The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2020 THE WOLVERINE 59 FOOTBALL RECRUITING "Michigan has been great," Doll added. "Sherrone Moore recruits our school. Josh Gattis has been in. Jim Harbaugh has been in. Ed Warin- ner is recruiting David. I've gotten to know four different [Michigan] coaches over the last couple of years. "Michigan is an appealing school for everybody, but especially here at our school at New Trier. It has high academics and great tradition. It's an elite level place." Michigan has also invited Chi- cago high school coaches to Ann Arbor over the last couple of years. The aforementioned Weaver re- cently joined his star running back Mar 'keise Irving on his unofficial visit to Michigan for its elite day. Weaver got an in-depth look at the program and was blown away from a high school coach's perspective. "It was a great trip," Weaver said. "I was able to hang out with the staff. I met everyone from the head coach down to the high school relations guy. The basketball game was a great experience. To see [former NBA play- ers] Tayshaun Prince and Glen Rice walk by, and to experience the school pride was great. We learned about the academic support, which was huge for me. "They are really supportive with the athletes. The biggest takeaway was they don't want academics to be a stresser for the football guys. They over-support them in a sense. I got a good vibe from everybody." That high school relations guy, by the way, is a former Chicago high school football star that went on to play for Michigan — Chris Bryant. While not often talked about, Bryant is the man behind the scenes mak- ing sure high school coaches feel like they can be part of the program. His specific tie to Chicago only helps in the area. "I had a kid that played at Michi- gan," Culbreath said. "He is like one of my first-born. And that's Chris Bryant. He's actually on Jim Harbaugh's staff right now. Harbaugh actually recruited Chris when he was at Stanford. "So it's big to have Chris there. Harbaugh has been great. Chris does a great job in his role." Beyond the staff, Michigan obvi- ously offers an elite-level education as well as a rich history of football. On top of all that, Ann Arbor is only a four-hour drive from downtown Chi- cago. It's the perfect mix of what kids in the city want in their future home. The fact is Michigan has and will al- ways have a stranglehold on Chicago. "I've been a Michigan fan my whole life," Racki said. "I was just too short and slow to go there. But I'm a historian of Michigan football. I love their philosophy and their coaching style and their personalities. "I don't know if it's a Midwest thing, which is what J.J. [McCarthy] is. That blends right in with Michigan football. I'm biased. Coach [Bo] Schembechler was my idol growing up. "I remember Coach Harbaugh play- ing. I've watched Michigan football my entire life. It's a program that prides itself on working hard and tough- ness. It's everything that I love about football. It's the identity that Coach Schembechler brought and has been maintained through Coach [Lloyd] Carr and now Coach Harbaugh." ❑ On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com. 2021 Chicagoland Recruits To Know QB J.J. McCarthy, La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy — The consensus four-star recruit committed to Michigan last spring and has been the leader of the Wolverines' 2021 recruiting class. The 6-2, 195-pound signal-caller could contend for the starting job early. Rivals rates him as a four-star talent, the No. 1 player in Illinois, and the No. 5 pro-style quarterback and No. 31 overall recruit in the land. RB Mar'keise Irving, Country Club Hills (Ill.) Hillcrest — Irving is one of the more underrated prospects in the Midwest. The 5-10, 178-pounder is an explo- sive, versatile back that would be a great fit in U-M's offense. He visited before the dead period. Rivals lists him as a three-star prospect, the No. 10 recruit in Illinois and the No. 6 all-purpose back nationally. WR Landon Morris, La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy —Morris is a big, in- triguing prospect at 6-6, 205 pounds. Right now, he is a tweener that the Michigan staff is evaluating after offering very early. He is rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals. OL David Davidkov, Winnetka (Ill.) New Trier — The 6-6, 290-pounder can play tackle or guard at a high level in college. Michigan is one of his top schools, and he is set to make an unofficial visit in April. Rivals ranks him as a four-star recruit, the No. 3 player in Illinois, and the No. 24 of- fensive tackle and No. 190 overall prospect in the nation. DL Ryan Keeler, La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy — Keeler is listed as a three-star offensive tackle, but Michigan is recruiting him on the defensive side of the ball. He plays the five-technique but could easily slide inside in college. Rivals rates the 6-4, 250-pounder as the No. 9 prospect in Illinois and the No. 40 of- fensive tackle in the land. LB Tyler McLaurin, Bolingbrook (Ill.) High — McLaurin visited Michigan in early March and is already planning a return visit. He best projects as a pass rusher coming off the edge, but could play multiple spots at the next level. The 6-3, 215-pounder is ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 11 recruit in Illinois and the No. 27 outside linebacker nationally. — EJ Holland David Davidkov of Winnetka (Ill.) New Trier — the No. 3 player in Illinois, and the No. 24 offensive tackle and No. 190 overall prospect in the coun- try — is among Michigan's 2021 tar- gets in the Chicago area. PHOTO BY DARREN LEE/BADGERBLITZ.COM