The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340560
20 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2021 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ter not inking during the early pe- riod despite being a Spartan pledge since November. Iwunnah flipped his commitment from Colorado to U-M on signing day, after receiving a scholarship of- fer from the Wolverines just 11 days prior (Jan. 23). Following the day's activity, the Wolverines shot up to No. 9 in the country, passing Florida and Notre Dame. Michigan's star average is 3.57, with the Wolverines possess- ing 14 four-stars, eight three-stars and one two-star in the fold. The Maize and Blue's total of 14 four- star recruits is three more than the Irish, Gators and 12th-ranked Miami (Fla.). The Wolverines have the second- best class in the Big Ten, behind only Ohio State, which has the No. 2 class in the land. It isn't just Rivals.com lauding the Wolverines' class. 247Sports' com- posite listing also has U-M at 10, as does Sports Illustrated. Meanwhile, 247's numbers list it 13th and ESPN ranks it 14th in the country. Here is a look at how each recruit- ing service has ranked U-M's 2021 recruiting class: National Big Ten Outlet Rank Rank Rivals 9 2 Sports Illustrated 10 2 247Sports 13 2 ESPN 14 2 — Clayton Sayfie SHERRONE MOORE IS NAMED A RIVALS.COM TOP 25 RECRUITER Rivals.com's list of the top 25 re- cruiters in the country came out just following National Signing Day, and Michigan co-offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore made the cut. "Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan has undergone significant turnover this offseason, and Sherrone Moore is one of just two assistants that have been on staff for more than two years," Rivals Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt wrote. "Dur- ing his tenure, Moore has established himself as an ace recruiter, and he was responsible for landing two of the Wolverines' Rivals100 prospects in this class: quarterback J.J. McCar- thy and tight end Louis Hansen. "Moore also took the lead in the recruitment of Chicagoland line- backer Tyler McLaurin, then was a key assist on many of the Wolverines' toughest recruitments, helping out- battle in-state rival Michigan State for four-star Rayshaun Benny and three-star Andrel Anthony. Moore also was heavily involved in helping get New Jersey defensive lineman George Rooks to commit and sign in the late period." While Moore has served as Michi- gan's primary recruiter in the Mid- west, he has also helped out on some of the bigger recruitments outside of the region, with the Rooks pledge be- ing just one example. Moore was promoted from tight ends coach to his current position, which was one of many moves to the assistant coaching staff made by Harbaugh. Moore's recruiting prow- ess and his role in the development of U-M's tight ends since joining the staff ahead of the 2018 season helped his case for receiving the promotion. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN ASSISTANT COACHES ALL CONTRIBUTED TO LANDING THE CLASS OF 2021 Below is a list of the recruits current U-M assistants were responsible for landing, as either a primary or secondary recruiter, according to the Rivals.com database. OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOSH GATTIS Wide receiver Andrel Anthony Wide receiver Cristian Dixon Wide receiver Xavier Worthy LINEBACKERS COACH BRIAN JEAN-MARY Linebacker Jaydon Hood Linebacker Junior Colson TIGHT ENDS COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR JAY HARBAUGH Running back Donovan Edwards Running back Tavierre Dunlap CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH MAURICE LINGUIST Defensive tackle Ike Iwunnah (S) CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE COACH SHERRONE MOORE Wide receiver Andrel Anthony (S) Defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny Tight end Louis Hansen Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Linebacker Tyler McLaurin Defensive lineman George Rooks (S) DEFENSIVE LINE COACH SHAUN NUA Defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny Defensive tackle Ike Iwunnah Defensive tackle Dominick Giudice Defensive lineman George Rooks Note: (S) denotes the coach was the secondary recruiter for that prospect. — Clayton Sayfie Moore helped land six recruits in U-M's 2021 class, including a pair of Rivals100 players, en route to being named one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters nationally. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN