The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES Michigan has had its share of recruit- ing wins — and also misses — from local power Detroit King. Safety Er- nest Shazor (2001-04) and wide re- ceiver Dennis Norfleet (2012-present) headed down the road to Ann Arbor after standout careers at King, but the Maize and Blue couldn't land 2008 de- fensive end Nick Perry (USC) or 2015 linebacker Tyriq Thompson (Michigan State). T h e Wo l v e r- ines will continue to pursue pros- pects from one of Detroit's con- sistently talented programs, and in the 2016 class the top target is wide receiver Donnie Corley. The 6-2, 174-pounder holds an early offer from Michigan — along with powers like LSU, Arizona State and Notre Dame. "They feel like I could fit the of- fense and make some big plays for the team," Corley said of the Wolverines. "They said I'm not going to be as big as [junior wide receiver] Devin Funchess, but I still have the ability to make the plays he's made for them." Corley certainly has the physical skills to excel at the receiver position. He caught 47 passes for 1,087 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, while also contributing nine interceptions in his first year playing defensive back. "Corley is a very smooth route- runner who lets the football melt into his hands," Rivals.com Midwest re- cruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt said. "He makes it look effortless most of the time, while also making defensive backs look silly. Corley is set up to have a big offseason." Corley is high on the Midwest pro- grams — particularly Michigan State, where 2015 teammates Thompson and offensive lineman Kyonta Stallworth are headed — but he's had a lim- ited opportunity to travel beyond the region to date. He participated in Alabama's camp last summer, but would like to see a wider range of southern programs before trimming his recruitment. "If I show that I'm aggressive, get off the ball hard and catch everything, the attention will come," he said. "I'm just not known down there, so I just want to get out more." That offseason should see his offer list grow larger, with Corley hoping to narrow his focus from nearly two dozen offers to a more manageable group of favorites. With heavy pursuit from the Wol- verines, it's likely that Michigan — re- gardless of who is coaching next year — will remain in the mix. — Tim Sullivan The Wolverines Are Pursuing In-State Receiver ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Martin Luther King Collegiate Detroit Class: 2016 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 174 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 4 recruit in Michigan, No. 38 wide receiver nation- ally and No. 226 player in the country Donnie Corley