The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/813087
30 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 BY CHRIS BALAS G raduating early from high school and enrolling in col- lege for the spring semes- ter isn't a must for prep tal- ents hoping to play in their freshman years, but it certainly doesn't hurt their chances. Learning terminology, working out in a collegiate weight program and getting up to speed with how things work as a college student are just a few of the benefits. Michigan head coach Jim Har- baugh has yet to have an early en- rollee make a significant impact his first year on campus, but that could change this season. Among the 11 (up from two in 2015, seven in 2016) this year, several come in at positions of need. Two of them — wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black, Rivals.com five- and four-star prospects, respectively — were, at times, the talk of spring camp. Redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight was among those who sin- gled out Peoples-Jones' insane ath- letic and play-making ability early in camp. "Donovan was doing things to- day that were pretty freaky," Speight said following day one of spring ball. "They call it the catch radius — if the ball is way outside, he can get it. I saw one today where the ball was going out of bounds and he just plucked it. "Some guys back where I was standing just looked at each other [in awe]." The 6-2, 190-pounder was just as impressive in U-M's 'spring com- bine,' a competition of sorts in which the players are measured in several different areas. Peoples-Jones ran a 4.41 40-yard dash, boasted a 39-inch vertical jump and a standing broad jump of over 11 feet — all are ex- tremely impressive numbers for NFL prospects at their annual combine, let alone a freshman just getting his col- lege career started. "We clicked stop watches, and we both had the same time," Harbaugh said. "So far, so good. He's doing great. But the thing that stands out the most is this guy's serious about being good and very smart. He's also got the 3.9 grade-point average out of high school. It's all good. "As serious as he is, as conscien- tious and diligent on things, he can go through four years at Michigan and get his medical degree. I would be happy if I was laying on that table, and he was the one operating on me. He's a great dude, and he is serious about being good." The want-to is even more impres- sive than some of his physical at- tributes, Harbaugh added, and a big reason why Peoples-Jones was con- sidered a can't-miss recruit. As good as he is, however, the De- troit Cass Tech product wasn't the best freshman wide receiver on the field for Michigan's April 15 spring game. Hamden (Conn.) Cheshire Academy's Tarik Black (6-4, 206) fin- ished with four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, including two long fades that helped his Blue team rally and score late. Peoples-Jones recorded two receptions for seven yards "You quickly get acclimated to the college speed and how it operates," Speight said of the freshmen. "DPJ [Peoples-Jones] and Tarik have done that very well. They showed that to- day. DPJ was able to get off the press {coverage} and hit the out route once or twice. "Tarik was able to win on a couple 'go' balls. For a 17- to 18-year-old kid to be able to come out and do that the first time in The Big House, that's special. "They're only going to get better. ... They're so gifted but also so humble and driven to get better — the best combination you can have. "Obviously, the bright lights are a little different at AT&T Stadium [for the opener with Florida], but I don't think they're going to be deer in the headlights at all. I think they're going to be ready. You saw Jehu [Chesson] and Amara [Darboh] come into their own when coach Harbaugh came here. "These guys, I think, will come into their own a bit earlier and then have three or four years. That excites me and the rest of the quarterbacks." Michigan's two other offensive early enrollees both played well on the offensive line. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Cesar Ruiz is seeing time at both guard and center, and he's so far ahead of the curve many of his teammates believe he'll be in the top six — at least — when fall camp progresses. Ja'Raymond Hall of Oak Park (Mich.) High has played on both sides of the line at tackle. At 6-4, 336 pounds, Ruiz already looks the part. "He's really athletic and really football intelligent," senior lineman Mason Cole, who spent much of his time back at left tackle in the spring, said of Ruiz. "He's going to be a good player. ... I think being really football intel- ligent is important if you're going to play center, but I think Cesar could play any position. "Body type doesn't matter as much at this level. He could go out and play tackle if he wanted to, play guard if he wanted to. We're going to see how it works." Ruiz rotated with fifth-year senior Pat Kugler at center in the spring game and had his ups and downs, but he's continued to progress. Of- fensive coordinator and line coach Tim Drevno said the freshman's ex- perience at IMG Academy helped prepare him for his first season. "He understands the regimen of waking up and going to class and going to study hall," he said. "There are some growing pains in there, but it's all good. "It's part of the process of them get- Freshman Influx The Early Enrollees Have Impressed This Spring Receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones (No. 9) and Tarik Black enrolled this spring and quickly turned heads on the football field, including an 11-yard touchdown catch from Black in the spring game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL