The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2023 THE WOLVERINE 49 FOOTBALL RECRUITING preferred him as a defensive lineman. However, Efobi has great length for an interior offensive lineman and ter- rific athleticism. If Michigan offensive line coach Sherrone Moore can get the most out of him, Efobi has a chance to be a true steal. BEST RECRUITER Co-Defensive Coordinator Steve Clinkscale Michigan was in dire need of addi- tions to the 2023 class this fall after falling behind in the offseason to less prestigious and historic Power Five pro- grams due to outside forces such as NIL. It became publicly known that the Wolverines weren't supplementing their steady relationships and educa- tional opportunities with NIL, and that it took Clinkscale — who was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio — to re- turn to his home state and make fur- ther evaluations on multiple in-state up-and-comers. This fall saw the cornerbacks coach reach out formally, offer and ultimately accept the commitments of four Ohio natives in the 2023 recruiting cycle in Cincinnati Winton Woods three-star cornerback Cameron Calhoun, Cincin- nati Princeton three-star linebacker Breeon Ishmail, Youngstown Chaney three-star safety and linebacker hybrid Jason Hewlett, and Youngstown Chaney three-star cornerback D'Juan Waller Jr. MOST VERSATILE LB Jason Hewlett Youngstown (Ohio) Chaney Formally committed to Cincinnati for 14 months dating back to September 2021, Hewlett would cap off his career at Chaney High by earning Division III All- Ohio first-team honors at linebacker. Once he arrives at Michigan, Hewlett, who stands at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, won't be limited to just linebacker — he's shown the versatility to line up as a box safety or drop down to edge. Where he plays will depend on how his frame fills out under U-M's strength and conditioning program next year. But the Wolverines valued his defensive athleticism that can fill multiple holes on that side of the ball. Hewlett totaled 59 stops, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles during his senior year. He also caught 14 passes for 317 yards, and scored 3 touchdowns on offense, 2 on defense and 1 on special teams with a kickoff return. MOST LIKELY TO EARN IMMEDIATE PLAYING TIME K Adam Samaha Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron With Michigan kicker Jake Moody ex- pected to leave for the NFL after this season, the opening at the position for next year could be one for the taking by Samaha, who became the first ver- bal commit of the 2023 recruiting class back in November 2021. Samaha went to high school roughly 15 minutes away from U-M's campus and is the No. 1-ranked senior kicker in the nation according to KornBlueKick- ing.com, a recruiting exposure website run by former Michigan specialist Bran- don Kornblue that rates kickers, punters and long snappers across the country. He converted 11 of 14 field goal at- tempts with a school-record 49-yarder as his long kick in 2022 and was perfect on extra points. MOST LIKELY TO EARN CAPTAIN ROLE OL Amir Herring and WR Semaj Morgan West Bloomfield (Mich.) High Herring and Morgan, who after spend- ing the last four years as a teammates for Metro Detroit powerhouse West Bloomfield, will team up for another four years in Ann Arbor. Herring, the four-star interior lineman who is the No. 5 player in the state of Michigan per the On3 Consensus, and Morgan, the No. 72 wide receiver in the country according to the On3 Consen- sus, were both captains for the Lakers this past season, and helped lead the 2020 Michigan state champions to an 8-1 record in arguably the toughest conference in the state: the Oakland Athletics Association. It's the bond that the two future Wol- verines share as close friends. Their mindset to motivate each other and ev- eryone around them will make them de- serving of captain accolades in college. MOST UNDER-THE-RADAR PROSPECT TE Zack Marshall Carlsbad (Calif.) High A three-star recruit, Marshall trans- ferred to Carlsbad High for his senior year after notching more than 1,000 yards receiving in just 11 games for Santa Fe Christian Academy as a junior. Uniting with his longtime friend, 2024 Alabama quarterback commit Julian Sayin at Carlsbad, Marshall couldn't of- ficially suit up until the fifth game of the season due to transfer regulations but provided an immediate impact because of his natural pass-catching ability and the all-around agility at his size. Marshall will enroll early and take part in the bowl practices leading up to the College Football Playoff and be with the team throughout the winter and spring. Working every day with tight end coach Grant Newsome and strength and con- ditioning director Ben Herbert will further elevate Marshall's upside as he looks to become the next in a long line of prolific Michigan tight ends. STRONGEST MAN LB Semaj Bridgeman Philadelphia Imhotep Charter Bridgeman, who is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania and the No. 28 linebacker nationally and by On3, brought an immediate impact to an already stacked Imhotep program. Nominated to the preseason watch list for the 2022 Butkus Award in August, Bridgeman compiled 30 total tackles, 5 stops for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception and 1 return for a touch- down in six games played this season. The explosiveness that Bridgeman brings at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, along with his ability to cover sideline to sideline, read-and-react instincts and closing speed will be the assets needed for Bridgeman to see the field early at Michigan. ❏ Kendrick Bell had a sensational senior year as a dual-threat quarterback for Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill. He completed 224 of 339 passes with 35 touchdowns and added 670 rushing yards and another 10 scores on the ground. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY