The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE that he's going to blow the doors off of Michigan. "What's going to get him in the door is his blocking to begin with. Then when you throw the ball out to him and you see how big, long and athletic he is — it's unbelievable." It's obvious that the physical tools are there for Asiasi, and the mentality to work and play early is as well. Get- ting him right on the coaching side of things will be the job of tight ends mentor Jay Harbaugh. If what the young position coach did with Butt is any indication of future development, Asiasi has a lot to look forward to. "I think Coach Jay is a real good guy," Asiasi said. "I think he really connects with the young players, which makes him a good coach. He had a lot of success last year with Jake Butt and the rest of the group." The younger Harbaugh is excited to get a talent, a worker and a winner like Asiasi in his position room. "Devin is an ultra-competitive team guy who has had an illustrious high school career," Harbaugh said. "He won two state championships play- ing for one of the best high school teams in the country at Concord De La Salle. "As a player, he is tenacious, vio- lent and physically bludgeons his op- ponents. He also has unusual quick- ness, ball skills and elusiveness for an athlete of his size." Sitting beside of Asiasi in that meet- ing room will be Butt, who is a senior and the reigning Big Ten Tight End of the Year. Asiasi paid attention to Butt catching 51 balls for 654 yards and three touchdowns in 2015, and he can't wait to learn from the All- American. "I'm super excited to play with Jake," Asiasi said. "I talked to him when I was there during my visit. He still texts me, and we go back and forth. He talks about how we are go- ing to get even better this season. I can't wait to get under his wing this year, really learn from him and learn his ways. "He was very successful, hopefully we can make each other better and that will turn into success for me in the long run. It's going to be a great year and getting knowledge from him is going to be really helpful." Asiasi, who is also listed as the No. 10 player in California, was the last prospect to join Michigan's 2016 class. He did so about two hours after the nation's No. 1 overall prospect, Rashan Gary, pledged to the Wolver- ines. Because of the timing, Asiasi — the second-highest ranked player in Michigan's class — got a bit over- shadowed by Gary. None of that mat- tered to him, though, because his mo- ment went exactly like he envisioned. "To me, it was just a blessing to be with my family during my commit- ment," he said. "Rashan is the No. 1 player in the nation and he deserves that for sure. I'm happy for him and glad to be teammates with him. "The only thing that really mat- tered to me, though, was having my family there during something that never really happened in my family before. I'm just glad they got to share the moment with me." ❏