The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2026 BY ETHAN MCDOWELL D arrell Mattison drove through a snowstorm on his way from Chi- cago to Ann Arbor in late March, but the trip was well worth it. He braved the elements with his high school coach, Chris James, liked what he saw at Michi- gan and ended up committing shortly af- ter his visit. Mattison raved about the experience, and James caught up with The Wolverine after the trip to share similarly positive comments. Michigan's new staff made the three-star safety a clear priority from the moment they offered the Morgan Park High standout. Their first experience on campus at U-M left a lasting impression. It was a personalized visit that showed how much the staff cared about Mattison. From the very start of the trip, they made him feel like a priority. "Before he could get out of the car, the entire staff was waiting for him at the door," James said. "The recruiting staff was engaging. He's with his little brother — who's his best friend — and they're talking to them and making sure every- body felt at home and welcome." James said the whole experience felt genuine. Everyone in the building loved football and communicated that clearly. They watched the first day of practice, and the Wolverines were champing at the bit to hit the field. He described the vibe around Michigan as "motivated" and "eager." Mattison quickly committed after the visit. Michigan "blew his mind," the safety shared after the trip. His pledge to the pro- gram helped jump-start a wave of positive momentum around the Wolverines. 'GOOD ENERGY, GOOD VIBES' Jawon Craig, the co-founder of Mil- lz2BeMade training, works with many of the top recruits in Indiana. He visited the Wolverines several times last year with five-star receiver Monshun Sales and watched the program roll out the maize-and-blue carpet. There weren't many familiar faces in Ann Arbor when he returned to campus with a group of Hoosier State prospects intrigued by U-M. Still, he echoed the same comments as James. Michigan felt genuine from the start. Head coach Kyle Whittingham and general manager Dave Peloquin retained assistant director of personnel Richard Perry from the previous staff. He made sure the environment around campus remained welcoming for Craig and the rest of the visitors. ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING Chicago Morgan Park safety Darrell Mattison visited Michigan with his high school coach in late March, was blown away by the experience and committed to the Wolverines shortly after returning home. PHOTO BY ETHAN MCDOWELL A NIGHT-AND-DAY DIFFERENCE Visitors To Michigan's First Spring Practice Praise The New Operation