The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/589596
PREP PROFILES Houston Elsik linebacker Dontavi‑ ous Jackson has one of the more im‑ pressive offer lists in the entire nation. Storied programs from coast to coast, including Michi‑ gan, would all love to have his signa‑ ture come National Signing Day. At 6‑2 and 238 pounds, Jackson is an intimidat‑ ing presence in the middle of the de‑ fense. He has great size, but is athletic enough that he has even played some wide receiver. "Jackson is a big, physical line‑ backer, and he plays with a violent style," Rivals.com Mid‑South recruit‑ ing analyst Jason Howell said. "He arrives angry at the point of contact and explodes into the ball carrier. He is also comfortable dropping into coverage and has sideline‑to‑sideline range." In April, there was a lot of buzz that Jackson might commit to Michigan while he was in Ann Arbor for its spring game. He once seemed like a Wolverine lean, and while that doesn't appear to be the case anymore he's still interested in the Maize and Blue. The No. 36 player in Texas and No. 11 inside linebacker nationally will of‑ ficially visit Ann Arbor Nov. 28 for the Ohio State game along with teammate and fellow Michigan offeree Chris Brown, who is a safety. Jackson wants to narrow his list from 18 to 10, but hasn't decided when that will take place or who will make the cut. He's visited Alabama and Texas unofficially, and will see Texas A&M soon. Jackson plans to take all five of his official visits before he decides. Texas A&M has been pursuing Jack‑ son very hard in recent weeks, and the inside linebacker also had a very positive experience on his recent of‑ ficial visit to UCLA. Howell said Jackson has come a long way since he burst onto the scene as a sophomore at the Rivals Camp Series in Houston a couple of years ago, and even then he was one of the best‑looking prospects at the event. He has the size of a true inside line‑ backer, and while he's developed and grown into his body, his fluidity and speed have improved to help him be‑ come one of the top players at his posi‑ tion in the country. A prospect that once seemed like a future Wolverine, then cooled, is now making a big return trip to Ann Arbor that could swing his recruitment back in Michigan's favor. — Brandon Brown Michigan Official Visit Could Be Huge For Texas Linebacker ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Elsik High School Houston Class: 2016 Position: Linebacker Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 238 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 36 player in Texas and No. 11 inside linebacker in the nation Dontavious Jackson