The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1202829
50 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2020 BY EJ HOLLAND M ichigan signed 23 scholarship players during the early signing period for the 2020 class Dec. 18‑20. The Rivals team rankings formula listed Michigan's group of recruits tied for No. 8 in the nation as of Jan. 21. Thirteen of the 23 signees are regarded as four‑star recruits — three are included in the Rivals100, while five more checked in between No. 101 and No. 250. Below is a breakdown of each Michigan class of 2020 signee — which is why verbal commit Nick Patterson is not included — listed in order based on their Rivals ranking: 1. BLAKE CORUM RB • 5-9, 180 Baltimore • St. Frances Academy National Rankings: No. 8 RB and No. 67 overall Corum isn't the biggest back, but he's shifty and extremely elec‑ tric with the ball in his hands. Playing for one of the country's true national high school powerhouses, he trav‑ eled around the coun‑ try with his team and put up big performance after big performance. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Maryland and also earned an invitation to the Under Armour All‑America Game. Corum vaulted up the rankings after a strong junior campaign and is now the highest‑rated signee in the class. 2. AJ HENNING WR • 5-10, 183 Frankfort, Ill. • Lincoln Way East H.S. National Rankings: No. 14 WR and No. 86 overall Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis made it a point to find recruits that fit his speed‑in‑ space mantra. Perhaps no other prospect em‑ bodies it better than Henning. The Rivals100 prospect played running back, wide receiver, wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts en route to leading Lincoln Way East to the Class 8A Illinois state championship. Henning was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Illi‑ nois and played in the All‑American Bowl. He will likely start of off his career as a slot receiver with the abil‑ ity to move around, and he could get on the field as a true freshman. 3. KALEL MULLINGS LB • 6-2, 220 Milton, Mass. • Milton Academy National Rankings: No. 8 OLB and No. 91 overall The Rivals100 prospect is one of the more athletic and versatile players in the class. He played every skill position on the of‑ fensive side of the ball for Milton Academy while also starring on defense and as a return man. Mullings was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Massachusetts and also earned an invitation to the All‑American Bowl. Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown led the way in Mullings' re‑ cruitment and courted him to play Mike linebacker, though he could also see time at running back. 4. ZAK ZINTER OT • 6-6, 300 Cambridge, Mass. • Buckingham Browne & Nichols H.S. National Rankings: No. 16 OT and No. 149 overall Zinter is one of the country's most d o m i n a n t o ff e n s i v e linemen. He was named the Independent School League Lineman of the Year and proved to be a prospect capable of making an early impact in the trenches for the Wolverines. He is listed as an offensive tackle, but will likely slide inside at the next level. He has tremendous brute strength and is a true road grader. The early enrollee committed to Michigan over offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and several other major programs. 5. DARION GREEN-WARREN CB • 6-0, 185 Harbor City, Calif. • Narbonne H.S. National Rankings: No. 12 CB and No. 154 overall Michigan made Green‑Warren its top priority at the cor‑ nerback position this cycle and scored big as he signed with the Wol‑ verines during the early period and announced his decision live at the All‑American Bowl. He picked Michi‑ gan over finalists Nebraska and USC. Green‑Warren was committed to Oklahoma early in the cycle before reevaluating his options. The Ri‑ vals250 prospect is a long, rangy cor‑ ner that should see the field early on in his career. He was slated to be an early enrollee, but will instead arrive in Ann Arbor in April. 6. OSMAN SAVAGE LB • 6-2, 220 Baltimore • St. Frances Academy National Rankings: No. 13 OLB and No. 166 overall One of three signees from national powerhouse St. Frances, Savage is an athletic, attacking linebacker that could play multiple roles on the defensive side of the ball. He was a star for a St. Frances defense loaded with Football Bowl Subdivision talent and a leader for one of the best high school units in the country. Savage committed to Michigan over offers from Florida, Michigan State, West Virginia and others. He was one of the Wolverines' earli‑ est commits, giving them a verbal pledge last January, and never wa‑ vered during the process. FOOTBALL RECRUITING Rating The Recruits: The Wolverine's Insights On Michigan's Early Signees