The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE flipped to Michigan while on campus. Prattville (Ala.) three-star athlete Keith Washington may have had the most circuitous route to Ann Arbor of them all. The 6-2, 175-pounder was a dual-threat quarterback for his high school team, and committed to Duke in the summer before his senior season to play that position. He re-opened the recruiting process later, and received several offers to play defensive back. He committed to California Jan. 24, but less than two weeks later (after an in-home visit from Jim Harbaugh), he switched to Michigan on Signing Day without ever taking a campus visit. In all, six of Michigan's 14 signees — and six of the seven who committed to Harbaugh's staff after the coaching change in Ann Arbor — had at one time been committed to another pro- gram. SOME EARLY COMMITMENTS CHANGED THEIR MINDS Michigan's 2015 recruiting class lost a number of commitments. That's no surprise given the way the 2013 and 2014 seasons played out. It's even less shocking with a coaching change in Ann Arbor. Five-star running back Damien Har- ris, the top player at his position and No. 8 overall player nationally, signed with Alabama. The Berea (Ky.) Madi- son Southern standout decommitted from Michigan in early 2014 in the wake of the Wolverines' firing of for- mer offensive coordinator Al Borges. Fellow five-star George Campbell, a wide receiver from Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake, decommitted around the same time. The high school team- mate of U-M offensive lineman Mason Cole is the No. 5 wideout and No. 26 overall prospect nationally, and will instead play at Florida State. The country's top tight end, Avon (Conn.) Old Farms product Chris Clark, signed with UCLA despite his initial Michigan commitment and Jim Harbaugh's pedigree of cranking out NFL tight ends. The No. 79 overall prospect in the nation made his com- mitment on ESPN the morning of Na- tional Signing Day. Indianapolis Lawrence Central four- star linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. is No. 10 nationally at his position and No. 168 overall. He decommitted from Michigan during the trying 2014 season and pledged to Tennessee, where he enrolled early. Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher 's cornerback Garrett Taylor decommit- ted late in the 2014 season as well, and the 6-0, 196-pounder ultimately signed with Penn State. The No. 108 overall prospect and No. 9 cornerback nation- ally missed his entire senior season with a knee injury. Fellow corner Shaun Crawford de- committed before the season, opting instead to continue his Catholic educa- tion at Notre Dame following a stand- out career at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Ed- ward. The 5-9, 170-pounder is the No. 7 cornerback and No. 82 overall player in the nation. Defensive tackle Darian Roseboro, the No. 13 player at his position and No. 100 overall, opted to decommit from U-M a month after his pledge. The 6-4, 264-pounder will instead stay