The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 51 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND M ichigan scored a massive win on the recruiting trail when Top 100 Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale cornerback Shamari Earls flipped his commitment to Michigan from the University of Georgia on Nov. 1. Earls is the highest-rated defensive commit in U-M's 2025 class, and his pledge is a statement win over one of college football's true recruiting pow- ers. "I felt like it was a better opportunity, especially for life after football," Earls said. "I can set myself up for success. Also, there's a chance to play early. I think I'm ready to be thrown into the fire. I really believe in Coach [Sher- rone] Moore and Coach [LaMar] Mor- gan. I truly think Coach Moore will turn things around. They are people I want to be around. They can make me better." Earls originally committed to South Carolina before flipping to Georgia over the summer, with Michigan as the run- ner-up. However, Moore and Morgan, U-M's secondary coach, never gave up. Both Moore and Morgan had frequent calls with Earls throughout the fall and did everything possible to win him over. "We have a really close relationship," Earls said. "It's been like that since Day 1. They never stopped trying or com- municating, even after I committed to Georgia. They were always there. "I've never had a close relationship with a head coach like Coach Moore. He can call me right now, and we'll talk for hours. He's a really good guy. "Coach Morgan is honest. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. He's a really smart coach." Earls' decision came less than a week after he made an unofficial visit to Michigan for the Wolverines' victory over rival Michigan State. It was there where Earls truly felt at home. "After the most recent visit for the Michigan State game, I knew," Earls said. "I was leaning toward them. I wanted to take another visit to confirm everything, and it definitely did. I en- joyed being around the people again and the fans. They played a big part. I want to be somewhere that wants me for me." At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Earls is ranked as the No. 4 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect nationally, per On3. A borderline five-star, he is expected to come in and compete for a starting job right away. Earls is excited about potentially fol- lowing in the footsteps of Michigan's All-America cornerback Will Johnson. "Coach Moore and Coach Morgan have a lot of trust in me," Earls said. "Their jobs are on the line, and they have 100 percent faith that I'll come in and put the work in. "It will be a big moment to fill Will's shoes, but I can't let it get to me. I'm always going to grind and try to bring back a national championship. I've always been confident in myself. I'm going to give it 100 percent and do my best. I've spoken to Will a few times. He's given me tips. I feel like I can be the next great [cor- nerback]." Earls is set to graduate from high school in December and enroll early at Michigan, which should help with his path to- ward becoming a potential freshman starter. "It's going to help a lot," Earls said. "I get to go through bowl game practices and then ball out in spring ball. I feel like getting those extra lessons will help." With his decision out of the way, Earls is now fully focused on helping Michigan return to glory. "I think the program is going the right way," Earls said. "With the people we have and the people we're bringing in, I definitely feel like we'll be back in the playoffs and winning a national cham- pionship. I can't wait to be home." ❑ U-M Flips Four-Star Cornerback Shamari Earls From Georgia At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Earls is ranked as the No. 4 cor- nerback and No. 23 overall prospect nationally, per On3. A borderline five-star, he is expected to compete for a start- ing job immediately. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Earls is a tall, long corner who wins with his physicality. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Earls over- whelms opposing wide receivers with his length and strength when playing press man. However, he also excels when playing off and can make up ground in a hurry thanks to his 10.7 100-meter track speed. Earls also displays great ball skills, which is no surprise considering he doubles as a big weapon at wide receiver for his high school team. Earls has a terrific blend of size and speed and should be ready to contribute sig- nificantly as a true freshman. WEAKNESSES: Earls suffered a fractured ankle early in his senior year, which has sidelined him the past couple of months. He participated in just one scrimmage, which means he didn't get as many live high school game reps as some of the other top corners nationally. Earls can continue to get more flexible and work on his hips. He can also polish up his backpedal. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: The easy choice here is Will Johnson. There is a reason Johnson was heavily involved in recruiting Earls to Michigan. The staff has pitched Earls on being the next Johnson, some- thing that was very appealing to him throughout the process. Like Johnson, Earls has elite size and length and a knack for making plays on the ball. Johnson was a little more refined technically as a recruit, but Earls has better speed. Overall, Earls is Michigan's best land at the corner position since Johnson. — EJ Holland