The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND F our-star Richmond (Va.) Hermitage High defensive back Andre Clarke, the nation's No. 14 safety and No. 150 overall prospect per the Rivals Industry Ranking, announced his commitment to Michigan on June 30. However, Clarke made his decision a couple of weeks prior. The Wolver- ines won him over on his official visit on June 13 and earned a verbal pledge behind the scenes. "I just felt like it was the best fit for me," Clarke said. "I got to go up there and chill with the players and be around the coaches. I could see it was the best fit for me. The official visit was impor- tant for me because I got to see who they were as people. That played a big part." Both Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore and secondary coach LaMar Morgan played key roles in earning his commitment. "The main thing about Coach Mor- gan is he's really smart about the game," Clarke said. "He has a lot of knowledge. I feel like when I get there, he's going to coach me up to be the best I can be and give me all the knowledge he has. Coach Moore is my dawg. He's wants to de- velop me when I get there. That's what I like about him." Michigan also did a fantastic job of winning over Clarke's family, particu- larly his father, Andre Sr., who serves as his position coach at Hermitage. "It seems as if a number of talented wide receivers play ball in the Big Ten — the Jeremiah Smiths, etcetera," said Clarke's father, Andre Sr. "Therefore, I want Junior to play against the best talent in the country. Also, I'm excited about the style of defense Coach [Wink] Martindale has, which will give Dre a chance to play one-on-one versus the other team's best receiver. Lastly, the talent that committed to Michigan, the coaching staff and the environment sold me on why my boy should become a Michigan Man. "We've been talking for a while now, and my biggest thing as a dad is I have to know the men my son is going to be around. Football will take care of itself. He's a good athlete. I believe anybody can put some good coaching into him and bring the best out of him. But at the end of the day, I need some real men in his life." Clarke is one of the most versatile athletes in Michigan's 2026 recruiting class. As a junior at Hermitage, Clarke played both cornerback and safety and was also a starter at wide receiver. Clarke even earned all-league honors as a punter. Michigan valued Clarke's Swiss Army ability but recruited him hard as a pure corner. And Clarke sees himself as a fantastic fit in U-M's scheme under de- fensive coordinator Martindale. "It's definitely going to be a blessing to play for Coach Wink," Clarke said. "He's coached some of the best players to ever play football. I know I can play that boundary corner on the backside and lock things up. I'll play anything, but I feel like corner is where I best fit at." Clarke could soon find himself as a starter next to long-time friend Shamari Earls, who signed with Michigan last cycle. A fellow Richmond-area native, Earls and Clarke have been training to- gether since their youth. "That's my dawg," Clarke said. "We go way back. From training together to being with him on the official visit, that's my dawg. We grew up with each other, and I saw all the good things and bad things he did. We played each other my freshman year. Seeing how far he's come is really important to me." Overall, Clarke is excited to be a Michigan Man and has lofty goals for his time in Ann Arbor. "In three or four years, I'm going to be one of the top corners in the nation across all college football," Clarke said. "I want to be a big name that kids look up to." ❑ PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Andre Clarke is a tall, rangy corner with elite length. While listed as a safety by Rivals and other recruiting sites, he spent most of his time at corner as a junior and was fantastic in man coverage, using that length to his advantage. Clarke is a terrific athlete with the versatility and the ability to play anywhere in the second- ary. He can lock down one side of the field and gives Michigan options when it comes to where the Wolverines can line him up. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Clarke has a very, very thin frame at 6-0, 165 pounds and will need to add more weight and strength. While he is long and athletic, he's missing the physical part to his game. Clarke doesn't love bully opposing wide receivers and isn't too much of a willing tackler at this point in his career. The U-M strength and conditioning program will be key in his development. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: Clarke shares a lot of similarities with starting cornerback Jyaire Hill. Like Clarke, Hill was a thin but athletic corner who had experience playing multiple positions at the high school level. Hill was never a physical prospect, but his length and ath- leticism popped — just like Clarke. — EJ Holland Versatile Virginia Defensive Back Andre Clarke Is Headed To Ann Arbor While Clarke has seen action at wide receiver, punter and safety in high school, his favorite posi- tion is cornerback. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND