The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2021 COMMITMENT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND D euce Spurlock was lean- ing toward Michigan this summer. Howeve r, t h e t h re e - s ta r linebacker out of Huntsville (Ala.) Madison Academy re- ceived more and more inter- est from SEC schools Missis- sippi State and South Carolina. Home-state program Auburn eventually jumped in the mix as well. But by then it was too late. Spurlock already had his mind made up. Before the end of his official visit during the weekend of Sept. 24, Spurlock decided to shut down his re- cruitment and commit to the Wolverines. " I t j u s t fe l t l i ke h o m e ," Spurlock said. "It's just where I wanted to be. After visiting a couple of different places, Michigan is the one that felt like home. Coach [George] Helow and Coach [Mike] Macdonald are the ones that made me feel at home. They always kept it real with me. That's why I com- mitted." Helow, Michigan's new linebackers coach, and Macdonald, the first-year defensive coordinator, played huge roles in sealing the deal. But it was ac- tually new Michigan director of player personnel Courtney Morgan that first identified him. Morgan evaluated Spur- lock during his time at Fresno State and presented him to the Michigan coaches once he joined the U-M staff. "Coach Morgan has been messing with me since my sophomore year, back when he was at Fresno State," Spurlock said. "He was there early. He told me to wait because he had some big moves coming. He stuck with me when he got to Michigan. I mess with him for real. He's my guy. He's there to be your friend, but he's like an older brother that mentors you and keeps you in the right lane." At 6-2, 220 pounds, Spurlock is a big, athletic inside linebacker who is exactly what Macdonald wants in his defensive scheme. Spurlock can cover in space and make plays sideline to sideline. Simply put, Spurlock is a perfect fit. "They told me they want me to be fast and aggressive and make plays," Spur- lock said. "That's all it is. The defensive line is going to make plays for you. You have to be able to scrape and feel and hit people. That's what I'm going to do." Spurlock has been watching Michi- gan closely this season and is extremely impressed with the way the defense is shutting down the majority of its op- ponents. "They are undefeated, so they are playing really well," Spurlock said. "The defense is really impressive be- cause they are a top defense against the pass and the run. That shows how much they've improved with the new coach- ing staff they brought in. They made their players fit the scheme. It's one of the best defenses in the nation." Spurlock is excited to see how Michi- gan will close out the year and is looking to get back to Ann Arbor for a visit in November. "There is always room for improve- ment, but really, I just want to see them keep winning and playing hard," Spur- lock said. "I'm trying to get back out there soon. I'll most likely be there for the game against Ohio State." For now, Spurlock is focused on bonding with his future teammates. While the class ranking isn't high by Michigan standards, Spurlock is confi- dent in what he and the rest of the 2022 commits can bring to the table. "Our class is good," Spurlock said. "Obviously, something isn't right with 247 [rankings, which listed the U-M class 16th nationally as of Oct. 20] — no shade. But our class is really good. "We're all developing; we have the right blend of what we need. It's built for the future. We want to learn from the older guys. We're ready. We have a good class." ❏ Alabama Linebacker Deuce Spurlock Selects Michigan Over SEC Schools At 6-2, 220 pounds, Spurlock is a big, athletic inside line- backer who can cover in space and make plays sideline to sideline. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Spurlock has a great build both in his upper and lower halves. The 6-2, 220-pounder won't need to add much weight to his thick frame upon arrival in Ann Arbor. While compact, he is extremely athletic and plays multiple roles for his high school team. He is comfortable playing in the middle, off the edge and in space. With high-end speed for his size, Spurlock covers plenty of ground sideline-to-sideline. Spurlock has the skill set to thrive as an inside linebacker in Mike Macdonald's scheme at Michigan. Areas Of Improvement: Spurlock is a big, raw athlete who is still learning the intricacies of the linebacker position. Right now, he's not fundamentally sound and still needs to work on his overall technique. Often times, Spurlock stays engaged and struggles to get off blocks. He also has issues sifting through blocks while playing in the middle. Michigan Player Comparison: Spurlock isn't quite at the level of star freshman linebacker Junior Colson, but he plays with a similar style. Like Colson, Spurlock builds his game around having great speed for his size. He is also extremely com- fortable in pass coverage and has shown off his athleticism while playing on the offensive side of the ball this season — much like Colson did as a senior. — EJ Holland