The Wolverine

September 2017

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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56 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2017   COMMITMENT PROFILE Though he's mod- estly rated as a three- star prospect, Naples (Fla.) High corner- back Sammy Faustin became a top target for the Michigan staff heading into the July 29 BBQ at The Big House, and just four days later the 6-2, 170-pounder was a member of U-M's 2018 class. The Florida na- tive had a pretty g o o d i d e a h e ' d be committing to Michigan after the BBQ was over, but he wanted to get home, settle down and see if he felt the same about U-M, and he did. "When I got there it just felt like I was already home. I kind of made my decision while I was at the BBQ," Faustin said. "It was a good expe- rience. I got to hang out with ev- erybody, and I got to know a lot of people. "We were having regular conver- sations and just having fun. Plus the food was really good, and that made it even better." Faustin was able to spend a lot of time with his future coaches and teammates, and fellow commits — really everyone who has anything to do with the program and the uni- versity — and the family feeling made him beyond comfortable up north. Faustin is listed as a cornerback but has the size and skill set to po- tentially play safety, and Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown really likes that versatility. Faustin enjoyed talking scheme with Brown, and that's another reason he's now a member of the class. "Coach Brown said that they probably see me as a safety," he ex- plained. "He said that he really likes a guy like me who can play corner, but noticed that I like to tackle. "That makes them think I should be a safety instead of a corner. Safe- ties do more tackling, but I can still cover." L o n g t i m e n a - tion al recruitin g analyst Tom Lem- ming sees Faustin like Brown does. A long, rangy athlete who could prob- ably play corner but may be better suited as a safety. "He's 6-2, 170 pounds and has le- git 4.5 speed," Lem- ming said. "He has good range, quick hands and loose hips, and does a very good job of playing the ball. He needs to add weight and strength but is an exceptional athlete. He can play either corner or safety — I per- sonally had him listed as a safety." Regardless of what position is next to his name at the next level, Faustin can play, and the Michigan coaches took his commitment immediately once his mind was made up. After a visit earlier this spring and a return trip for the BBQ, the Florida product realized that committing to the Wolverines would be about more than just football. He thought about it for a few days and ultimately made a decision he can be happy with. "The academics — Michigan is a great school," he said. "It's pretty much in the top 10 in just about ev- ery degree. Obviously it has great football. The culture in Ann Arbor is very nice, and I believe that Michigan is going to prepare me for the next 40 years of my life. I felt like that was the spot for me." Last year was Faustin's first on the varsity level, and he experienced a level of success that might not show up on the statistics sheet. He re- corded 38 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections — lower numbers then one might expect from a U-M pledge, but other teams didn't really throw at him. Despite that, colleges took notice of his length and athleticism, and he be- gan racking up offers after his junior season. Out of the 20-plus tenders he reeled in, Michigan stood out over them all. — Brandon Brown FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Length, range and speed are Sammy Faustin's greatest assets. He's a little raw and needs some work on position-specific technique, but he has great height and extremely long arms for a cornerback. He can really run, and even though he's only about 170 pounds, he plays an aggressive style of football and tackles well in the open field. Areas Of Improvement: As mentioned above, Faustin is raw. He's not well versed in zone concepts and needs some work on his technique when it comes to playing press man coverage. He'll also need to add some weight to his slight frame, but all of those situations will improve with time and the level of coaching he'll receive at Michigan. Michigan Player Comparison: Faustin is a spitting image of 2016 second-team All-Big Ten cornerback Channing Stribling (2013-16), but is faster and probably a touch more athletic at this point in his career. Heading into his senior campaign, Faustin is listed at 6-2 and 170 pounds, which are the exact measurables that Stribling had when he finished his high school career. Both boasted great length and good body control when defending passes. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com Faustin, a three-star prospect according to Rivals, posted 38 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections as a junior. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Jim Harbaugh And His Staff May Have Found A Gem In Sammy Faustin

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