The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2021 COMMITMENT PROFILE M ichigan has made it a point to keep top talent at home. Just days after picking up a pledge from five-star cornerback Will Johnson, the Wolverines notched a commit- ment from another in-state prospect in four-star 2022 Eastpointe (Mich.) High wide receiver Tay'Shawn Trent. "It came down to relationships," Trent said. "I had great ones with Coach [Ron] Bellamy and Coach [Josh] Gattis. I just felt a strong con- nection there. I thought it was right and went ahead and made the com- mitment. "Michigan also has amazing aca- demics. It was a 40-year decision. That degree takes you a long way." Trent picked Michigan over offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia and others. Michigan State was considered the favorite for most of Trent's recruit- ing process. MSU head coach Mel Tucker and the Spartans made the 6-4, 205-pounder a top priority for an entire year. However, Michigan was able to flip the script when it hired Ron Bellamy away from West Bloomfield (Mich.) High. Bellamy was one of the most well- known high school coaches in Detroit and knows how to relate to kids in the area. "As soon as Coach Bellamy got there, things changed," Trent said. "Out of all the coaches, our relationship was the strongest. A lot of coaches talked to me and offered me. With Michigan, it took one coach. Coach Bellamy changed my entire outlook on college." Bellamy, who played wide receiver for Michigan, bonded with Trent and built a genuine relationship with him as opposed to just recruiting him as a football player. "I've known Coach Bellamy for a minute," Trent said. "Once Coach Bellamy went to Michigan, our rela- tionship just skyrocketed. He doesn't even talk to me too much about foot- ball. He talks to me about cooking, basketball and just what I like to do outside of football. He's a true, genu- ine coach. The way he talks to me touches me heart." Trent, who is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in Michigan and the No. 33 wide receiver nationally by Rivals. com, recorded 32 receptions for 548 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior at Eastpointe last season. He also started at linebacker and has the po- tential to grow into a flex end at the next level. Michigan, however, sold him on being a pure outside wide receiver in its "speed in space" system. "They see me as a straight outside receiver," Trent said. "They want to put me on islands on the outside, so I can have one-on-one matchups. They want me to be able to take advan- tage. Everybody knows I can high point the ball. They want to use my size and strength." Trent added that sees himself sticking at wide receiver and likened his game to one of the NFL's best wideouts. "If I'm comparing myself to a receiver, I would say Julio Jones," Trent said. "He's a strong receiver with good hands. He's physical off the line, and he's not slow. If you underestimate his speed, it's going to be there when you don't expect it." Trent is the seventh member of Michigan's 2022 recruiting class and first wide receiver commit. With his decision out of the way, he is ready to put his recruiting hat on for Michigan. His top target is fellow in-state prospect and four-star West Bloomfield (Mich.) High athlete Dil- lon Tatum, who is expected to make a decision in April. "I really want Dillon to come to Michigan," Trent said. "I've been talking to him a little bit, and I think he would have a big effect for Michi- gan. Dillon knows the move. He just needs to go blue and come to Michi- gan and wear No. 5." — EJ Holland In-State Wide Receiver Tay'Shawn Trent Built A Strong Connection With U-M Trent, the country's No. 33 wide receiver according to Rivals.com, notched 32 catches for 548 yards and 11 scores as a junior at Eastpointe (Mich.) High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Tay'Shawn Trent is a big, intriguing prospect with a ton of upside. At 6-4 and 205 pounds, he could play multiple positions at the next level depending on how he develops in the Michigan strength and conditioning program. Right now, he projects as a big-bodied outside receiver. He uses his strength and physicality to create mismatches, especially in the red zone. He's a deceptive athlete that also stars on the basketball court. He can grow into an athletic flex end or even an outside linebacker, where he also starts for his high school team. Weaknesses: If Trent sticks at wide receiver, he needs to improve the technical aspects of his game. Right now, he is a really raw route runner and struggles to get in and out of his breaks at times. He also needs to keep working on his speed and quickness. So much with him will have to do with development. He is a projection pros- pect more than anything and has a really high ceiling but also a low floor. Michigan Player Comparison: It's hard to give a true player comparison for Trent since it's unclear if he will stick at the position he was recruited for. Michi- gan doesn't really have a lot of size at the wide receiver position on its roster at this time. From a frame standpoint, Trent most resembles Cornelius Johnson and would play in a similar role. Michigan recruited Trent to continue to fill the void left by Nico Collins, who previously served as the true big-bodied outside wide receiver for the Wolverines. — EJ Holland