The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2021 MICHIGAN RECRUITING star J.J. McCarthy, out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, was committed to the Wolverines for two years and finally made it official Dec. 16. "He's got that 'it' factor," head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "You know when you step into a huddle how important that is for the quarterback to have that confidence, the energy. He is also a guy who makes a lot of really good decisions and plays really well and competes, gives it everything he has. All are necessary qualities for a quar- terback." McCarthy has some dynamic weap- ons to target in the class as well. U-M was able to fend off Alabama for four- star Fresno (Calif.) Central wide re- ceiver Xavier Worthy, who considered flipping to the Crimson Tide at the end of the process but ultimately stuck with his pledge. "He is explosive, a lot of yards per catch, nearly 1,000 yards as a junior but wasn't able to play this fall out in California," Harbaugh noted. "… He's a very, very dynamic football player." Another late win came when four- star running back Donovan Edwards, out of West Bloomfield (Mich.) High, decided to stay home, choosing U-M on signing day over the likes of Geor- gia, Notre Dame and others. "Competitive, competitive, competi- tive," Harbaugh raved. "That's who he is. [West Bloomfield coach and former U-M wideout] Ron Bellamy, that's a trademark of all the guys he coaches. … He's over 1,000 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns [as a senior]; had a game where he scored six touchdowns be- fore the half." THE STATS AND FIGURES TO KNOW SURROUNDING MICHIGAN'S 2021 SIGNING CLASS 2 Of the top four players from the state of Michigan, according to Rivals.com, signed with the Maize and Blue: West Bloomfield (Mich.) High four-star run- ning back Donovan Edwards checked in at No. 3 and Sterling Heights (Mich.) Stevenson four-star offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi ranked No. 4. The top two Michigan products signed with out-of-state programs — No. 1 Damon Payne, a defensive tackle from Belleville, inked with Alabama, and No. 2 Rocco Spindler, an offensive lineman form Clarkston, chose Notre Dame. The Wolverines also inked No. 7 in offensive lineman Raheem Anderson and are still a possibility for No. 5, four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny. 2nd Best class in the Big Ten for Jim Harbaugh and company after the early signing period. It ranks behind only Ohio State, which ranks second na- tionally. The Maize and Blue signed either the No. 1 or No. 2 haul in the conference in 14 of the 19 years from 2002-20. The lone five exceptions were in 2006 (finished No. 3 in the Big Ten), 2011 (No. 3), 2014 (No. 4), 2015 (No. 8) and 2018 (No. 4). 4 Offensive linemen inked, which were more than any other position. Detroit Cass Tech four-star center Raheem Anderson, Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall four-star offensive tackle Tristan Bounds, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star offensive guard Greg Crippen and El-Hadi were the four players signed along the front five. 6 Rivals100 prospects U-M signed: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy (No. 41), Fresno (Calif.) Central four-star wideout Xavier Worthy (No. 65), Edwards (No. 74), Needham (Mass.) St. Sebastian's Country Day four-star tight end Louis Hansen (No. 82), El-Hadi (90) and Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood four-star linebacker Junior Colson (No. 94). The six top-100 recruits are tied with the 2003 class as Michigan's fourth most during the Rivals era (which began in 2002). The most is seven, which was done in 2017, 2006 and 2005. U-M averaged 3.2 Rivals100 prospects per year in the 19 classes from 2002-20. 6-8 Is how tall Bounds stands, making him by far the tallest player in U-M's class. Hansen and El-Hadi are tied as the second-tallest prospects at 6-5. Plantation (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas three-star cornerback Ja'Den McBurrows, meanwhile, is the shortest at 5-10. 10 Different states Michigan signed players from: Michigan (five), Massachu- setts (three), California (two), Connecticut (two), Florida (two), Illinois (two), New Jersey (one), Ohio (one), Tennessee (one) and Texas (one). 12 Four-stars U-M inked in this year's crop, which are tied with Florida for the eighth most of any team in the country as of Dec. 28. Head coach Jim Har- baugh signed 13 four-stars in both 2020 and 2019, seven in 2018, 16 in 2017 and 15 in 2016. From 2010-15, U-M signed exactly six four-stars in four of its six classes. 17 Of the 20 signees currently reside either in the Chicago area, or east of it. The lone exceptions are Del Valle (Tex.) High three-star running back Tavierre Dunlap, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star wide receiver Cristian Dixon and Worthy. No. 41 Is where McCarthy is ranked, making him the highest-rated quarterback signee since Ryan Mallett checked in as the No. 4 overall player nationally in 2007. McCarthy is also set to go down as the third- highest-rated signal-caller the Wolverines have reeled in out of high school since Rivals.com began ranking players in 2002, with Mallett and Chad Henne (No. 13 overall in 2004) the two who were rated higher. No. 65 Is where Worthy is pegged nationally, making him the fourth- highest-rated wide receiver Michigan has signed during the Rivals era. The three who were ranked higher were Donovan Peoples-Jones in 2017 (No. 12), Darryl Stonum in 2008 (No. 41) and Mario Manningham in 2005 (No. 45). Worthy is also just the eighth top-100 wideout Michigan has hauled in since 2002. 305 Pounds is how much El-Hadi and Bounds both weigh, tying them as the heaviest players in the class. Worthy, meanwhile, is the lightest, at just 160 pounds. — Austin Fox Ranked No. 65 overall nationally, four-star wideout Xavier Worthy is the fourth-highest- rated wide receiver Michigan has signed dur- ing the Rivals era, which dates back to 2002. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND