The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2023 COMMITMENT PROFILE BY ZACH LIBBY M ichigan successfully managed to dip into South Florida and steal away one of the top cornerbacks nationwide in the 2025 class in Hollywood Chaminade- Madonna Prep four-star Chris Ewald Jr., the No. 6 rising junior in Florida and the No. 5 cornerback and No. 30 prospect na- tionally, according to the On3 Consensus. Ewald became the first 2025 prospect to commit to Michigan when his announce- ment arrived without warning a week be- fore the 2023 early signing period began this past December. The Wolverines orig- inally offered him on his first unofficial visit in late July 2021, just before his fresh- man season at Chaminade-Madonna. His high school has posted a 25-2 record in the past two seasons and finished 13-1 last fall, with its only loss coming in the final game against a juggernaut Las Vegas Bishop Gorman squad. Ewald posted a team-high 4 interceptions (returned for an average of 19.5 yards apiece) and 12 pass breakups to go along with 24 tackles in 11 games played. The 6-foot, 161-pounder was recently named to MaxPreps' 2022 Sophomore All-America team. "Coach [Jim] Harbaugh and [defen- sive backs] Coach [Steve] Clinkscale have made me feel so welcomed ever since they started recruiting me," Ewald told The Wolverine. "They recruited me the hardest, and Coach Clink has told me that he really wants me to be a part of his sec- ondary. No one else has shown that type of love, so why not commit?" The U-M effort to pry Ewald out of a region that's routinely dominated by the SEC, ACC and other Florida schools was aided by the prospect's desire to schedule as many flights to Ann Arbor as possible following his debut visit at the annual BBQ at the Big House. Ewald returned for a second visit in April 2022 for the spring game, which marked the first chance that he got to see organized football being played at Michi- gan Stadium. Ewald made another trip to campus in early June and visited again in mid-October for the Penn State game. "It's the culture at Michigan," Ewald said about his decision. "Once I visited for my first game, I finally saw how it was with everyone on game day, as well as the culture and tradition on campus. That's something that I really enjoy when I'm up there." Given Ewald's class standing, the Michigan coaching staff had restricted contact with the youngster, but efforts were made to stay in communication throughout the process. That included in- person meetings whenever Ewald made his four unofficial visits. Clinkscale, who was the assistant coach responsible for offering Ewald, tag-teamed with Har- baugh in closing the deal. "The relationship with Coach Clink got stronger as time went on, and he was re- ally excited when I finally made the call to let him know that I was committing," Ewald said. "I see him as a player's coach first. He's all for the kids and all for the families. I really appreciate and love that about him." Another member of the Michigan staff who played a pivotal role in Ewald's com- mitment was assistant director of player personnel Denard Robinson. He grew up in Deerfield Beach, which is less than a 30-minute drive from Ewald's hometown of Hollywood. Robinson is a celebrity in the area, and Ewald idolized the former U-M quarterback. Getting the opportunity to connect with Robinson on the unofficial visits allowed Ewald to recognize that South Florida athletes can indeed find success at a school like Michigan. "Me and Denard have a really strong relationship," Ewald said. "Obviously, we're both from South Florida. I actu- ally attended one of his youth camps back when I was little. It's kind of a coincidence now. We had that automatic connection when we first met. We've just been talking about how things are back at home and about Michigan, stuff like that." ❏ South Florida Cornerback Chris Ewald Jr. Kick-Starts U-M's 2025 Class PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: Ewald possesses the ideal body-type and wingspan for a corner- back suitable to play in Michigan's secondary. On film, he has played across all positions in the secondary. At cornerback, Ewald displays great change of direc- tion and balanced backpedaling, and he keeps his head on a swivel. In man cov- erage, his athleticism and elite speed allow him to mirror his man across any area of the field. In zone, he easily tracks the route of an opposing wide receiver to be in position to come up with an interception or pass breakup. Whenever Ewald lines up as the deep safety, he shows a keen sense of tracking the quarterback's eyes and his own body placement to impact the play even before the ball is in the catch radius of the wideout. Ewald is comfortable playing in space and also is a willing tackler, especially in the red zone or when he's playing in the box. Areas Of Improvement: Molding Ewald's body with more weight that comple- ments his measurements will be an area of focus these next two years before enrolling. He ultimately could pack on another 10 to 20 pounds before college. If he grows a few more inches, then added weight will be ideal. That means continuing to commit to progression in the weight room. A bigger frame means Ewald could play a larger role in the run game and even take reps at nickel. Michigan Player Comparison: Ewald is a couple of inches taller but around the same weight currently as Ambry Thomas was back when the Detroit King product signed with Michigan in 2017. What made Thomas become a third- round NFL Draft Pick and start 13 games in 2019 was his seasoned recognition of disrupting routes, flexibility and awareness. Ewald already has demonstrated all three of these defensive back qualities at this early stage of his career. — Zach Libby A rising junior, Ewald is the No. 5 corner- back and No. 30 overall prospect nationally in the On3 Consensus. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3.COM