The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 33 P L AY E R BIOS BY ZACH LIBBY Michigan nabbed one of the top offen- sive playmakers in the state of Alabama on National Signing Day last December in wide receiver Karmello English after a heated battle with Kentucky down the stretch. "It was really the relationships that I had with them," English explained. "It was the whole coaching staff. It's not just one person. It's everyone. They have all reached out to me and have showed me love." The former Auburn commit, who held other offers from Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Florida, chose to leave the comfort of his region to be the third wide receiver signee to join Michigan's 2023 recruiting class. "Michigan was there from Day 1, even when I verbally committed to Auburn," English said. "Coach [Ron] Bellamy told me that 'I'm not going to stop recruiting you until you sign on the dotted line.' He stuck to his word." Auburn only had a pledge from Eng- lish for a little over two months until the 6-foot, 186-pounder reopened his re- cruitment in September. English had al- ready taken an official visit to Ann Arbor in the late spring, but Michigan was able to bring him and his family up again in mid- October for the Penn State game. "When I left Michigan that day, I told my people that Michigan was the place where I wanted to be," English said. "But I didn't really know until the Tuesday be- fore signing day. That's when I knew that Michigan was home. It was a tight race between them and Kentucky." Born and raised in Louisiana, Bellamy had connections and respect from key figureheads in the area that propelled the relationship between him and English. "Coach Bellamy is a great person," Eng- lish said. "He's not the type of person who will just fill your head up with lies or tell you what you want to hear. He'll tell you what you need to hear. He's always up- front. It's never 'he said' or 'she said.' It's real, and I can trust him." Bellamy and head coach Jim Harbaugh also flew down to Phenix City for an in- home visit, which led to English choos- ing Michigan over a hefty NIL package at Kentucky. "It was the relationships that my family and I had with Coach Harbaugh, Coach Bellamy and all of them," English said. "Everyone was chipping in and doing their jobs. My family appreciated that and really liked it up there." ❑ 2023 Projection Of the three signees at the wide receiver position for Michigan in 2023, English has the highest floor and perhaps the best chance of finding the field this upcoming season. On film, English was able to make plays both in the slot and out wide. He's one of the more solid pass catchers in the class and is dynamic when picking up yards after the catch. English was a first-team 7A all-state selec- tion in Alabama as a junior and a second- team pick following his senior year. PHOTO COURTESY KARMELLO ENGLISH STATISTICS Year Rec. Yds. TD 2022 75 850 11 2021 70 1,059 18 2020 42 627 4 HONORS • Under Armour All-American Game partici- pant. • First-team 7A all-state as a junior, second- team as a senior. • Set Central's single-season records for receptions (75 in 2022) as well as receiving yards (1,059) and receiving touchdowns (18) in 2021. • Scored 39 total touchdowns in his three- year varsity career. • Had 13 TDs as a senior (11 receiving plus 2 more rushing). • As a junior, scored 22 TDs (18 receiving, 2 rushing, 1 punt return and 1 on an intended onside kick attempt he returned for a score). • Central High went 10-3 his senior year with a trip to the Alabama Class 7A semifinals. • Helped team reach the Class 7A champion- ship game his junior season with a 13-1 record. • Part of a Class 7A semifinal team during his sophomore campaign with an 8-5 record. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on early signing day, Dec. 21, 2022, after receiving offer March 15, 2022. • Picked U-M over Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama and Jackson State, among other offers. Previously committed to Auburn before reopening his recruitment in Sep- tember 2022. • Recruited by U-M wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy. DID YOU KNOW? • Son of Garrison English and Carnetra Lokey. • Born Feb. 9, 2004. KARMELLO ENGLISH WIDE RECEIVER 6-0 • 186 CENTRAL HIGH PHENIX CITY, ALA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 202 28 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 53 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 50 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 80 14 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 169 31 16 consensus Alabama All-State Receiver Karmello English Picks U-M, Passes On SEC Opportunities THEY SAID IT Adrian Steele, head trainer, Body By Steele: "His hands and route running make him special. He's super competi- tive. That's the main thing about him. He does not like to lose. You really want that type of kid. He loves football. He loves the weight room and working in the offseason. Last year, he played the slot because he was being a team player. They have some other Power Five wide receivers on his team, and he still had 900 yards. He didn't have as many flash plays, but once he goes back outside, you'll see that. He can do it all."