The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516256
2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 56 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2024 BY EJ HOLLAND Michigan made it a point to land a true center this cycle. The Wolverines felt like they needed the next man up at the position and zeroed in on three-star Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High prospect Jake Guarnera. Michigan wasn't considered a true con- tender for Guarnera early in the process, but the Wolverines shot up his leader board following an offseason visit and eventually became his future home. "Heading into the March visit, Michi- gan wasn't even in my top couple of schools," Guarnera said. "After that visit, I talked to [fellow signee] Luke Hamilton and Coach Moore in a more personal set- ting, and that really helped a lot. I came back for another visit. I was happy with Michigan, loved everything about it and committed. I wanted to lock it in and make the decision." New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who previously served as U-M's offensive line coach, was Guarnera's pri- mary recruiter throughout the process. While Moore is no longer working directly with the offensive line, he'll still have a large hand in the development of the group. And that will certainly go a long way with Guarnera, the No. 41 interior offen- sive lineman and No. 475 overall prospect nationally. "We have a great relationship," Guarnera said. "He takes care of his players like fam- ily. We were up there for Thanksgiving, and he had the offensive linemen over that didn't have family nearby. That was great to see. I also feel like I'll be able to really develop under him." Guarnera has already enrolled at Michi- gan and is ready to start developing physi- cally. "I think it'll benefit me," he said. "But I'm not sure it will have as much of an im- pact for me. Coach Moore has talked to me about getting an opportunity to start my redshirt sophomore year. But I think it will give me a head start on classes and transitioning into the lifestyle of a student. It will also allow me to develop." Guarnera is the son of former Rutgers defensive lineman Jim Guarnera. While Rutgers is a fellow Big Ten program, Jim is ready to don the maize and blue and sup- port Jake during his time in Ann Arbor. "We feel this is the place he's going to develop the most as a football player, as a person and as a man," his dad said. "When we sat through the M Power presentation during his official visit, they talked about whether you go off to the NFL or do some- thing else, you're ready. You don't need to get ready. You are ready. You spend the three or four years getting ready so when you're done with Michigan, you're ready to go. "What Sherrone has been able to do with his offensive linemen, the academic component and the overall family culture, it's just a great fit." ❑ Jake Guarnera Is Ready To Man The Middle Of Michigan's Offensive Line Guarnera finished second in the Florida 3A state track and field championships last spring with a personal best of 58 feet, 2.5 inches in the shot put. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND HONORS • Florida Athle c Coaches Associa on All- District 6 selec on (2022-23). • Under Armour All-America Game pick (2023). • PrepStar All-Southeast Region (2023). • FBU Freshman All-American (2020). RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan April 28, 2023, a er receiving offer in July 2022. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Florida, Miami and Penn State. • Recruited by U-M head coach Sherrone Moore. DID YOU KNOW? • Also le ered in track and field, finishing sec- ond in the state 3A championships last spring with a personal best of 58 feet, 2.5 inches in the shot put. • Son of Jim and Cheryl Guarnera. • Father played football at Rutgers and at- tended 1996 training camp with the San Francisco 49ers. • Born Nov. 2, 2005. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "I think Jake Guarnera has very good agility and plays with good leverage. He has good func onal strength, and you can see that with his shot put number. He's a pure center, and he projects pre y well at the posi- on because of his movement skills and play strength. He's a pre y well-rounded prospect without a ton of weakness. He has a high floor. With Jake, he's not the biggest, so what will his size and frame top out at? He's probably a center only at this point, but he could possibly play guard. That's the biggest one. Just the ul mate size factor." JAKE GUARNERA CENTER 6-4 • 287 PONTE VEDRA HIGH PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. RANKINGS* STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 475 41 59 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 41 57 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 27 49 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 6 61 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 3 84 * ESPN and Rivals ranked him as a center and On3 and 247 ranked him as interior offensive lineman INDUSTRY 2024 Projection Guarnera will redshirt during his freshman season. New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has already talked to Guarnera about spending his first year developing in the strength and condi oning program and learn- ing the playbook. Guarnera will look to com- pete for significant me in his second year.