The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340560
2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE I thought he would stick with Michi- gan State. His decision to originally postpone signing has been his M.O. "He's a guy who wasn't going to be rushed right from the beginning of the process. Rayshaun wanted to take his time and do his due diligence, though the NCAA never allowed him that op- portunity [due to the inability to take visits]. "It wasn't a huge shock that he flipped, especially after it went quiet the last few weeks around him. That was the main thing that suggested something was amiss. Rayshaun doesn't run in the same circles as a lot of the Detroit Southeast Michigan guys, and doesn't work out with the same trainers or the same people. "Information about him was more limited, though he was outspoken with me throughout the whole process up until the last few weeks. I could not get in touch with him at all, and that definitely suggested something was up. "I still felt like he would probably end up at Michigan State, even though Michigan wound up working it very hard behind the scenes and got it done." Helmholdt on the importance of keeping Benny home: "Rayshaun got so much attention from other schools, especially later in the process. His ceil- ing is probably higher on the defensive line as a four-star caliber player, and the value of a defensive tackle is a lot higher than that of an offensive guard. "It's not surprising schools wanted him as a defensive tackle, though I think he would've played offensive guard if he would've gone down South." On the National Signing Day addition of Ikechukwu Iwunnah Lemming: "Poor Colorado [who Iwunnah had originally been commit- ted to]! They lose a lot of guys. A lot of the bigger schools will oftentimes go grab some of their backup plans from schools like Colorado and Syracuse. "He is almost the same size as George Rooks, though he's not quite as polished. Iwunnah is a very good athlete for a big kid, and plays great competition out there in the Metroplex. "I saw him about a year ago in per- son and noticed he was a real good player. The big schools didn't really go after him that hard for some rea- son. Michigan obviously sees a fu- ture in him and think they can really develop him into a good player." Spiegelman: "He's kind of new to football because this past season was actually only his second year playing varsity football. He made a big jump from year one to year two as he learned the techniques and aspects of the game. "Iwunnah has a fantastic work ethic and enormous raw power, and is very agile for a big man. He has also put on a lot of good weight in the offseason that helped lead to a breakout senior year, which attracted the coaches at Michi- gan. " H e ' s n o t necessarily an instant-impact type of defen- sive tackle, but i s s o m e o n e w h o c o u l d be contribut- ing in two or three years. I w u n n a h ' s athleticism for a big man is so impressive, though he's not necessarily a space-filler — he's more of a three-technique who can get after the passer. "He has good closing speed and plays with a good motor, but he's also a super smart kid off the field. The way he played as a senior speaks to how quickly he learned the game. "As he continues to absorb knowl- edge and gets tremendous coaching at Michigan, he'll have his best football ahead of him." On George Rooks' commitment to Michigan Lemming: "His dad was one of my All-Americans, and his father brought George Jr. out to meet me when he was only a freshman. I swing by St. Peter 's Prep every year. Rooks is a big-time player and is smart. "He has the natural instinctual ability his dad had. He could play anywhere along the defensive line, including tackle if he adds some more muscle. Rooks is very versatile and athletic with a great first step, and is technically sound. "He's certainly one of the prospects in the upper echelon of Michigan's class and is one of the better players in the state of New Jersey." On the impacts new wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy and co- defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist will have on Jim Harbaugh's staff from a recruiting standpoint Helmholdt on Bellamy: "Having Bellamy [who was hired from West Bloomfield High School in Detroit] on the staff will allow the Michigan coaches to relate better with kids in the Detroit area. There is now an added layer of trust there with the familiarity. "He likely had an impact on Benny signing with Michigan. When you meet Bellamy personally, he's a very serious and trustworthy kind of guy. He has a way about him that is both serious and genuine. "When you talk to him, you feel like you're getting his undivided attention and that goes a long way in recruiting. There are coaches who are superficial in this game, but Bellamy is not one of them. "He's a salt of the earth kind of guy who will relate very well with kids across the country, but especially the Oak Park (Mich.) High four- star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny flipped from Michigan State on National Signing Day Feb. 3. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM