The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/666058
COMMITMENT PROFILE Michigan has placed a serious em‑ phasis on recruiting the state of Ala‑ bama under Jim Harbaugh. The Wol‑ verines signed defensive back Keith Washington in 2015, and his former Prattville High School teammate, run‑ ning back Kingston Davis in 2016 (Da‑ vis' classmate, linebacker Dytarious Johnson, remains committed to Michi‑ gan but did not sign while he works through the NCAA Clearinghouse). U‑M has offered dozens of prospects in the Yellowhammer State in the 2016‑18 classes. The first fruits of that labor for the 2017 class have arrived in the form of Florence (Ala.) High safety J'Marick Woods. He picked the Maize and Blue March 28 on the heels of an unofficial visit to Ann Arbor. "I really decided Saturday on my way back home in the car with my parents," said Woods, who is listed as a three‑star prospect, the No. 18 player in Alabama and the No. 31 safety na‑ tionally by Rivals.com. "I told Coach Harbaugh I was going to call him Monday to let him know officially or not. I called him with my coach, and let him know that I was officially going to commit to them. "I just really talked with my family, my coaches and my teammates about my decision," he explained. "They are important people in my life. They were comfortable with it, and I was com‑ fortable with it. We were all just 100 percent." The 6‑3, 198‑pounder found comfort in Michigan's long‑standing interest in him: the Wolverines and Kentucky became his first two offers on the same day last May. The presence of other Alabama natives in Ann Arbor also helped. That includes not only the re‑ cent signees, but also an addition to the staff. Michigan hired former Prattville as‑ sistant Antonio "Bam" Richards as an offensive analyst earlier this offseason, which should help boost their profile in the state. Richards and Harbaugh were among those who enjoyed Woods' commitment the most, according to the prospect himself. "They loved it," Woods said with a J'Marick Woods Continues Pipeline From Alabama To Ann Arbor Rivals.com rates Woods as a three- star recruit, the No. 18 prospect in Alabama and the No. 31 safety in the county. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM