The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 39 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND O n300 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Acad- emy running back Donovan John- son gave Michigan a verbal commitment shortly following his unofficial visit in mid-June. Johnson picked U-M over offers from Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Okla- homa, Texas A&M, USC and several other major programs. "It feels great," he said. "It's the peo- ple, the atmosphere and the coaching staff. You can't go wrong with Michigan as a running back. Coach [Tony] Alford is my favorite running back coach out of everybody. He's been recruiting me for a long time. I met Coach [Sherrone] Moore for the first time, and we kicked it off. I love what he's done with the Michi- gan program. There were nothing but friendly faces on my visit there. I love everything about Michigan." Johnson felt at home at his first visit. Just days after leaving campus, John- son picked up the phone and called Moore and Alford and informed them of his decision. "I loved the atmosphere," Johnson said. "I got to know all of the coaches one-on-one. I sat down and talked to the coaches for 30 minutes. When I went on other visits, the atmosphere wasn't re- ally there. I felt like I was already a part of the program. "The players showed me that it's a brotherhood. Being from IMG, we preach brotherhood. I felt like a brother at Michigan. It's a perfect fit." Alford played a huge role in landing Johnson. He had recruited Johnson hard during his time at Ohio State and made him a top priority soon after arriving in Ann Arbor. "He got to know me on a personal level," Johnson said. "He got to know my family. He talks to me about more than football. I've been on many visits and met many coaches, but his coaching style is very different. "The discipline he holds his student- athletes to stands out. He's a student of the game. He's able to adapt his coaching style based on the player. He's just a re- ally good coach overall. He's very genu- ine." Johnson has also been building bonds with several Michigan commits and players. "[2025 interior offensive line commit] Kaden Strayhorn is my brother," John- son said. "He's at IMG with me, and we have a great bond. We're ready to get up to Michigan and work. Donovan Ed- wards and Jordan [Marshall] are my guys. We've had great conversations. I had a good conversation with [fellow 2024 running back commit] Jasper [Parker]. [2026 quarterback commit] Brady Hart is my dog. He's a beast." Edwards, who is set to be Michigan's lead back this season, is already serving as a bit of a mentor for Johnson. "He's a great dude," Johnson said. "We all know he can play football. But the thing that stood out to me the most was his message to stay humble. He con- tacted me and told me 'I have your back.' You don't really get that family atmo- sphere at other colleges. I can't stress that enough — the brotherhood, the brotherhood, the brotherhood." Johnson (6-1, 210) added that he sees himself as a great fit in Michigan's run- heavy scheme. "They are a run-first team," Johnson said. "You can't go wrong with that. I can do the pass blocking. I'm a downhill runner, and I can catch the ball. I think I'm going to fit right in. I love the offense. I feel like it fits me to a T." Overall, Johnson, the No. 25 running back and No. 298 overall prospect na- tionally, per On3, is thrilled to be part of Moore's first recruiting class as the head coach at the University of Michigan. "I'm excited," Johnson said. "Some people think we're in a rebuild phase, but I feel like Coach Moore is going to get it done. As a 2025 class member, it's an honor. It's an honor to be coached by Coach Moore and Coach Tony." ❑ Running Back Donovan Johnson Is Excited To Join U-M Brotherhood Johnson is the No. 25 running back and No. 298 overall prospect nationally and the No. 40 player in Florida, according to On3. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Donovan Johnson is an ex- plosive back that runs with physicality and violence. While he prefers to run over defend- ers, he has elite track speed, running a 10.6 100-meter as a high school freshman. Johnson can also catch passes out of the backfield and has plenty of athleticism. He was a Junior Olympian as a youth and was widely consid- ered one of the best running backs in the country early on in his recruitment. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Unfortunately, Johnson hasn't played much football over the last couple of years. He transferred to IMG Academy as a sophomore and split carries before tearing his ACL going into his junior year. Johnson was cleared to return to football activities in late May, but it is unclear how healthy and comfortable he will be as a run- ner this fall. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: Johnson has the same home-run ability and breakaway speed as star Michigan running back Donovan Edwards. While Johnson is a bit bigger than Edwards was as a recruit, the two have a simi- lar running style as well as a unique skill set that allows them to change the offense. It's no surprise that Edwards is already serving as mentor to Johnson. — EJ Holland