The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/678402
FOOTBALL RECRUITING SETTING THE STAGE In the waning days of the 2015 class — which was completed in barely more than a month between Har- baugh's hiring on Dec. 30, 2014, and National Signing Day on Feb. 4, 2015 — local wide receiver Grant Perry of Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice received his long-awaited offer from Michigan. Although the three-star was committed to Northwestern, he quickly flipped to the Wolverines. Rivals.com's No. 12 prospect in Michigan and No. 80 wide receiver in the nation joined two prospects from the state that had committed to the previous coaching staff and were al- ready enrolled on campus. Perry's high school quarterback, Alex Malzone, was the No. 3 player in Michigan and the No. 11 pro-style quarterback nationally according to Rivals.com. Saginaw Heritage wide re- ceiver Brian Cole, who has since been dismissed from the program and trans- ferred to Kentucky, was listed as the No. 2 prospect in the state, and No. 4 athlete and No. 101 overall player in the country. Perry's pledge may have looked like an indication that the Wolverines would focus on home turf, but that didn't come to fruition. Over the next 10 months, only two more in-state prospects joined the Maize and Blue. Legacy tight end Carter Dunaway — yet another Brother Rice prospect, and a three-star unranked nationally at his position or within the state — earned his first and to date only offer in April. The 6-6, 232-pound son of former U-M tight end Craig Dunaway and brother of walk-on defensive end Jack Dun- away didn't hesitate to turn a child- hood dream into reality by accepting Harbaugh's invitation to be part of the program. In early June, Detroit Cass Tech of- fensive lineman Michael Onwenu picked the Wolverines over a national offer list including Alabama, Michi- gan State, Ohio State and USC. The 6-3, 367-pounder finished the cycle as the No. 4 player in Michigan, and the No. 7 offensive guard and No. 147 overall prospect nationally. This in-state recruiting de-emphasis was a bit of a culture shock for Mich- In-State Commit Timeline Under Harbaugh Class Prospect Pos. School Commit Date 2015 Grant Perry WR Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Feb. 2, 2015 2017 Carter Dunaway TE Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice April 17, 2015 2016 Michael Onwenu OL Detroit Cass Tech June 2, 2015 2017 Ja'Raymond Hall OL Oak Park Dec. 4, 2015 2016 Lavert Hill CB Detroit Martin Luther King Feb. 3, 2016 2016 Quinn Nordin K Rockford Feb. 3, 2016 2017 Joshua Ross LB Orchard Lake St. Mary's Prep March 21, 2016 2017 Phillip Paea DL Berrien Springs April 1, 2016