Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree eyes No. 1 jersey last worn by his childhood idol, Braylon Edwards
From left, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, wide receiver Roy Roundtree and basketball captain Zack Novak talk during halftime of the Braylon Edwards charity basketball game at Pioneer High School. Roundtree, who idolized Edwards as a child, coached one of the teams.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
Roy Roundtree wants to wear the No. 1 jersey for the Michigan football team, and not just because of the prestige attached to it at his school.
He grew up idolizing the last guy who wore it.
And that guy, Braylon Edwards, enlisted Roundtree to coach in his charity basketball game Friday night at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.
"That was my idol growing up," said Roundtree, who grew up in Ohio but is a lifelong Michigan fan. "I watched him every Saturday, and to see all the great wide receivers come through Michigan, that weighed on my options coming here."
Roundtree led Michigan in receiving as a freshman, then blew up as a sophomore in 2010 after hauling in 72 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns.
Braylon Edwards drives for a layup during his charity basketball game at Pioneer High School.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
Earning the No. 1, though, isn't his primary focus this spring.
"I ain't really worried about that," he said. "It's a traditional number and, one day, another wide receiver will wear that blessed number. Right now, I'm going to keep doing me and wear number 12.
"I mean, every receiver wants that number. (But) we don't really talk about it because you really got to show up every day, and I feel like every wide receiver shows up every day, but it's up to the coaches and who they decide wears it."
Instead, Roundtree is focused on helping to fill the leadership void left by the departures of captains Mike Martin, David Molk and Kevin Koger. He has impressed his coach, Brady Hoke, who last week said he is a candidate for the team's captaincy.
"That's something I put my heart (into)," Roundtree said. "But it's up to the players to vote on that. It ain't the coaches, it's the players and if you got that bond, and you got that leadership factor that all the younger athletes need on our team, hey, I'll be a captain.
"You don't get no campaign. You just got to work hard and your work ethic will show it all."
Roundtree and the football team are scheduled to hold their annual spring game at noon Saturday at Michigan Stadium, although it's possible inclement weather will move it indoors. If that's the case, it will be closed to the public because of the limited capacity at Al Glick Field House.
On Friday, Roundtree's focus was on having a little fun and coaching his Maize team to victory -- even if he'd rather be playing. (See photo gallery)
"I haven't played basketball since high school," he said. "I think I still got the jumper I had back in high school, but I'm going to coach today, relax, and enjoy my time with these alumni, older guys and I'll just use my talents tomorrow at the spring game."
Roundtree said his team might have a little trouble adjusting to his coaching style.
"Back in my day, I played full-court press and I don't think they're going to listen to me about that full-court press," he said. "But I'm going to try. And run-and-gun, you got to run the court.
"There's a lot of old people out here, so I got to watch what I say."
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
johntithof@gmail.com
Tue, Apr 17, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Good luck Roy, you have proved yourself to be a great leader Android Michigan man.
Tally10
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
Mick52, hit it on the head, the amount of passes thrown to Roy last year was way down compared to the year before. The routes he was running in last years offense took him out of most situations. Not knocking AB, but he's playing against tougher and faster defenses in the BT than he was at SDSU, his play calling needs to stress the D more than it did last year. Some coaches last year were not concerned much about AB's offense, but how to stop DR, the passing game was not much to worry about. The running game they had last year should have sparked a better passing game. This is year 2 for AB, hopefully he'll make the adjustments after a full year BT schedule.
michboy40
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.
The #1 jersey is not just about production and catches. It's about what you do off the field, in the locker room, and in the classroom. I assume most of us have no idea what Roy brings to the table in those areas. If he does not get it, I am willing to bet one of the receivers that goes through with Shane Morris will! His arm will make someone a star!
umgoblue47
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
MICK52. . . i could not have said it better. . . great post! ted criticize's coach BORGES because ted IS theo! GO BLUE!!!!!!
Mick52
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
In regard to Roy and his goal, I think he is deserving though once again, there is important data missing here. That is, what is the reason his stats fell? Do they track how many passes were thrown to him, a catch %? Or did the change in the offense affect his numbers? Maybe because of his previous year, he was closely defended by opponents? I think you look at his stats at this time and compare it to where Braylon was at the same point in his Michigan career, and if they are close to Braylon's success at this point, let him wear the 1. I think that will give him some reasons to show he deserves it.
smokeblwr
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
Offense didn't turn the ball over nearly as much as they did the year before. They had greater time of possession by incorporating a huddle. They found another running back so the QB didn't have to leave every game with an injury. Sure they didn't bust as many big plays but that doesn't mean they were "shackled".
Scott Laux
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 4:23 a.m.
How did Roundtree go from 75 catches in 2010 down to 19 in 2011? How is that even possible? Michigan was suppose to go from the spread to a ball control pro style offense. In 2010 Michigan threw for 3525 yards; in 2011 it dropped to 2377. While it's true Fritz ran the ball a lot more- I dont know if the time of possession was so much greater in 2011. And the huge increase in time of possession due to the Defense 3 and outing seems the cause. Sort of think the whole improvement was due to miraculous job Hoke and Mattison did on defense. Did our defense improve under Borges? I'm not convinced. I felt like we could have won the MSU and Iowa game if Denard wasn't shackled.
MRunner73
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
You know what I can't believe? Complaining about an 11 and 2 season. But one thing agreed, Roundtree does not deserve to wear the number 1 jersey. Hey; LSU looked great until they faced Alabama for the second time and Alabama lost to LSU the first time of their home field. Nobody was perfect is my point. If you wish to look at the glass empty, fine. Remember, one year ago, nobody expected great things from the offense under Hoke and Borgess and nobody expected the defense to improve that much under Greg Mattison. GO BLUE!!
Ali Hammoud
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
The reason they threw for so many less yards is because they didnt trail by a mile at half time of most of their games like they did in 2010.
Nic schweigert
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
That's funny. Go back and look at the avg points scored per game from the 2010 season and the 2011 season. Even this they were putting in a new system last year they still scored more on average than the 2010 campaig. And that doesn't count the 68 points put up on bowling green in 2010 which jacks up the per game average. Let's see we scored 40 on osu and a crap load on neb. How did your king and his read option spread do against Ohio the three previous years. Ya that's what I thought. That's why you're on here and Borges is getting the big bucks. Obviously not a true Michigan man are you. Go blue
Mick52
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
I agree with Ted sort of. I think you are right about the offense, a spread offense produces better in the college game. But it is also risky if you lose the key player, here DRob. I missed the exact play you described, when it looked like a run, leaving the receivers wide open for big gains. I think DRob may be a bit short to be an effective drop back QB. And you are correct it was an improved defense that made the big change. I do not criticize Coach Borges, how can you? The record speaks for itself.
Scott Laux
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 10:50 a.m.
Oh Steve: You have the picture of a true "free thinker" The king of cool. The anti-hero. But we must drink the cool aid. I'd like to believe- but every measure of reality, every statistic, tells me that it was all about defense and the offense (still potent) was just shackled by the play calling. And the whole thing about the spread not eating up time of possession is a myth.
Steve McQueen
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:26 a.m.
you people are clueless.
ted
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:12 a.m.
You hit it right on the head. The great improvement in the Michigan's record and play was because of the drastic improvement on DEFENSE. The offense regressed. There was absolutely no success running the pro-style offense with the personel Michigan had. The sole-success they had on offense was through running the read-option. The offense should have improved last year from the year before, but instead it regressed due to the stubborness of Borges. Robinson's passing game was successful while passing out of the spread in 2010. The passes were short and another option of the read option. If Robinson stepped up after receiving the snap as a fake run, the defense reacted and it would let receivers be wide open for a short pass in which there would commonly be a long run after the catch. Under Borges in 2011 he was forced to throw as a drop-back qb and was not good at it, to say the least. The only so-called success he had with the pro-style passing game was throwing up jump balls that were miraculously caught. Not a very smart game-plan. But Borges is not a very smart guy as he and others would like you to think.