The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK to do a camp. We played some games like kickball and NCAA. I just wanted to get to know everybody. We have a group chat, but it was good to meet everyone in per- son. I'm trying to get close to everybody." Winston spent a lot of time working on Kilgore (Texas) High On300 corner- back Jayden Sanders, who eventually announced his commitment to the Wol- verines a few weeks later. "I think he really saw what Michigan has to offer and how he fits," Winston said. "He's a really low-key guy. He re- minds me a lot of Coach (LaMar) Mor- gan — just low key and to himself. He's a really good player. We went through some drills, and he was really fluid. "Me and my father talked to his par- ents about why I chose Michigan. It's a great school with great people, and we're going to win a lot of football games. I think he understands that." This visit also gave Winston an oppor- tunity to go through a workout with new U-M secondary coach LaMar Morgan. "I saw some of the drills they did in practice on my unofficial [in the spring], and we did some of those same drills," Winston said. "I got some tips and feedback from him. It was my first time working out with him in real life. That's going to be my coach for the next couple of years. It was good to see his coaching and take his coach- ing. I can apply it to my game right now. "I think something he does a great job of is he gets to know me not just as a football player but also a person." Winston plans to get back to Ann Arbor for at least one game this season. At 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, Winston is ranked as the No. 9 safety and No. 103 overall re- cruit nationally, per On3. — EJ Holland ON300 RB DONOVAN JOHNSON IS HAPPY WITH U-M PLEDGE Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Acad- e my O n 3 0 0 r u n n i n g ba c k Donovan Johnson committed to Michigan shortly following his first visit in June. Johnson picked U-M over several ma- jor offers and is still feeling confident in his decision. "I'm feeling great," Johnson said. "I'm blessed to be committed to the Univer- sity of Michigan. I love the family at- mosphere up there. They love to grind. When I went up there on my visit, it felt like a brotherhood. "At IMG, that's what we stand for — protect the brotherhood. I saw that at Michigan. I also have a really good con- nection with Coach [Sherrone] Moore and Coach [Tony] Alford. They broke down a lot of stuff for me both with football and outside of football. I love the whole program." Alford recruited Johnson at Ohio State. That didn't change once Alford made the move to U-M. He continued to make Johnson a top priority and kept his faith in him despite a torn ACL. The relationship between Alford and Johnson is special and played a big role in the latter siding with the Wolverines. "We've had a great, great connection through this whole recruiting process," Johnson said. "He started recruiting me my freshman year. "We talked about numerous things like pass protection and understanding defenses. Also, off the field things like how to better myself. Staying humble, disciplined and ready to work." Johnson has also been building bonds with several Michigan commits and players over the last month. "Kaden Strayhorn is my brother," Johnson said. "He's at IMG with me, and we have a great bond. We're ready to get up to Michigan and work. Donovan Edwards and Jordan [Marshall] are my guys. We've had great conversations. I had a good conversation with Jasper [Parker]. 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 contacted me and told me 'I have your back.' You don't really get that fam- ily atmosphere at other colleges. I can't stress that enough — the brotherhood, the brotherhood, the brotherhood." Johnson is also doing his best to help Michigan on the recruiting trail with one of his high school team- mates — top-100 linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. "That's my dog," Johnson said. "I'm trying to get him up there. Every time, I talk to him I'm like 'What are you going to do?' He loves Michigan, so we're going to try to get him up there." Johnson's summer trip to Michigan was an unofficial visit. He is looking to schedule his official visit soon and is ex- cited to catch a game in The Big House this season. "The first time I stepped in The Big House, I was like, 'Dang,'" Johnson said. "It's crazy. I've been to a lot of fields, but it felt different. I want to experience as much as I can during a game. I want to see the fans and the atmosphere. I saw a lot on my unofficial, and the official will be the icing on the cake." — EJ Holland Donovan Johnson, an On300 prospect and top-25 running back, is one of two Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy players in U-M's 2025 class, with the potential for at least one more teammate to join them in this cycle. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3