The Wolverine

March 2017 Recruiting Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 93 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MEASURABLES • At Nike's The Opening New Jersey Re- gional, Vilain ran a 5.06-second 40-yard dash and a 4.35-second 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 30.4-inch vertical jump and a 39.5-foot power throw. Vilain earned a Nike+ Football Rating of 94.2. STATISTICS • Episcopal went 14-2-1 in the two years while Vilain was there (there were no playoffs for private schools). • Recorded 45 tackles and eight sacks as a senior and also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. • Scored one touchdown as a receiver in his senor year, on a 40-yard pass play in a 27-13 win over Bullis. • As a junior, he posted 60 total stops, including 15.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, and added three forced fumbles and a fum- ble recovery. HONORS • Selected first-team USA Today All-USA Virginia as a senior and was a second- team pick as a junior. • Chosen to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic As- sociation Division I All-State first team and the Washington Post All-Met first team as a senior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in the Under Armour All-America Game Jan. 1, and had three tackles and three quarterback hurries. • Competed at the Rivals Camp Series New Jersey in 2014 and 2016. • Attended Sound Mind Sound Body camp in Detroit in 2015. RECRUITMENT • Committed June 11, 2016. • Pledged for U-M after a weekend-long unofficial visit in June and never wavered despite having offers from Ala- bama, Florida, Georgia, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, among many others. • Dec. 10 official visit to U-M was the only one he took. • Head coach Jim Harbaugh, defensive line coach Greg Mattison and defensive coordinator Don Brown were all instrumental in landing Vilain. NOTABLE • Born March 10, 1998, in Ottawa, Ontario. • Moved to the United States from Canada prior to his junior season. 2017 PROJECTION Vilain showed during Under Armour All-America Game practices and in the game that he can hang with and beat the best of the best. He's long, lean, athletic and quick, and is also stronger than he appears. Michi- gan's starting defensive line should be solid, but Vilain is a different kind of ath- lete than most of U-M's current edge rushers. He could get a look in 2017 if the coaches want a change of pace on passing situations. THEY SAID IT Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst Adam Friedman: "Vilain will be a great pass rusher at Michigan, but at the Under Armour All-America Game he showed that he's not a one-trick pony. He played with more power than ever before and had lots of success in prac- tices. Vilain's presence in the backfield during the game showed he will have success against elite competition." Rivals.com National Recruiting Ana- lyst Mike Farrell: "Michigan has been looking for a long, outside speed rusher since Jim Harbaugh arrived, and Vilain could be that guy. I've been most pleasantly surprised [at Under Armour All- America Game practices] by Vilain, who could turn into a monster pass rusher under Don Brown in Ann Arbor." Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal Head Coach Panos Voul- garis: "Luiji has been tremendous as a pass rusher. His technique is good, and his first step is as quick as I've seen at the high school level. He will continue to get better and better as an overall defensive end, especially as he gains more confidence. "To go along with his talent, the things that stand out about Luiji are his work ethic and his strength and explosive- ness. He has a clear desire to keep learning and growing. He will do what it takes to continue his development as the competition level around him increases." Defensive Line Coach Greg Mattison: "Luiji went to the Under Armour All-Star game and was ranked as one of the top players there. He has tremendous speed and great size, and can really show his burst off the football. He is what you look for when you're recruiting a pass-rusher and outside player." Defensive Backs Coach Brian Smith: "Luiji comes from good stock; his mom and his dad are really supportive of his decision, and he has other people back home supporting his decision, too. He and his family felt it was best to play in Virginia [to close his high school career] to go up against a higher level of competition. He really competed hard and is a kid that can come in and contribute quickly." LUIJI VILAIN WEAKSIDE DEFENSIVE END 6-4 • 238 EPISCOPAL H.S. (ALEXANDRIA, VA.) OTTAWA, ONTARIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 74 5 3 (Va.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 102 8 (DE) 4 (Va.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 36 5 1 (Va.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 69 6 (DE) 2 (Va.) Vilain impressed so much at the Under Armour All-America Game that he was Rivals.com's biggest mover in the final rankings update, moving up 107 spots to No. 74 nationally. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN RIVALS.COM MID-ATLANTIC RECRUITING ANALYST ADAM FRIEDMAN "Vilain will be a great pass rusher at Michigan, but at the Under Ar- mour All-America Game he showed that he's not a one-trick pony."

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