The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2025 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY ETHAN MCDOWELL D orian Barney watched the public perception around his recruitment take a few swings this year. Texas A&M was rumored to be the heavy favorite early this year. Then, those picks flipped to Penn State after he returned to his home state for an official visit. But at the end of the process, Mich- igan stood alone at the top of his re- cruitment. The Wolverines surged this spring, but secondary coach LaMar Morgan set the foundation for this more than a year ago, and that helped U-M add a blue-chip cornerback to its top-10 class through mid-July. "It feels great, just being a part of something that's building into what will be one of the best college football programs," Barney said. U-M's culture stood out to the na- tion's No. 24 cornerback and No. 241 player overall player according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. The univer- sity's opportunities for success after football and the program's history of NFL production checked all the boxes for the Carrollton (Ga.) High product. He believes strongly that Michigan gives him the best opportunity out of his 37 Power Four offers. "They're a winning staff," Barney said. "They're going to push you to be the best you can be on and off the field, and they're going to love you on and off the field." Morgan made a trip to Atlanta within his first few months at Michigan and stopped at Carrollton, one of the state's biggest and best prep programs, to meet with Barney. He introduced himself, outlined why the Wolverines could be a great fit and extended an offer. A couple of weeks later, the coveted defensive back committed to Alabama, but that did not scare off Morgan. In- stead, he started to reach out to Barney more consistently when June 15 arrived and the contact period opened, texting him good luck before his games that fall. The cornerback reopened his re- cruitment in November and, a couple of months later, Morgan made another trip to see Barney in Georgia and really started to sell the Wolverine program. "That's when I really knew he was for real," Barney said. "He made me under- stand Michigan and why I need to take that visit out there." Barney visited Michigan for the first time March 27 of this year. The program quickly established itself as a true con- tender as the positives piled up. Ann Arbor is a reasonable drive from his grandparents and other family members in Pennsylvania, he liked how Morgan coached up his players and U-M offered him a chance to prepare himself for the NFL and life beyond the gridiron. He locked in a Victors Weekend of- ficial visit in June shortly after that day with the Wolverines. "I had to give them a shot," Barney said. "And then the shot worked out." Michigan's first visit with Barney left a lasting enough impression to bring him back to campus less than a month later for the spring game. That trip was less about meetings and more focused on the vibe around the team and the university. The Big House welcomed its first crowd of 2025 that day, and Bar- ney could see himself taking the field in front of the Maize and Blue faithful. "I feel like I could play in front of 110,000 people every weekend," Barney said. Barney embarked on a busy official visit schedule over the next couple of months, spending a couple of days with Penn State, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and Ole Miss before his June 20-22 stop in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions appeared to hold the momentum in his recruitment going into his final official visit. Behind the scenes, his decision narrowed to two schools. "It was either Michigan or Penn State," Barney said. "That's what it re- ally came down to." Opportunities around life after foot- ball pulled the Wolverines in front of Penn State. He went into Victors Week- end with no expectations. The corner- back just wanted to feel the love from the staff and see if the program fit him well. And once again, Morgan's genuine vibe helped Barney feel comfortable at U-M. "He's talking to me like he's talking to his players," Barney said. "That's what I need. I don't need it to be different when I get there." The heavily recruited cornerback commit will join the Wolverines in Jan- uary as an early enrollee. His recruit- ment went through some twists and turns, but he does not plan on enter- taining other schools from now until the day he signs with Michigan. "I'm locked in," Barney said. ❑ Persistence Helps U-M Land Standout Corner Dorian Barney PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Dorian Barney has good ball skills. He's polished. He's played good competition at Carrollton. He transferred and spent his junior year there. … He's going to come in with some coverage know-how, instincts and the ability to make plays on the football. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Barney, especially playing corner, is going to need to continue getting faster. There aren't a lot of speed markers in terms of track times or the combine setting. From watching him on film, that's an area he can continue to improve. PLAYER COMPARISON: Corey Collier— a former four-star safety prospect who was Rivals' No. 31 recruit nationally com- ing out of high school. He has played for Florida, Nebraska and Florida A&M dur- ing his collegiate career. — Rivals' director of scouting and rankings Charles Power Barney is listed as the country's No. 24 cor- nerback and No. 241 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/RIVALS