Sometimes it isn't just the big names who can leave a dent on a program. Sometimes it's the kids no one thought would have a chance. Who would've thought a young man (Brian Griese) who chose to walk-on to Michigan would one day lead the Wolverines to a national championship and be named Rose Bowl MVP. In that same year, a short but speedy walk-on linebacker (Eric Mayes) was named captain. Sometimes the little guy can make a difference, but a likely walk-on for U-M in 2003 -- Jeff Jansen of Jackson, MI -- really isn't a little guy.

Jansen is a 6-2, 225-pound linebacker who had a Hall of Fame career at Jackson High School. He is the career record holder in tackles (489), solo tackles (281) and tackles in a season (162 in nine games in 2002). For his dominance he was named a unanimous first team All-State linebacker by the Associated Press and part of the first team for The Detroit News "Dream Team" as well as a first teamer by the Detroit Free Press.

A four-year varsity letter winner he was named the top inside linebacker at the Michigan Football Camp in 2001 and 2002. He was also his team's most valuable player in 2001 and 2002 and a three-time team defensive MVP.

But for all of Jansen's on-field accomplishments, including over 70 career tackles-for-loss, it's his work in the classroom, which deserves the most merit. Jansen is first in his class of over 400 with a 4.0 grade point average. He was named the recipient of the Ron Holland High School Scholar Athlete Award for 2002 as the state of Michigan's top scholar athlete. And Jansen balanced an outstanding 2002 football season while taking four advanced placement classes including calculus, german, english and chemistry.