The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Wolverines' Jersey Haul More Than Just Gary Michigan's coaching staff did an outstanding job in landing the all-time top player from New Jersey (Rashan Gary is the first Garden Stater to be named Rivals.com's No. 1 overall prospect). The other five signees from the state are much more than just window dressing, however. Four of them earned four-star rankings, and the fifth filled a very specific need at nose tackle after the Maize and Blue lost a com- mitment at the spot. Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic sent a pair of prospects to Ann Arbor. At one point, running back Kareem Walker may have challenged Gary for the mantle of the class's top dog. Entering his senior year, Walker was the No. 21 overall prospect in the nation, but stagnation during his final year in a DePaul Spartans jersey saw him slip to No. 181 overall (No. 6 among tailbacks and No. 5 in New Jersey) by the time National Signing Day arrived. Although he rushed for 1,517 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior year, that was actually a step back from a junior year that saw him go for 1,607 yards and 26 touchdowns with a healthy average of 8.1 yards per carry. During his senior "Clemson is pretty much established right now, and they played in the national championship. Rashan wanted to be a part of something that was growing. Michigan has been there before, and he thinks they're on the way right back. He liked that. "Then there are great academics, with law and business intriguing Rashan. The academics at Michigan are just great. He ultimately had more comfort [in Ann Arbor] because he's been there several times." Fortunately, the wear and tear of the recruiting process is out of their lives, and both prospect and parent can return to normal — as normal as life ever is for the family of a 6-5, 293-pounder considered the best high school football player in the country. Gary is ecstatic with his choice and almost as happy to simply have the selection out of his mind. "It's a relief," Coney said with a laugh. "It's time to just relax, life is back to nor- mal. I have more time to do everything, and it's a lot of stress off Rashan. "Now that recruiting is over, Rashan has chosen Michigan, and it's all Michigan for him. He has direct contact with the coaches now that he's chosen them. He can talk to [defensive line coach Greg] Mattison and talk to the other assistant coaches. He'll talk to the staff on his own." Soon, that contact will be face-to-face — or face-to-facemask — as the Wol- verines prepare in August camp to unleash Gary on opposing offenses this fall. — Tim Sullivan