The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING the country by Kohl's Kicking is cur- rently slated to watch the season from the sidelines. The Georgia High School Association ruled Jung ineligible a cou- ple of weeks ago, Jung shared with The Wolverine this summer. "I was shocked. I thought I was going to be eligible because we followed all the rules," Jung said. "According to the rules, we should be eligible." He appealed the decision in early August, traveling to the GHSA's of- fice with Milton's athletics director. The association once again ruled him ineligible. Jung lived in Tennessee his freshman year before heading to IMG Academy in Florida. At the time, his father lived in Georgia, where he had started a res- taurant business with his uncle. Jung's mother and sister still lived in Tennes- see. When his sister graduated from high school this year, his mother moved to Georgia as well, and Jung left board- ing school to join his family. The GHSA ruled that his move from Florida to Georgia did not count as a family move and, therefore, he couldn't transfer. "Our argument is, how can I live with my family if I went to boarding school?" Jung said. In the state of Georgia, a student- athlete transferring schools remains ineligible for a calendar year unless the move meets one of the conditions from bylaw 1.62 of the GHSA constitution. If the whole family completes a "bona- fide move" together to a different school's "service area," that athlete will remain eligible. The GHSA evaluates what constitutes a "bona-fide move" on a case-by-case basis. Jung will continue to appeal the deci- sion moving forward and hopes to be cleared to compete at some point this fall. The GHSA did not respond to The Wolverine's request for comment. When the organization initially ruled Jung ineligible, he reached out to Mich- igan special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs to share the bad news. "He was really supportive," Jung said. "He told me that he doesn't think that this changes the way the coaching staff thinks about me and that he still knows I'm the best kicker. He told me to keep my head up, and I really appreciated that. That was really motivating." Per GHSA guidelines, Jung can con- tinue practicing with the team. The five-star specialist said he plans on hit- ting the weight room hard and continu- ing to work with his team to improve behind the scenes until he's eligible again. Jung feels comfortable kicking field goals from 65 yards out in practice and believes he can hit one from 60 in a game. SAFETY COMMIT TAVARES HARRINGTON IS 'FOCUSED ON ONE SCHOOL' Despite defensive back Tavares Har- rington's commitment in May, Ne- braska, Ole Miss and others haven't stopped pursuing him. Even so, the Ri- vals300 safety and four-star prospect remains locked in with the Wolverines. Harrington is the No. 144 recruit in the country and the No. 9 safety in his class out of Chicago powerhouse Mount Carmel. He enjoyed his time on his of- ficial visit and remains very close to his fellow commits, the coaching staff and the current players. "I'm great," Harrington said. "I'm just glad that I can focus on my high school team. I don't have to worry about any other coaches really calling me. I mean, they still call, but I'm focused on one school — Michigan, and Mount Carmel." Harrington's commitment is com- pletely solid going into his senior sea- son, while pursuing his school's fifth- consecutive Illinois state title. The towering defensive back plays corner for Mount Carmel, but he worked on a lot of safety skills this offseason, given that's where he will play at the collegiate level. He said Michigan likes his ability to play all five positions in the secondary. "Going into college, I can play any position, and I've got the length," Har- rington said. The coveted, blue-chip safety took his first two trips to Michigan in years this spring. Those visits catapulted the Wolverines to the top of his recruitment, and safeties coach Tyler Stockton's full- court press helped the program beat out the Fighting Irish among others for his Ryan Jung (with U-M special teams coach Kerry Coombs) is appealing a decision by the Georgia High School Association that he cannot play football as a senior at Milton High. PHOTO COURTESY RYAN JUNG