The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/362774
FOOTBALL RECRUITING School has produced dozens of Division I signees (including defensive end Anthony LaLota, who signed with U‑M in 2009 before leaving the game of football), and if the big lineman can move the pile against Hun, he may prove himself worthy of a bump. — Tim Sullivan of the Midwest's top squads. He has consistently shown that he is solid in all phases — not the biggest, fastest or toughest, but above-average in all three — and if he does more than that this year, he can see his ranking improve. Adding playmaking flair to his consistency would give him a chance to slide upwards in the rankings. CB GARRETT TAYLOR 6-1, 188 • Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's Four-star recruit, No. 2 player in Virginia, and No. 7 corner- back and No. 48 prospect nationally Taylor, Michigan's highest-rated commit, has been consid- ered one of the nation's elite since he burst onto the scene at the Richmond stop of the Rivals Camp series before his sophomore year. LSU, Michigan State, Ohio State and Stan- ford all came calling, but he opted to become a Wolverine. Taylor 's Richmond St. Christopher 's School team fin- ished the 2013 season with a 6-4 record, falling in the first round of the playoffs to Collegiate School (and Taylor 's future teammate, 2014 quarterback Wilton Speight). On the season, Taylor notched 47 tackles while accounting for three turnovers with an interception and two forced fumbles. Since he has committed to Michigan, he chose to forgo the camp circuit leading up to his senior year, and there is no new basis on which to evaluate his ranking. St. Christopher's should be even stronger in 2014 than they were last fall, with not only Taylor but also four-star outside linebacker/defensive end Ricky DeBerry — who can pressure opposing quarterbacks into giving Taylor the opportunity for interceptions with poor throws. However, it's unlikely that Taylor's ranking will go up much: he's already highly ranked and has shown plenty on the field earlier in his career. It would have to be a special season to climb even further in the rankings.