The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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46 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2023 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY ZACH LIBBY O n March 31, Michigan secured a verbal commitment from its pri- ority quarterback target of the 2024 cycle — Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day four-star Jadyn Davis — ending a courtship that began back in June of last year. Davis made his formal announce- ment on ESPN's "SportsCenter," a little more than 24 hours before Michigan's annual spring game event. Putting on the maize-and-blue baseball hat in front of family, friends and teammates on national television, he brought a conclusion to his recruitment. "It was extremely hard," Davis said of the process. "Everyone was ask- ing me where I was going, and I really didn't know. But now I know, and I'm certain on it. "I can't wait to get to Ann Arbor. I feel a great deal of satisfaction. To have 40-plus offers and to get down to this point was difficult. But this was right for me. I'm grateful to showcase my talents at the University of Michigan." Davis, who's listed as the No. 28 overall prospect and No. 4 quarterback in the country according to the On3 In- dustry Ranking, made four unofficial visits to Michigan last year but held off on shutting down his recruitment after former quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss was fired in mid-January. A return to campus in March with his family included face-to-face commu- nication with Weiss' replacement, Kirk Campbell, and monitoring how he was adjusting to his new role on the Michi- gan coaching staff. Davis visited Ann Arbor less than two weeks before his formal commitment, signaling that all of his questions and con- cerns had been addressed by Campbell. "Coach Campbell made a great im- pact," Davis said. "He came in and set the foundation for our relationship, which we kept building on. I love ev- erything that he stands for, his daughter and his wife. "I love everything that Coach Camp- bell preaches to the quarterback room. He's a guy who truly knows the quar- terback position from a management and footwork standpoint. I feel like he's going to be a hell of a coach." Throughout his time as an uncom- mitted prospect, Davis was able to build relationships with numerous players on the roster, including starting quarter- back J.J. McCarthy, with whom he has become close. "J.J. is like a brother to me," Davis said. "We send each other paragraphs or short texts every day. He's always helping me with the position and has let me know that he's always going to be there for me. I greatly appreciate that. His dad and my dad have a great relationship as well. J.J. is my dawg for life, and I couldn't be happier." The 6-foot, 180-pound Davis was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state as well as North Carolina Mr. Football as a junior. He also won MaxPreps Junior All-American honors after leading Providence Day to a 12-1 record and the Division I independent schools state championship with a 55-13 win over Charlotte Christian. For the 2022 season, Davis com- pleted 70.5 percent of his attempts (221 of 305) for 3,425 yards with 43 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. In the state title game, he threw for 352 yards and 6 touchdowns to earn game MVP honors. With his decision made, Davis can now focus on helping recruit future teammates at Michigan and winning another state title. "I can breathe now," Davis said. "I'm fully committed to the University of Michigan, and I can now recruit my guys. "I can promise you that I'm going to deliver and promise that I won't under- deliver. We're going to come in and work for our opportunity. Once we get the opportunity to come on the field, we're going to show how it is." ❏ Michigan Lands Jadyn Davis, Its Top Priority At Quarterback The On3 Industry Ranking lists Davis as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 28 overall player in the class of 2024. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: "I think he's been really well coached. He's a guy who's had a lot of training with quar- terback coaches. He's pretty developed. He has a thick lower body which is where he gets a lot of his power from. He has a strong arm and can drive the ball down field. "He's a guy who's going to come in polished. There are baseline quarterback responsibilities that he's not going to have to learn on the job." AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: "He's more of a pocket passer and ball distributor while not doing a ton with his legs, at least to this point. But I wouldn't say his mobility is a huge concern. He's just not much of a runner. "He can run plays out of the shotgun but in terms of the running and improvisational type of stuff, we haven't seen a ton of that to this point. I don't think he'll be one who'll blow people away physically. If guys are a little slighter, you would like for them to show outward mobility more often. I think he can do that, we just haven't seen that a ton." PLAYER COMPARISON: "Physically and with the level of polish that Jadyn has, he reminds me a bit of Shea Patterson [coming out of high school]. … In terms of playing style, Shea was probably a little bit more improvisational at this stage. But I think in terms of the physical ability, I can see that being a comparison that people would make." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power