The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1212135
20 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2020 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE U-M scrambled to bring in Rivals three-star quarterback Dan Villari (6-4, 215) out of Massapequa, N.Y. Villari threw for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns with a single intercep- tion, while rushing for 1,522 yards and 25 touchdowns, as a senior at Plainedge High. "We feel like we've uncovered a hidden gem," Harbaugh said on his podcast. "He's worthy of playing at a program like Michigan." Villari and Michigan's other quar- terbacks won't lack weapons, given what's already on hand and the in- coming wideouts offensive coordina- tor Josh Gattis will employ. In fact, the headliner of the offensive group is Rivals.com four-star wide- out A.J. Henning from Frankfort, Ill. Some might question his size at 5-10, 183, but not Gattis, who regularly em- ployed quick, fast compacts with great success at other coaching stops. Those who have seen Henning in action don't question him, either. He scored 29 touchdowns for Lincoln-Way East as a senior, catching 52 passes for 835 yards with 13 touchdowns, rush- ing for 648 yards and 15 scores, finding the end zone on a punt return and also scoring a two-point conversion. Add on Roman Wilson (6-0, 175) out of Honolulu, and Gattis figures he's enhanced his speed-in-space game. "Roman Wilson and A.J. Henning are really good at football," Har- baugh said. "These guys make plays in games, and do whatever they can to help their teams win. They're both state champs." The potential receiving talent doesn't end there. Athlete Eamonn Dennis (5-10, 173) from Worchester, Mass., can hit the home run as well. "He is a player like [freshman wide- out] Mike Sainristil," Harbaugh said. "It was like watching Sainristil again when I first watched Dennis on tape. He could be a receiver or corner." Michigan has one running back identified in the incoming class — four-star Blake Corum (5-8, 193) out of Baltimore's St. Frances Academy. Corum rushed for a combined 2,681 yards and 39 touchdowns his final two prep seasons. Harbaugh called Corum a "big- time back," noting: "We zeroed in on Blake and it was Blake or bust; there was no finer work ethic than we saw in him. We have so much respect for the St. Frances program and how tough the guys are, and how good the football is. Blake is the cream of the crop, and he's a fast type of home run-hitting running back. "He can catch the ball, and this is someone [running backs coach] Jay Harbaugh has been so excited about." The incoming offensive line class includes a trio of people movers: 6-7, 275-pound Jeffrey Persi out of Mis- sion Viejo, Calif.; 6-6, 300-pound Zak Zinter from North Andover, Mass; and 6-5, 280-pound Reece Atteberry from Aurora, Colo. Harbaugh noted Atteberry could be an NFL center someday, while insist- ing Zinter could be a massive interior line performer or play tackle. The head coach also has no doubt about Persi. "He walks through the door and you immediately think tackle," Har- baugh said on his podcast. Tight end Matthew Hibner (6-4, 230) from Burke, Va., rounds out those on the offensive side. "He came onto our radar early last spring when we saw his junior num- bers," Harbaugh said. "He was tall but very thin, and then he started showing up at camps in the 240s, 250s weight range." DEDICATED TO DEFENSE U-M needed to load up on defen- sive linemen and didn't hold back. The next wave comes with Jaylen Harrell (6-4, 235) from Tampa, Fla.; Kris Jen- kins (6-4, 239) out of Olney, Md.; Aaron Lewis (6-5, 235) from Williamstown, Michigan Class Of 2020 Signees Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Reece Atteberry OL 6-5 280 Aurora, Colo. (Eaglecrest) Blake Corum* RB 5-8 193 Marshall, Va. (St. Frances Academy) Eamonn Dennis ATH 5-10 173 Worchester, Mass. (St. John's) Darion Green-Warren DB 6-0 183 Torrance, Calif. (Narbonne) Jaylen Harrell DL 6-4 235 Tampa, Fla. (Berkeley Prep) A.J. Henning WR 5-10 183 Frankfort, Ill. (Lincoln-Way East) Matthew Hibner TE 6-4 230 Burke, Va. (Lake Braddock) Nikhai Hill-Green* LB 6-1 230 Baltimore (St. Frances Academy) Kris Jenkins DL 6-4 239 Olney, Md. (Our Lady Good Counsel) Aaron Lewis* DL 6-5 235 Williamstown, N.J. (Williamstown) Braiden McGregor* DL 6-5 248 Port Huron, Mich. (Port Huron Northern) William Mohan* ATH 6-1 195 Brooklyn, N.Y. (Erasmus Hall) Jordan Morant DB 5-11 212 Parsippany, N.J. (Bergen Catholic) R.J. Moten DB 6-0 200 Delran, N.J. (Delran) Kalel Mullings LB 6-1 220 West Roxbury, Mass. (Milton Academy) Makari Paige* DB 6-3 192 West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield) Jeffrey Persi OL 6-7 275 Mission Viejo, Calif. (JSerra Catholic) Osman Savage LB 6-2 225 Baltimore (St. Frances Academy) Andre Seldon* DB 5-8 154 Belleville, Mich. (Belleville) Dan Villari QB 6-4 215 Massapequa, N.Y. (Plainedge) Cornell Wheeler LB 6-1 220 West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield) Roman Wilson WR 6-0 175 Honolulu (St. Louis) Zak Zinter* OL 6-6 300 N. Andover, Mass. (Buckingham Browne & Nichols) * Early enrollee Maryland native and running back Blake Corum was one of three signees, along with wide- out A.J. Henning (Illinois) and linebacker Kalel Mullings (Massachusetts), to be named the Gatorade Player of the Year for his home state. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND