Rookie Blue--Michigan Football RCs: part 5 (2004-2006)

(For all posts in this series click here)

I've got lots of great COMC stuff to post soon, but before I do that I wanted to take care of a lingering project first:  showing off the Michigan Football rookies I've accumulated from complete sets, trades, and purchases.  I broke them down into eight manageable groups so that's how many posts you'll be seeing under this feature.

Each post will include a range of one or more years, and the cards from that range are sorted alphabetically by each player's last name and then by set (uh, mostly--sometimes I goofed on "official" set titles and sorted accordingly).  I'll list each player and card, plus anything done in this style indicates what I consider to be a Michigan uniform photo, regardless of airbrushing, etc.

Another ranked opponent, another dominating defensive performance, and another shutout!  As I enjoy the afterglow of Michigan smothering Northwestern, let's have a look at some more Wolverine rookie cards.  Today features another three-year span and 14 cards, but there's lots of variety with nine different players!  Let's get down to it:

• Jason Avant (2006):  Bowman;  Fleer;  Topps
• David Baas (2005):  Sweet Spot
• Braylon Edwards (2005):  Topps
• Drew Henson (2004):  Topps;  Topps Draft Picks and Prospects
• Marlin Jackson (2005):  Topps Draft Picks and Prospects
• Bennie Joppru (2003):  Sweet Spot

Leading off, Avant is very well-known around here, so I'll just mention that the Fleer (Michigan uni!) card came from Tim way back when he busted a free box.  Baas was an excellent college center who played for the Niners and Giants, with whom he won Super Bowl XLVI.  Braylon's only entry today is his Topps RC because I'd already scanned the rest of his first-years in my possession.  Former two-sport star Henson shows up twice, including his 2004 Topps Draft card which features what's probably my favorite overall design of the product.  Marlin Jackson gets in on the action with a Topps Draft card from the following year (another great college photo!).  Rounding out the scan is Bennie Joppru and one of his 32(!) rookies, a serial-numbered issue from Sweet Spot.

• Tim Massaquoi (2006):  Bowman;  Bowman Chrome
• Ernest Shazor (2005):  Playoff Prestige
• Gabe Watson (2006):  Bowman;  Bowman Chrome

Former TE Tim Massaquoi, a four-year player that snuck into the 7th round in 2006, is shown here on his Bowman and Chrome cards from that same year.  Next up is S Ernest Shazor, a pretty good DB who surprisingly declared for the draft in 2005 and failed to get selected.  He's one of a few Wolverines (in college dress!) to grace a card in the 2005 Prestige set.  Last up is Big Gabe Watson, an absolute beast at DT whose college success didn't translate to the NFL.

There's 14 more in the books with lots more to come!