Hawaiian he recruited there, but he and his coaching staff did manage to land one of the nation's best recruiting classes.

Yesterday, Carr accepted 19 national letters of intent from high school seniors to play football at Michigan next year. Carr's first recruiting class as the Wolverines' head coach was ranked the seventh-best in the country by recruiting guru Bob Lemming of Prep Football Report.

"All of the recruiting publications and the interest in recruiting is great because it creates an interest in college football," Carr said. "But the truth of the matter is, when you look back, those classes that were ranked very high did not necessarily correlate to the same finish in the national polls.

"But I'm very pleased with the guys we got. The name `Michigan' goes a long way."

This year, it went all the way to Texas, where Carr and assistant coach Greg Mattison found more than a fourth of this year's incoming class. Two of the players that Carr was most excited about were both Texans -- defensive backs Tom Hendricks and wide receiver Aaron Wright.

The 6-2, 205-pound Hendricks, a first-team All-American, was rated the No. 3 defensive back prospect in the country by Lemming. Hendricks' father, Tom, suited up for the Wolverines in 1954-55.

Wright caught 42 passes for 1,125 yards as a senior, including four for 87 yards in the Class 5A state championship game.

Both players fill large holes in Michigan's lineup.

Carr lost both starting wide receivers, Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes, to graduation. Both Wright and junior college transfer Russell Shaw -- the Wolverines' first junior college recruit in 10 years -- should compete for a starting position.

Likewise, Hendricks should make an immediate impact in Michigan's defensive backfield.

"We did meet some of our needs, and I think there will be some situations where those guys coming are going to compete for playing time just like last fall," Carr said.

Carr indicated that his first year in charge was a new but enjoyable experience. He hasn't spent a night at home for the last month, and he even resorted to changing clothes in airplane restrooms on the way to visit recruits.

"It's a different experience for me as a head coach," Carr said. "I've done this before, but this year I actually had the chance to be in all of these kids' homes."

Carr also boasted of the five Michigan natives in this year's class. The most noteworthy is Jenison tackle Dave Brandt, a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder ranked fourth among defensive line prospects in the Midwest.

Carr also picked up South Lyon punter Cory Sargent, who could push Nate DeLong and Paul Peristeris for kicking duties.

Another prize recruit is 6-foot-6, 220-pound quarterback Jason Kapsner. Kapsner, Lemming's seventh-ranked signal caller in the country, is a drop-back passer in the mold of Todd Collins and Elvis Grbac.

But, Carr pointed out that Kapsner, the highest-rated quarterback prospect Michigan has signed in recent memory, is taller and quicker than either of his predecessors.

"I think six of our signees were in our summer camp," Carr said. "Jason Kapsner was one of those. We had an opportunity to watch him throw every day and we're certainly very excited to have him. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't have an outstanding career here."

The Detroit News also reported that Detroit Cooley running back Dion Grubbs made an oral commitment to Michigan. But, Carr had not received a letter of intent from Grubbs as of 4 p.m. yesterday. According to NCAA rules, a school can release only the names of players whose signed letters of intent have been received.

Carr is also trying to fill another hole -- this one in his coaching staff. Quarterbacks coach Kip Cartwright took the same job at Indiana.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.