The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
FOOTBALL RECRUITING RASHAN GARY IS THE BEST DT IN RIVALS.COM HISTORY Rivals.com has been around in its present form since 2002, and in those 15 years, Rashan Gary is the lone de- fensive tackle to be ranked No. 1 in the Rivals100, bringing a great honor to the five-star from New Jersey and to the Maize and Blue. "No. 1 overall, in New Jersey and at defensive tackle in the class of 2016, Gary has been a hot name in recruit- ing since before he even began high school," Rivals.com wrote. "As he ac- cumulated offers from every major program in the country, he remained rather quiet about favorites while tak- ing numerous visits during the sum- mer, fall and winter. "Michigan, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama and Auburn be- gan to stand out, but after a while it was the Wolverines who seemed to pull ahead of the pack. With his ex- high school coach, Chris Partridge, at Michigan, and with the Wolverines making New Jersey a recruiting prior- ity this year, Gary [made] his way to Ann Arbor on National Signing Day." Rivals.com national recruiting ana- lyst Mike Farrell went on to say that re- gardless of position, Gary is one of the best No. 1-ranked players of all time. "Gary is special, that's why he's No. 1," Farrell penned. "Is he the all- time best No. 1? Nope, but he's in the middle somewhere and you have to remember we've had guys like [Okla- homa running back] Adrian Peterson, [South Carolina defensive end] Jade- veon Clowney, [Florida wide receiver/ athlete] Percy Harvin, [Texas quarter- back] Vince Young and some other amazing talents as well. "But as a defensive tackle, he's the best I've seen and it's an impressive list behind him. He can play outside or inside, on the nose or outside the tight end, it doesn't matter — he can be ef- fective. His best spot is in a 4-3 defense playing a three-technique but he will be moved around." Over the last 15 years, only eight Power Five conference coaches have RIVALS.COM'S TOP-RANKED DEFENSIVE TACKLES ALL TIME Class Defensive Tackle School Class Rank 2016 Rashan Gary Michigan No. 1 2002 Haloti Ngata Oregon No. 2 2016 Dexter Lawrence Clemson No. 2 2012 Mario Edwards Florida State No. 3 2009 Sheldon Richardson Missouri No. 4 2010 Shariff Floyd Florida No. 4 2006 Gerald McCoy Oklahoma No. 4 2013 Kenny Bigelow USC No. 6 2015 Kahlil McKenzie Tennessee No. 6 2015 Trenton Thompson Georgia No. 7 RASHAN GARY