The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING along with a full sleeve of tribal tat- toos and an ability to perform the haka, complete the image of being a big-time lineman from the islands. BEST NAME Unlike the "Best Hair" award, this one wasn't close. Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal four-star weakside defen- sive end Luiji Vilain has an amaz- ing name for an overly athletic pass rusher. The 6-4, 238-pounder could start terrorizing quarterbacks this fall and will certainly be a big-time contributor before his time at Michi- gan is over. He proved during his senior year, and on the big stage at the Under Ar- mour All-American Game, that he's elite and climbed all the way up to No. 74 overall in the nation because of it. MOST TALKATIVE This award doesn't necessarily go to the commit that speaks the most, but rather the most reliable talker. In today's day and age of recruit- ing, prospects can get a little sick of the process and become harder and harder to get in touch with as Na- tional Signing Day approaches. Not so with Sugarcreek (Ohio) Garaway Local three-star offensive tackle Joel Honigford. Whenever he was asked a question, you could bank on it being answered within minutes via text or direct message. If a phone call were requested, he'd be talking within the hour. Kids like the 6-6, 273-pound Honigford make the job of a recruiting analyst very easy. FUNNIEST By all accounts, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star center Ce- sar Ruiz is a funny dude. Originally from Camden, N.J., Ruiz doesn't come off as a hardened Northeast- erner. He likes to smile and be en- tertaining during interviews, and he gave Michigan fans a small taste of that during Signing of the Stars. Other commits in the class, team- mates of his at IMG Academy and several members of the media all agree that Ruiz is an intelligent and humorous young man. He has the perfect personality to be the leader of an offensive line, and also has the skill (No. 1 center and No. 41 overall prospect nationally) and size (6-4, 336 pounds) to contribute this fall. PREFERRED WALK-ON SPOTLIGHT The preferred walk-on program at Michigan is a point of pride for the coaching staff and for players who carry the moniker. Here's a look at those who have accepted a preferred walk-on spot within the program in the 2017 class: ADAM FAKIH Outside Linebacker 6-2, 210 • Beverly Hills (Mich.) Detroit Country Day Fakih comes from a local, perennial contender in Detroit Country Day, which lost to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Division IV state cham- pionship this past season by a score 2 Straight years that linebackers coach Chris Partridge has been named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com. He was dubbed the Big Ten Recruiter of the Year last cycle by the outlet and the No. 1 recruiter in the land by Scout; this year he was named the country's best recruiter by 247Sports. 3 Rivals' five-star recruits are the most ever in a single recruiting class for the Wolverines. Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (No. 12 overall player nationally), Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy linebacker Jordan Anthony (No. 26) and Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon (No. 31) are tied for the fourth-most Rivals' five stars in a single class during the 2017 cycle — only Alabama (seven), Ohio State (six) and Florida State (four) finished with more. 4 Is Michigan's team rank by Rivals.com, which ties last year for the school's best-ever finish in the website's history, which dates back to 2002. The 2,819 total points in the Rivals' system is the most ever, topping the 2013 group's 2,661. 4 Is the number of U-M signees ranked as the No. 1 prospect at their position — Peoples-Jones, Anthony (inside linebacker) and center Cesar Ruiz from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy all topped the Rivals.com rankings. Addi- tionally, Westerville (Ohio) South's Brad Robbins is the No. 1 punter in the land according to Kornblue Kicking (Rivals doesn't rank punters). 5 Four- or five-star wide receivers were inked in U-M's 2017 class, good for its most in the Rivals era; the 2004 and 2016 classes held the previous high with three. Many consider the Wolverines' 2017 haul of Peoples-Jones and four-stars Cheshire (Conn.) Academy's Tarik Black, Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville's Nico Collins, Iowa City West's Oliver Martin and Suffield (Conn.) Academy's Brad Hawkins to be their best-ever collection of receivers in a single class. At No. 12, Peoples-Jones is the highest-ranked wideout to wind up in Ann Arbor. 7 Wolverine signees were ranked in the Rivals100, including Peoples-Jones, Anthony, Solomon, Ruiz (No. 41), Black (No. 76), Paramus (N.J.) Catholic linebacker Drew Singleton (No. 52) and Alexandria ( Va.) Episcopal defensive end Luiji Vilain (No. 74). The seven players signed in the top 100 ties U-M's 2005 and 2006 classes for its most ever, and half of the 30 signees were listed in the Rivals250. 14 Different U.S. states that Michigan signed play- ers from, not including Montreal (Quebec) Vieux cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. This marks the second-most for the Wolverines in the Rivals era — trailing only the 2004 class, which signed players from 15 different states. 19 Total four- and five-star players in the class, which is a record for the school. U-M's 16 four-star signees are tied for the school's second-most ever, trailing the 2008 class by one, and ranked third nationally. 28 Of Michigan's 30 recruits are listed as a four- or five-star by either Rivals or ESPN. Punters are never listed higher than three stars by the four major outlets, and Robbins and Loganville (Ga.) Grayson running back Kurt Taylor are the two exceptions. — Ryan Tice and Austin Fox The 2017 Recruiting Class By The Numbers