The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2021 THE WOLVERINE 55 COMMITMENT PROFILE J ayden Denegal is perhaps the big- gest surprise of the cycle so far. The three-star 2022 quarterback from Apple Valley (Calif.) High flew out to Michigan for a private work- out in June. After impressing the staff with his strong arm and upside, the 6-4, 215-pounder earned an offer from the Wolverines. And it didn't take long for him to make a decision. Denegal — the na- tion's No. 26 prospect in California and No. 19 pro-style quarterback in the country per Rivals.com — com- mitted to U-M before leaving campus and made things public soon after. "I really liked the coaching staff and all the facilities," Denegal said. "I like the offense that they run. I also have family out in Michigan. The coaching staff was very welcoming. It felt like home. Michigan is a place I've always liked. At the end of the visit, I knew I wanted to be there." Denegal committed to Michigan over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan State, Oregon State, Utah and others. While everything happened so suddenly with Michigan, Denegal said he is quickly building a strong relationship with new quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss. "Coach Weiss and I have a really tight relationship," Denegal said. "He's a really cool dude. I like ev- erything he does at the quarterback position. I also like his background. "Coach [Jim] Harbaugh is a great guy, too. They told me to come in, compete and be ready to play at the University of Michigan." Working out for Weiss and head coach Jim Harbaugh was a big part of his trip to Ann Arbor, but Denegal also had a chance to see the cam- pus and facilities and came away impressed. "The campus was great," he said. "The big thing for me was that ev- erybody was so welcoming. It really felt like a family. It's really green out there. It had a welcoming vibe. Ann Arbor is a college town. "The overall experience was great. I just want to see a game now. The academics are amazing and so is the strength and conditioning program." Denegal, who threw for 803 yards and 11 touchdowns in just four games during his shortened junior season, is a natural pocket passer but wants to become more dynamic with his legs. The Wolverines targeted more dual-threat types under center this cycle, so it's no surprise Denegal wants is looking to work on that part of his game. "I'm a big pro-style quarter- back that can push the ball down the field," he said. "I just want to improve my ability to make plays. I want to run the ball more than I did last year. I can stand back and throw it from the pocket, so running is something I want to do more of." Denegal has also been working with Danny Hernandez this off- season to help improve his game. Hernandez is regarded as one of the country's best quarterback gurus and has worked with several big-name quarterback prospects over the last few years, including Alabama starter and former five-star recruit Bryce Young. "Jayden is a super sharp kid," Her- nandez said. "He's a big kid. He's a prototype NFL guy. He has a big arm. He's highly intelligent and a great student in the classroom. He's smart on the football field as well. "He played this last season too heavy. He played at 227. At that weight, he lost his twitch and explo- sion. We've focused on slimming down. He's at 213 right now. His body looks good. His throws are cleaner. "This offseason, a big focus will be getting more twitchy and sudden. He has a big arm and is smart, so we're trying to add athleticism while staying mechanically sound. That's the goal." Denegal does not have a date set for an official visit but is looking to get back to Ann Arbor soon. — EJ Holland Michigan 'Felt Like Home' For California Quarterback Jayden Denegal PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: Jayden Denegal has the arm strength to push the ball down the field make throws on a rope. He is at his best when he can sling it around on intermediate- deep routes. A big-bodied kid, he already has the size of a college quar terback and won't need to much work from a body develop- ment standpoint. While he doesn't show too much of it on film, he has the athletic pro- file to make plays with his legs and the size to run over defenders. Areas Of Improvement: Denegal is consistent in the way he throws his passes, but he does have a bit of an elongated throwing motion. While he uses his arm strength and power to his advantage, he needs to learn to add touch to his passes. Many of his deep balls are line drives, so adding some arch is para- mount. He can also improve in the quick game and take extra heat off short-intermediate passes. Michigan Player Comparison: Of all the quarterbacks on Michigan's roster, Denegal resembles Dan Villari the most. A highly touted prospect early on, Denegal has taken a dive in recruiting rankings across the board. Like Villari, Denegal is a big-bodied, strong-armed passer that still needs mechanical work. Villari projects as a career backup with starter potential late in his career. The same ceiling can be expected with Denegal. — EJ Holland Denegal, the No. 26 player in California and No. 19 pro-style quarterback nation- ally per Rivals.com, picked U-M over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan State, Oregon State, Utah and others. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM