The Wolverine

May 2019

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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50 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2019 BY BRANDON BROWN M ichigan head coach Jim Har- baugh hired a new offensive co- ordinator in Josh Gattis this offseason, and everyone knew that whatever kind of spring game the Wolverines held was going to be vanilla. It ended up being a glorified public practice in- side Michigan Stadium, but that didn't deter recruits from coming to Ann Ar- bor to check everything out. The Wolverines hosted a strong group prospects starting on Friday, then on Saturday for the spring game and even on Sunday. Signees from the 2019 class, com- mits and targets from the 2020 class, and some key young guys also swung by Ann Arbor to see some spring foot- ball. The plan for these kinds of events is always to show recruits a good time. With just a two-hour practice, no ac- tual game planning and little to no media responsibilities, the coaching staff was able to spend quality time with future and prospective student- athletes. 2019 SIGNEES GET A GLIMPSE Several Michigan signees from the 2019 class were on hand to see what a Josh Gattis offense looks like and also to check out how the new defensive coaches would run things. Paw Paw (Mich.) High four-star of- fensive tackle Karsen Barnhart was in the house. The 6-4, 277-pounder is similar to redshirt freshman Jalen Mayfield in size and athletic ability, and he noticed Mayfield battling for a starting spot, which should make him feel good about his future in Ann Arbor. "Coach [Ed] Warinner really likes my athleticism," Barnhart said of U-M's offensive line coach. "Playing tight end and wide receiver has really helped me. It just lets me show my athleticism, and the Michigan coaches like that." The four-star Barnhart finished the cycle as the No. 28 offensive tackle in the country, and Warinner sees him as a future all-conference lineman. Cincinnati Moeller three-star of- fensive guard Zach Carpenter was in Ann Arbor. The strong, steady 6-4, 316-pounder was considered the No. 15 offensive guard in the country at the end of the cycle, and Rivals Midwest recruit- ing analyst Josh Helmholdt really likes his consistent game. "He might not have the sky-high potential that some have, but his floor is really high — what you see is what you get," Helmholdt said. "He's a guy you can pretty comfortably project as a starter on the interior at the Big Ten level." Carpenter is billed as one of the strongest linemen in the country and will bring that grit and power to Warinner's front in June. Another player who will arrive in June that could make some early noise is Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick four- star wide receiver Cornelius Johnson. The 6-3, 199-pounder shot up the rankings down the stretch of the 2019 cycle and finished as the No. 27 wide receiver and No. 171 overall prospect nationally. Like all of the incoming freshmen, Johnson can't wait to start a new chapter in his life. "I'm really excited to get to Ann Ar- bor," Johnson said. "I'm excited to be with all those guys [in the recruiting class] once when we get started." Johnson will be in a loaded position room. However, with juniors Dono- van Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins dealing with injuries this spring, and redshirt sophomore Tarik Black having an injury history, he may be needed this fall. Washington (D.C.) St. John's College High four-star safety Quinten John- son is one of the quietest signees in the class, but he's a player U-M fans should be excited about. The 5-10, 193-pounder was the No. 16 safety and the No. 182 overall prospect na- tionally in Rivals' final rankings. The four-star prospect could play either safety spot or even the viper po- sition, depending on how he develops. When he fills out, Johnson is going to be a grinder for the Wolverines and should also fit in off of the field. He was making sure that would be the case before and after the spring game. "It was cool getting more comfort- able with the surrounding area," John- son said. "The trip was more for me getting to know Ann Arbor. I still have a lot of discovering to do, and I'm try- ing to find my favorite brunch spot." Crystal Lake (Ill.) South four-star offensive tackle Trevor Keegan is an-   FOOTBALL RECRUITING Plenty Of Star Power Showed Up For Michigan's Spring Game Rk. School Commits 1. LSU 13 2. Alabama 15 3. Clemson 12 4. Miami 11 5. Florida 10 Rk. School Commits 6. Ohio State 8 7. North Carolina 12 8. Georgia 7 9. Florida State 10 10. Penn State 9 17. Michigan 6 RIVALS' 2020 TEAM RECRUITING RANKINGS As of April 29 2019 signee Karsen Barnhart has the ath- leticism Michigan looks for in its offensive linemen. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN

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