The Wolverine

August 2020

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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AUGUST 2020 THE WOLVERINE 47   COMMITMENT PROFILE M ichigan added a huge weapon to its arsenal this summer. The Wolverines scored a verbal pledge from three-star Fresno (Calif.) Central wide receiver Xavier Wor- thy, who announced his decision on July 10. After being considered an Oregon lean in the months leading up to his decision, Worthy simply felt comfort- able with the Michigan coaching staff and the program as a whole. "I have family there," Worthy said. "My uncle is a big Michigan fan. He's liked them since like 1998. They do a lot of reverses and things like that. I feel like that fits what I do. "I really like the coaching staff. They are straightforward about ev- erything." Worthy committed to Michigan over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, USC, Washington and a number of other major programs. While Worthy is not ranked that high, he blew up on the trail this off- season and became one of the hot- test recruits in the country. Michigan got in on Worthy relatively early and made him a top overall priority this cycle. Relationships played a huge role in Worthy's decision, and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and offen- sive coordinator Josh Gattis led the way for the Wolverines. "Coach Harbaugh cares about his players and is a really good coach," Worthy said. "His résumé impresses me. He talks more about me person- ally and things like that. He's a funny coach. "Coach Gattis helps me with the workouts I'm doing and my routes. We have a really good relationship. He tells you some good stuff, but he also tells you the bad stuff you're do- ing. He's straightforward. I like that a lot." Worthy embodies the "speed in space" mantra that Gattis has brought to Michigan. After all, Wor- thy caught 54 passes for 992 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and qualified for the state championships in the 100-meter dash as a sopho- more with a blazing time of 10.55 seconds. "The offense Michigan runs is sim- ilar to the one I play in right now," Worthy said. "They run a lot of re- verses in staff. They find ways to get the ball in your hands early and in the open field. Coach Gattis said he would just let me go to work. "I would say I'm like [Philadel- phia Eagles Pro Bowl wide receiver] DeSean Jackson. I grew up watching him. He plays a big role in how I play." Worthy has yet to visit Michigan, but he is looking forward to making an official visit soon after the dead period comes to an end. And there are a few things he wants to see. "How we live there," Worthy said. "Also just the feeling. I want to see how I'm going to fit in for the next three or four years." Worthy is the third wide receiver in U-M's 2021 recruiting class, joining Rivals250 prospect Cristian Dixon and three-star recruit Markus Allen. Michigan is looking to potentially add one more recruit at the position to finish off this cycle's haul. At 6-1, 160 pounds, Worthy is ranked as the No. 47 recruit in Cali- fornia by Rivals.com, but others like 247Sports view him as the na- tion's No. 94 overall prospect. Both 247Sports and ESPN list him as a four-star recruit and among the na- tion's top 125 players in the 2021 class. — EJ Holland Electric Speedster Xavier Worthy Could Make A Quick Impact At Michigan FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Xavier Worthy is one of the most underrated prospects in the coun- try by Rivals.com and should shoot up the rankings this fall. He has the potential to be a top-150 player nationally when the cycle comes to an end, thanks to his elite speed. He runs a 10.55 in the 100 meters and a sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Worthy utilizes that speed out of the slot as well as on the outside and as a kick and punt returner. He is a dynamite athlete with plenty of versatility. He is the ideal fit for Michigan's "speed in space" offense and could be an immediate difference maker. Areas For Improvement: Worthy is only listed at 160 pounds, so adding weight to his frame is imperative. With his speed and skill set, he will likely be on the field as a true freshman, but needs more weight and strength to stay on it. Maintaining his speed and elusiveness while adding 15-20 pounds will be key in his development. Michigan Player Comparison: It should come as no surprise that Michigan wide receiver Giles Jackson played a huge role in recruiting Worthy to Ann Arbor. A fellow California native, Jackson is also a smaller, electric playmaker that can be moved around in various spots. Jackson saw time as a true freshman, and Worthy can be expected to make a similar impact in his first year on campus. — EJ Holland Worthy "The offense Michigan runs is similar to the one I play in right now. … They find ways to get the ball in your hands early and in the open field. Coach [Josh] Gattis said he would just let me go to work. I would say I'm like [Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl wide receiver] DeSean Jackson." While Worthy is ranked as just a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, 247Sports and ESPN both list him among the top 125 overall pros- pects in the 2021 class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM

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