The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1202829
54 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2020 COMMITMENT PROFILE M ichigan was forced to scramble at the q u a r t e r b a c k p o s i t i o n with the 2020 recruiting cycle winding down. T h e Wo l v e r i n e s l o s t longtime four-star com- mit JD Johnson to medi- cal retirement, which put them in a bind. But Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and company never panicked. Michigan went all in on Rivals100 quarterback CJ Stroud, who inked with Ohio State during the early signing period (Dec. 18-20). While a ton of resources were put into that recruitment, U-M had a contingency plan. Just a couple of months before the early signing period, the Wolverines identified an intrigu- ing prospect in Massapequa (N.Y.) Plainedge signal-caller Dan Villari. "Coach Harbaugh saw my film two months back and reached out about a preferred walk-on offer," Villari said. "Then as the season went on and we got more film of me throwing, he began to talk about an offer." The little-known prospect from Long Island was once committed to Fordham of the Football Champion- ship Subdivision. He started to gain some traction in the fall, earning offers from Kent State and Massachusetts. But those aren't the type of offers that scream Michigan-level recruit. Still, Villari's arm strength, frame and upside had the Wolverines' inter- est. When the aforementioned Stroud really started to trend towards Ohio State, Michigan knew it had to make a chess move. The Wolverines circled back to Villari and hosted him for an official visit on the final weekend be- fore the early signing period. "We took a visit and got campus tours, did a photo shoot, and had din- ner with Coach Harbaugh and the rest of the coaches at a steak house," he said. "Then I spent some time with the players. We also watched practice, and the weight room was unbelievable. "I was with linebacker Joe Velazquez and re- ceiver Cornelius Johnson. They're great guys. We talked about how much they enjoy playing there and just hung out really." Villari was sold. He patiently waited for a call from Harbaugh and got it shortly after Stroud publicly announced his decision to sign with Ohio State. Hours after posting an official offer from the Wolverines, Vil- lari submitted his paper- work to Ann Arbor. In a whirlwind of a week, the quarterback went from unranked recruit to three- star prospect and Michigan signee. For Villari, it was a dream come true — but he is not satisfied. He is ready to get to work and show people why Michigan made a late run for his services. He believes he is a great for the offense and can't wait to learn under Harbaugh, who played the position at the highest level. "It was great to see the offense and learn the scheme [on the official visit]," Villari said. "They do a lot of RPOs [run-pass options], which is similar to what we do, and we make some of the same reads, but obviously their [reads] are a bit more complex." Villari spent the last year work- ing with a private quarterback coach in James Brady, which was instru- mental in his progression as a senior. Brady believes his pupil has a chance to compete to be the future of the Michigan quarterback position as op- posed to a depth chart filler. "He's a late bloomer," Brady said. "Long Island, New York, isn't a hotbed for college football recruits. I've always believed that we have the talent here. Dan is a perfect example of a kid that has the size and has all the athleticism. "He can make all the throws and has put in the work to be an FBS/ Power Five quarterback. In my opin- ion, he has been that for a while now. He consistently works on the little things to play at the next level." — EJ Holland Wolverines Find Their 2020 Quarterback In 'Late Bloomer' Dan Villari FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Dan Villari might not be a highly touted recruit, but he has an impressive frame with upper-tier arm strength. At 6-4 and 215 pounds, he can launch the ball down the field and do so accurately. He does a good job of pro- gressing through his reads, and it's clear he has a high football IQ. He also is a plus athlete and moves well for his size. He's not a true running threat, but he can move around in the pocket and make plays with his feet if needed. Areas Of Improvement: Villari isn't mechanically sound. He has a bit of a funky throwing motion and needs to clean up his footwork. He shows nice touch and deep-ball accuracy, but he needs to do the same on short and intermediate routes. He could develop into a solid depth quarterback, but at a place like Michigan, he may be better served moving to tight end or playing a jumbo athlete role. Michigan Player Comparison: There aren't a lot of quarterbacks on the Michi- gan roster, but Villari may best compare to Michael Sessa. The former walk-on was a big, intriguing quarterback coming out of Hinsdale (Ill.) Central. Sessa never saw meaningful playing time, but he did contribute on the scout team and provide depth. Villari's future may hold a similar fate. — EJ Holland In a whirlwind of a week, Villari went from unranked recruit to three-star prospect and Michigan signee. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM