The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2024 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND F or five straight recruiting cycles, Michigan has flipped a recruit from rival Notre Dame, including New Jersey defensive lineman Owen Wafle last year. The annual tradition con- tinued in early July, as top-100 Winter Garden (Fla.) West Or- ange defensive back Ivan Taylor switched his verbal commitment from Notre Dame to U-M just weeks following his official visit to Ann Arbor. "I like Coach [LaMar] Morgan and Coach [Sherrone] Moore and what they are doing," Taylor said. "I like what their vibe is like and how they are. The one thing I like about Michigan is the ri- valry [with Ohio State]. My team has a big one, so I always enjoy those games. It's always a dog- fight. I like the Michigan culture. They've taken on adversity, es- pecially with the Coach [Jim] Harbaugh switch and how he had to sit out. "Coach Moore helped them win as a head coach, and that shows a lot about him as a person. That speaks volumes about Coach Moore and what he can do and how he is building the program." Taylor, the No. 6 safety and No. 59 overall recruit nationally, along with the No. 8 prospect in Florida per the On3 Industry Ranking, took official visits to Notre Dame, Michigan and Alabama in June. However, his time in Ann Arbor was "different," as Taylor felt at home with the U-M coaching staff. "I had a good time with all the coaches," Taylor said. "Coach Morgan, Coach Wink [Martindale] and Coach Moore all seemed like good, genuine people. Coach Moore has a good staff around him. Nobody has anything bad to say about him because he's a good guy and wants what's best for the team." Moore had a sit-down meeting with Taylor and his family and impressed them with his vision for the program. "Me, my mom and my dad really liked him," Taylor said. "We like what he's doing and how he's building the pro- gram and the types of guys he brings in. It was a great conversation. We talked about how I felt and how things are go- ing. He wanted to get to know me as a person." First-year Michigan secondary coach LaMar Morgan led the way in this re- cruitment and visited with Taylor and his family in Florida during the spring evaluation period. Morgan was able to quickly build up a strong connection. "He's a great guy," Taylor said. "You can tell that he's a family guy. He loves his children and wife. Everything is dedicated to his family. Coaching-wise, he knows what he's talking about. He wouldn't be at Michigan if he didn't." The official visit gave Taylor and Morgan more time to talk X's and O's. "We could have talked all day about football," Taylor said. "He's a football junkie as well. You need that as coach. We went over plays, and I really enjoyed it. I think we could have gone for longer if we didn't have a time limit. It was a good run-down. "Coach Morgan explained things well. It was easy to pick up on. We talked about what's happening in the play and what he thinks is the best coverage. Just little things like that. He said he sees me as a free safety." Taylor also had an opportunity to spend time with his player host, freshman Jacob Oden. "I'm more of a stay-home type of guy," Taylor said. "I don't like to go out. We did go out for a little bit, but I asked to go back to the hotel, and he just said, 'I got you.' He seemed like a really good kid and a genuine kid. I respect that. I asked him about his life. We talked about enrolling early and how that benefits you." When it came to presentations, Taylor was quick to point to Michigan's "M Power" initiative. "The M Power presentation not only opened my eyes but a lot of people's eyes," Taylor said. "I liked the transparency. That really helped me. They talked about the internships and life after football and what they can do for you." Overall, the combination of elite academics, athletics and networking at U-M resulted in the biggest flip of the cycle for the Wol- verines. ❑ Florida Safety Prospect Flips To Michigan From Notre Dame Ivan Taylor — the No. 6 safety and No. 59 overall recruit nation- ally, per the On3 Industry Ranking — flipping from Notre Dame to Michigan marked the fifth straight year a recruit landed with the Wolverines after initially pledging to the Irish. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Ivan Taylor is a high-floor safety prospect with the flexibility to play nickel. While Notre Dame recruited him at the latter position, Michigan values his instincts and high football IQ as a free safety. He has a true understanding of the game and often makes plays on the ball, which is no surprise con- sidering he is the son of former Super Bowl champion Ike Taylor. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Taylor has a lanky frame (6-1, 180) and will need to add weight and muscle mass at the next level. While he is very polished and could see the field early, his upside appears to be limited from an athletic standpoint. Taylor can show more twitch and add more straight-line speed to his game as well. He is a willing tackler but isn't necessarily the most physical safety. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: U-M views Taylor in the same mold as safety Rod Moore. Moore focused on bulking up as soon as he arrived in Ann Arbor but was ready to play as a true freshman. It wouldn't be surpris- ing to see Taylor follow a similar path. Moore wasn't the most eye-popping athlete as a re- cruit, but his intangibles, technique and high football IQ helped him make an impact. The same may be said about Taylor soon. — EJ Holland