8 -- Friday, November 15, 2013 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com - I Jabrill Peppers: The next Woodson? w By JASON RUBINSTEIN Daily Sports Writer Dozens of reporters crowded a glorified media closet that, on the afternoon of May 27, 2013, served as an ESPNU studio to broadcast the college decision of a 6-foot, 205-pound athlete who can score from virtually any position - Jabrill Peppers. Once the cameras started roll- ing, Peppers dove right into a rap: "I couldsee it now The fans scream and yellin' As I'm walking out that tunnel Wearing a winged helmet Go blue, baby. I'm going to Michigan." Seconds later, ESPN's No. 2 high-school player in the country, an Under Armour All-America Game invitee, put on the winged helmet. Beaming with happi- ness, he sealed his commitment to Michigan, The Wolverines hadn't seen a commit with his potential two- way abilities since they signed Charles Woodson over a decade ago, The ex-Don Bosco Prepara- tory (N.J.) and current Paramus Catholic (N.J.) star had become Michigan's highest-ranked com- mit ever, and any doubts about coach Brady Hoke as a recruiter were squashed. The Woodson comparisons immediately ensued.Yes, Charles Woodson, the Michigan legend and surefire NFL Hall of Famer. Comparing a high-school senior to arguably the best Michigan defender ever seems a bit unfair, but the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner loves it. "I don't think he should dampen the expectations, but he should embrace the expecta- tions," Woodson said in an phone interview with the Daily last week. "From everything I have read about Jabrill, he is a very confident player, and you bring that confidence to the next level. It's good to have expectations, his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball, it is inevitable for Wolverine fans to draw compari- sons to Woodson. Peppers will have his fair share of mistakes early on, and teams will certainly throw his way. But when this happens, Peppers will still think he's better than his opponent and shrug off his mis- take. "My mindset is that Ihave been playing this game my whole life," Peppers said. "I know what I got to do, my coaches explain to me the game plan, so if I am making a mistake, it's on me, and I don't want to chalk it up as a freshman mistake." Michigan defensive coordina- tor Greg Mattison recruited Pep- pers as a cornerback, but it willbe hard to keep the offensive mon- ster off the field - something ex- Michigan coach Lloyd Carr had a hard time doing with Woodson, "My main focus was defense," Woodson said. "But Lloyd Carr always let me know that if my defense ever slacked off, even a little bit, then he would take me off of offense. That always made me work that much harder and make sure that whatever was asked of me on defense that I got it done." Carr's tactics worked wonders for Woodson. At the end of the 1997 season, Woodson became the first defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Will Peppers have a similar role? He certainly wants to. But like Woodson said, players can't get ahead of themselves. SY OF TIM MACDONALD Many Wolverine fans want t roster. Peppers to be an all-purpose player, but before he can do that, *** he needs to find a primary role. "I love (playing both ways)," verwhelming suc- Peppers said. "I love being able to needed a change have as many big-impact plays on ball-before-every- the game as I possibly can. I defi- The football sys- nitely would love doing that, but sco was too much first I want make sure that I'm mpting Peppers to fully committed and understand other New Jersey the defense and what coach Mat- 'aramus Catholic, tison is trying to do before they cademics over ath- start moving me around to the e that should suit offensive side of the ball. higan. "I'm all for it and want to do it ely enjoying my and try to make as many plays as I ," Peppers said. "I possibly can." COURTES Jabrill Peppers comes into Michigan as a freshman next year but already has higher expectations than most of the players on Michigan's curren and I see him coming in ready to perform and live up to what Starting for Don Bosco Pre- everyone thinks." paratory is an honor. The foot- ball factory in Ramsey, N.J., has *** churned out dozens of Division I players. The school has a mil- itary-like setup with its players working their way up, learning from the upperclassmen along the way and earning a starting varsity spot by junior or senior year. But Peppers wasn't about conformity. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and won the state champi- onship for the 100-and 200-meter race. More impressively, though, was his ability to cut without los- ing any of his record-breaking speed. So Peppers broke the status quo and was thrown into a starting role as fh A T look a freshman. At I O the time, Don 1 Bosco was the to seeinj No. 1 team in t the state and the ma played long- blu time rival, No. 4 St. Peter's, in - the state semi- final. Regional supremacy was on the line. St. Peter's had a simple game plan: exploit the 15-year-old freshman corner and throw his way all game. After all, on the other side of the field was one of the state's best cornerbacks, cur- rent Colorado defensive back Yuri Wright. But it didn't take long for St. Peter's to reconsider its ' original plan. CC T don In the first ...I dUI. quarter, Pep- cha] pers scored to on an 87-yard as a fr blocked field- goal return. mist" In the second quarter, he intercepted a pass and returned the ball 94 yards for a touchdown. Don Bosco won eas- ily, 37-0. Fans and coaches alike were sold. And any questions of Peppers's ability were thrown away. "That game put me on the map," Peppers said in a phone interview. "That was definitely the game breaker that put me over the top." And behind Peppers's heroic plays, Don Bosco went on to win the state title. The expectations to perform continued into his sophomore season, but no matter howlargetheywere, Peppers pro- duced. In his sophomore year, he scored 22 offensive touchdowns and accumulated over 1,000 total yards, leading his school to another state championship. Despite the o cess, Peppersi from the foot thing culture.' tem at Don Bo to handle, pro transfer to ano high school, P which values at letics - a valu him well at Mic "I'm definit life a lot better forward g him in ize and some coaches ge themselves rath producing youn the field." Even though culture didn't him anymore, t whatever team would win. He best player in N t want Lk it up shman ake." at every positio pers's talent, itc ter. He eclipsedl yards and tallie en route to his ti onship. Pepper in the title game for 212 yards an 37-34 win over Once again, P the lofty expect Though he mainly for def Peppers's high reel shows an on. Just two pers broke 10 to a 30-yard touc ended up beingl of the weekend got a group of guys around *** me that want to see me suc- Though he hasn't yet gradu- ceed not only ated high school, many already on the football expect him to secure intercep- field, but also tions and record countless tack- off of it. Win- les. Such immense pressure can ning is impor- be detrimental, but if history is tant here, but any indication, Peppers will far it's not the exceed the benchmarks set for only important him. thing. I think Woodson made it clear that the et caught up with tradition of Michigan football, ser than actually combined with Hoke's coaching g men on and off style, will help Peppers immense- ly. Hoke was an assistant when the Don Bosco Woodson played, so the corner- mean much to back is very familiar with Hoke's he idea was that coachingstyle. he suited up for "Coach Hoke is a guythat truly was simply the and genuinely cares about the Jew Jersey, virtu- players," Woodson said. "He will ally impossible treat him like a young man and to tackle due allow him to grow naturally. He to his explo- will allow the assistant coaches sive speed to coach him up and develop him and knack for into the player he can be." breaking tack- Having grown up a Michigan les. fan, Peppers wants to be the play- But main- er fans remember forever with taining the suc- the likes of Tom Harmon, Ger- cess wouldn't ald Ford, Bennie Oosterbaan and be easy. Gone Desmond Howard. He wants to was the Divi- be able to come to Michigan and sion I talent see his legacy continue vicarious- n. But with Pep- ly through a Michigan Legends didn't really mat- uniform. 1,500 all-purpose On whether he could be bet- d 22 touchdowns ter than Woodson, Peppers had a hird state champi- clear answer: "Absolutely. I want s was paramount to be the best player to ever wear rushing 19 times that maize and blue." 1d two scores in a Peppers's cockiness didn't Bergen Catholic, bother Woodson. Instead, it made eppers exceeded him happy knowing players with ations. Peppers's confidence will suit up for Michigan. *** "I look forward to seeing him in the maize and blue," Woodson was recruited said. "Hopefully he can help our ensive purposes, team out." -school highlight Expectations come with every offensive weap- recruit for Michigan. But Pep- nonths ago, Pep- pers's have been astronomi- ackles en route to cally greater. When will these hdown run that die down? What if a great career ESPN's No. 1 play doesn't eclipse Woodson's? . And because of When is it enough? S I 1 4 I