The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1298950
42 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING After there were some scheme questions with Oregon, Gattis did a phenomenal job of showing how Worthy would fit into his 'speed in space' offense and beyond. "It was that genuine persistence," Nicky said. "The defining factor was when we got on a call with Coach Gattis and the strength and condi- tioning coach. Gattis pulled up film and showed a play from Xavier 's H u d l . T h e n h e w o u l d say, 'Look at this play.' It would be an exact same play he ran last year. Then he would pull up the exact same play the Chiefs ran last season. "He showed us the transi- tion from Friday nights to Saturday afternoons to Sun- day afternoons. He said, 'I'm not going to change what you've done. You fit us.' I really liked that. That was the day I asked him if he wanted to go to Michigan." Worthy said yes, and they pulled the trigger. "It's basically the same offense that we run now," Worthy said of U-M's at- tack. "I see myself doing the same thing I do now. Coach Gattis compares me to Jerry Jeudy [who Gattis coached at Alabama, before he became a first-round pick]. He said we both have long speed and the ability to get out of cuts. "I don't like to be known for my speed. I feel like I'm an all-around receiver." Nicky actually grew up a Michigan fan. When the Wolverines extended an of- fer, she and her son printed off a paper with the Michigan logo and taped it in the fridge. When Nick saw it, he was filled with a range of emotions. Little did he know his nephew would commit to the Wolverines sev- eral months later. "When I say it's a dream come true, it really is," Nick said. "I used to look at the rosters when I was little. I've been a Michigan fan since [Charles] Woodson. You look at my bio, and it's Michigan. I never really thought about him going there, but when the wheel started turning, I was so excited. "I can't wait to watch him play there. I'll have Michigan gear on. I can't wait to see him run through and touch the banner. It's actually my dream." Worthy's decision to pick Michi- gan went beyond just the X's and O's. U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh prides himself on building a family culture at Michigan. But Gattis and company didn't even have to push that angle. Nicky and Nicky felt genuine love from the Michigan staff. "I look at Xavier like a son," Nick said. "Even though he's about to be 18, I worry about him and the adult part of life. "They are actually going to look after him like a man and help him succeed in life, not just the football field. I can appreciate that. I feel like he's in good hands." And mom won't really ever be that far away — even if Ann Arbor is a long haul from Fresno. "Distance was never a factor," Nicky said. "I've already mapped out hopping on a Greyhound to Los Angeles and getting on a flight to Michigan. "I'm going to make that happen. It was about where he was comfortable and where he wanted to go. That's what I wanted him to think about. It's time to explore and live your life." Despite all the offers and the eventual commitment to Michigan, Worthy still wasn't getting the respect he deserved when it came to recruiting service rankings. He remained a low three-star prospect all the way up until the most recent Rivals rankings update, done in late August. It was then that Worthy, who will play in the All-American Bowl in January, made the jump all the up to the No. 57 overall recruit in the country. "It's cool to be a five-star or a four-star, but I don't care," Worthy said. "It doesn't really matter to me. If you're really about what you do, then you're going to show it." Nicky immediately scolded her son and told him to change his answer for this story. He disobeyed. "Let him put that in there," he said to his mom. "It was an honor, but I don't care." "I'm not really a guy that gets excited," he continued. "It'll probably hit me later. But I just don't get excited. I could win $3,000 right now, and I would be the same as I am." Tired of her son's answers, Nicky gave one of her own. "I'm just glad everyone is seeing what we already knew," she said. "At the same time, it's just talk. It's great to be recognized, but go prove it. That's always the main thing. Don't ever let it get to your head. That'll be gone if you're not proving it. "Not everybody can get stars, but I'd rather see that evidence as a fresh- man at Michigan. We try to keep the fire lit no matter how many stars are next to his name." Proving it is something Worthy is eagerly anticipating. "I'm excited to get to Michigan and do what I do best," he said. "There is nothing more to add to that." ❑ Worthy ran a blazing 10.55 seconds in the 100 meters as a sopho- more and was the only athlete his age to qualify for the California state track and field meet. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND