The Wolverine

March 2020 Issue

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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Just before the beginning of Febru- ary's dead period, Green-Warren had an opportunity to host Harbaugh, the U-M head coach, and Zordich, the cornerbacks coach, for an in-home visit. The three spoke about Green- Warren's arrival timeline and expecta- tions for when he does get to campus. "It was a great time," Green-Warren said. "We sat down and caught up. They talked to me about getting up there and told me to keep working and lifting. They told me they want me to come up and try to earn a spot. Their main point has just been: 'Be ready to come in and compete.' Noth- ing is given, and it's a talented team, but they wouldn't have recruited me if they didn't think I could play early." While he wasn't able to get to Ann Arbor in January, Green-Warren is completely done with his high school classes. Over the last couple of months, the consensus four-star recruit has had an opportunity to fully focus on training. A lot of Green-Warren's work be- fore arriving on campus has been in Los Angeles with seven-on-seven coach and personal trainer Anthony Brown, who has worked with several Power Five defensive backs out West over the last few years. Getting Green-Warren's body in the right shape has been, and will continue to be, a top priority. "He just cleaned his body up," Brown said. "A lot of people say he's small, but we just took unhealthy weight off of him. He's going into a situation where the college strength and conditioning program is going to help him. He'll improve in the weight room and build weight. "Everybody questions his speed, but he's a very technical DB. I don't really care how fast you are if you are always at the right place at the right time. I would say more so the fast- twitch muscle [has been focused on] to make him look quicker." Brown added that he sees Green- Warren as an ideal fit at Michigan and in the Big Ten. "Coming from our organization, Ground Zero, we breed kids to play that man-style defense," he said. "Their confidence level is ridiculous. With Darion traveling across the country with us, it's really not going to be anything new. He's been doing it from Ground Zero to Mater Dei to the All-American Bowl. He's built for that type of stage. He'll fall right into place at Michigan. He likes that style of play." The former Oklahoma pledge gave Michigan a silent commitment after his official visit in December and actu- ally signed with the Wolverines dur- ing the early signing period before his live announcement. His commitment vaulted Michigan's 2020 recruiting class back into the top 10 nationally — though the Wolverines eventually fin- ished No. 11 according to Rivals.com. Now that the process is over with and Green-Warren has a set plan to arrive in Ann Arbor, he's ready to continue to work this spring, so he can get on the field as soon as possible. "I'm really motivated," Green- Warren said. "I've been working non-stop. My main goal is to get on the field and help the team win a championship. I have to get myself right before I can help the team, so that's my main goal right now. "I'm working as hard as I can to be ready. When my number is called, I'll be ready to put on a show." ❑ Green-Warren made MaxPreps' Sophomore All-America team in 2017 and Junior All-America team in 2018. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND MARCH 2020 THE WOLVERINE 39 DID YOU KNOW? • Participated in Nike's The Opening Finals and the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. • Ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash at Nike's The Opening Regional. • Was a starter on powerhouse Santa Ana Mater Dei's state cham- pionship teams as a sophomore and junior, before transferring to Narbonne for his senior year. THEY SAID IT • Rivals national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney: "He's going to compete every single time he's on the field. He wants to be on the field and be the best cornerback. He wants to show every re- ceiver that it's going to be a long day for them. "He's physical at the line of scrimmage. He's not going to let you get into your route, and he's going to compete on the back end. He's been a kid that for years felt like he was undervalued. That kind of hunger is going to be good when he gets to Michigan." • Longtime national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "I've been watching him since his freshman year, and I like him a lot. He's an outstanding player who can really run and is a heck of an athlete. "He's a cousin of Willie McGinest, a former Pro Bowl [linebacker] from USC. Green-Warren grew up a USC fan, but USC isn't getting anybody right now. That's how recruiting goes — it's what have you done for me lately?" 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Green-Warren on the U-M coaches "Their main point has just been: 'Be ready to come in and compete.' Nothing is given, and it's a talented team, but they wouldn't have recruited me if they didn't think I could play early."

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