The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/787035
MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 21 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE drama, plucking five-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon (6-3, 305) and four-star wideout Nico Collins (6-4, 201) out of Georgia and Alabama, re- spectively, while flipping the No. 1 punter in the nation, Ohio's Brad Rob- erts, from Nevada to The Big House. For the most part, Michigan's work was already done when several thou- sand convened at Crisler Center to hail the newest victors. Michigan's class already featured … • Four of the five wideouts signed, including No. 1 prep wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-2, 190) out of Detroit. U-M's haul at that spot is considered by many the best group in the country. • A four-star quarterback to feed that crew in Dylan McCaffrey (6-5, 197), who comes from a highly athletic fam- ily most recently producing Stanford's Christian McCaffrey. • A mammoth crew of five offensive linemen, including shade-throwing Texan Chuck Filiaga (6-6, 340) and a future center in Camden, N.J., native Cesar Ruiz (6-4, 336). • Candidates to assuage the exodus of defensive talent up front, includ- ing edge rushers Luiji Vilain (6-4, 238), Donovan Jeter (6-3, 260) and Kwity Paye (6-4, 234), as well as inside beef in Solomon, James Hudson (6-5, 294) and Phillip Paea (6-4, 280). • A five-star linebacker in Jordan Anthony (6-0, 235), heading a group including the intense Ben Mason (6-3, 247), legacy Wolverine Josh Ross (6-2, 221) and the athletic Drew Singleton (6-2, 213). • Defensive backs ranging from the length of 6-3, 205-pound J'Marick Woods and 6-3, 188-pound Benjamin St-Juste to the compact explosiveness of 6-0, 170-pound Ambry Thomas. • Eleven early enrollees — Peoples- Jones, wideout Tarik Black (6-4, 206), offensive lineman Ja'Raymond Hall (6-5, 272), Jeter, defensive backs Jaylen Kelly-Powell (6-0, 175) and Thomas, defensive end Corey Malone-Hatcher (6-3, 245), Mason, Ruiz, St-Juste and Woods, all of whom are in class, lifting and will compete in spring football. All things considered, it was a day to celebrate, and Harbaugh set the tone. "It's a very dynamic group, wonder- ful guys," Harbaugh said. "They're really talented people. I thank them for coming to the University of Michigan, for choosing Michigan. I thank the par- ents for trusting us with their children. "It's a day to be thankful. It's a day to celebrate. I'm very happy. This is Michigan. I want them to come and be great. I want them to take advantage of everything Michigan has to offer. There are a lot of emotions — mostly joy." Here's the breakdown, on a group expected to feature an immediate im- pact, and a lasting one, over the next five years and beyond. WIDE RECEIVER People-Jones and Black are room- mates, and headline a group that has every chance to jump into the mix early. "They're go-getters," Harbaugh said. "They're both humble, and they're both hungry. They both have great people skills. "There's a real good fire there to be really good. They both have a big challenge ahead of them. They're both serious students, going after serious degrees. To compete in the classrooms at Michigan, at that high level, and also to compete in football, is not an easy chore. "They're attacking it with enthusi- asm unknown to mankind." Peoples-Jones wants to follow a pre- med course of study, while the other freshman wideouts will help heal the talent gap produced by the departures of fifth-year seniors Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson. The Wolverines pried Collins out of SEC country, while also getting Io- wa's Oliver Martin (6-1, 189) late in the game. Brad Hawkins (6-2, 205) — originally in last year's class but reas- signed after spending a year at Suffield (Conn.) Academy — proved it's never too late. New assistant head coach and pass- ing game coordinator Pep Hamilton joined Harbaugh and Martin in leap- ing, fully clothed, into a swimming pool upon Martin's recent commit- ment to Michigan. They'll all be com- mitted to raising the receiving bar, and quickly. "It's imperative for our receiving group," Hamilton said. "A lot of times guys will come in and ask, 'Coach, do you want me to play X, Y or Z?' We 2017 Michigan Signees Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Jordan Anthony LB 6-0 235 Silver Spring, Md. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) Tarik Black* WR 6-4 206 Hamden, Conn. (Cheshire Academy) Nico Collins WR 6-4 201 Birmingham, Ala. (Clay-Chalkville) Chuck Filiaga OL 6-6 340 Aledo, Texas (Aledo) Ja'Raymond Hall* OL 6-5 272 Detroit (Oak Park) Brad Hawkins WR 6-2 205 Camden, N.J. (Suffield Academy [Conn.]) Joel Honigford OL 6-6 273 Sugarcreek, Ohio (Garaway) James Hudson DT 6-5 294 Toledo, Ohio (Central Catholic) Deron Irving-Bey DE 6-5 271 Flint, Mich. (Southwestern Academy) Donovan Jeter* DE 6-3 260 Beaver Falls, Pa. (Beaver Falls) Jaylen Kelly-Powell* DB 6-0 175 Detroit (Cass Technical) Corey Malone-Hatcher* DE 6-3 245 St. Joseph, Mich. (St. Joseph) Oliver Martin WR 6-1 189 Coralville, Iowa (West Senior) Ben Mason* LB 6-3 247 Newtown, Conn. (Newtown) Dylan McCaffrey QB 6-5 197 Castle Rock, Colo. (Valor Christian) Phillip Paea DL 6-4 280 Berrien Springs, Mich. (Berrien Springs) Kwity Paye DE 6-4 234 Providence, R.I. (Bishop Hendricken) Donovan Peoples-Jones* WR 6-2 190 Southfield, Mich. (Cass Technical) Brad Robbins P 6-2 180 Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South) Josh Ross LB 6-2 221 Southfield, Mich. (St. Mary's Preparatory) Cesar Ruiz* OL 6-4 336 Camden, N.J. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) Benjamin St-Juste* DB 6-3 188 Rosemere, Quebec (Cegep du Vieux Montreal) O'maury Samuels RB 5-10 192 Los Lunas, N.M. (Los Lunas) Drew Singleton LB 6-2 213 Union, N.J. (Paramus Catholic) Aubrey Solomon DL 6-3 305 Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County) Andrew Stueber OL 6-7 290 Darien, Conn. (Darien) Kurt Taylor RB 5-8 197 Covington, Ga. (Grayson) Ambry Thomas* DB 6-0 170 Detroit (Martin Luther King) Luiji Vilain DE 6-4 238 Ottawa, Ontario (Episcopal [Va.]) J'Marick Woods* DB 6-3 205 Florence, Ala. (Florence)