The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1465168
MAY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 53 PREP PROFILES Michigan has hosted a number of talented 2024 prospects from around the country this spring, including wide receiver Ryan Pellum. A four-star recruit from Long Beach (Calif.), Millikan made his first-ever trip to Ann Arbor last month and got an in-depth look at the program. "The Michigan visit was great," Pel- lum said. "I loved it up there. They showed me a lot of love. I got a chance to watch practice and talk to the players. "I'm a receiver that finds a way to get around the defensive back any way I can, and that's what they teach up there. I loved that." Pellum spent most of his time with Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bel- lamy, and the two are quickly forming a bond. "I had a great time with him," Pellum said. "He talked to me a lot, and I got to hang out with him and watch him coach. He likes what type of receiver I am. He said he could see me out there at Michigan and really wants me. He's a cool guy." Along with Michigan, Pellum holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M and a slew of other major programs. So where do the Wolverines stand early on? "Michigan is definitely a top school in my recruitment," Pellum said. "I like the way they coach the wide receivers, and I like the academic programs up there. I also like the campus and the facilities. The people are cool. The city is nice." Shortly after his Michigan visit, Pel- lum made his way to Ohio for the Un- der Armour Midwest camp and had a chance to connect with top 2024 Michi- gan quarterback target CJ Carr. The two talked about teaming up at the next level — potentially at Michigan. "I had a great time catching passes from him," Pellum said. "He's a great player. He's a great quarterback. I could definitely see myself playing with him in college. He's only going to get better." Per the On3 Consensus ratings, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound Pellum also is ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver and No. 37 overall prospect nationally as well as No. 3 in California. — EJ Holland Michigan is in the mix for several highly touted defensive end prospects this cycle. But the Wolverines also have their eyes on an elite 2024 pass rusher in Baltimore St. Paul's School product Ernest Willor, who recently notched an offer from U-M. "I was excited when I got that offer," Willor said. "I rock with Michigan. I wouldn't mind going up North. They were in the College Football Playoff. Obviously, they lost to Georgia, but they had a great season. I'm going to try to take a visit up there sooner rather than later." As Willor mentioned, Michigan had a strong season and also produced two of the best edge rushers in all of col- lege football in Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Their development should be an easy sell to top EDGE prospects like Willor, who was especially impressed with the ascension of Hutchinson. "I like the way they coach their de- fensive ends and edge rushers," Willor said. "It impresses me a lot that they develop guys. You look at Hutchinson when he first got there to now, and that says something about Michigan." While it's still early, Willor is al- ready building up a good relationship w i t h n ew M i c h i ga n d e fe n s ive l i n e coach Mike Elston. "I like Coach Elston," Willor said. "He's told me some good things about Michigan. I like what he's doing with so m e o f t h e g uys u p t h e re . I j u s t want to go out there and see how he coaches." The next step is getting Willor on campus for his first visit. Willor said that should take place at some point before the end of the offseason. "I want to see how the coaches teach and coach their guys," Willor said. "I also want to learn more about the aca- demics. I want to talk to the people around that. And I just want to see the campus and facilities and all that." Along with Michigan, Willor holds offers from Maryland, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Caro- lina, Virginia Tech and others. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Willor is ranked as the No. 7 EDGE and No. 77 overall prospect nationally as well as the No. 2 player in Maryland, per the On3 Consensus. — EJ Holland Nation's No. 7 Wide Receiver From California Eyeing U-M Baltimore Edge Rusher Excited About Possibilities At Michigan Willor "I was excited when I got that offer. I rock with Michi- gan. I wouldn't mind going up North. They were in the College Football Playoff." ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ St. Paul's School Baltimore Class: 2024 Position: EDGE Ht.: 6-2.5 • Wt.: 220 On3 Rankings: No. 179 nationally, No. 19 EDGE and No. 6 prospect in Maryland Ernest Willor ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Millikan H.S. Long Beach, Calif. Class: 2024 Position: Wide receiver Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 160 On3 Rankings: No. 27 nationally, No. 5 wide receiver and No. 1 pros- pect in California Ryan Pellum Pellum "Michigan is definitely a top school in my recruitment. I like the way they coach the wide receivers, and I like the aca- demic programs up there."