The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/678402
PREP PROFILES Lexington (Ky.) Lafayette 2017 prospect Jedrick Wills is one of the top offensive tackles in the nation, and the Michigan staff has taken no- tice. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator/line coach Tim Drevno have let him know just w h a t a p r i o r- ity he is in their class. " I t a l k e d t o Coach Harbaugh a couple times, then I communi- cate with Coach Drevno," Wills s a i d . " T h e y ' v e d e f i n i t e l y t o l d me that they like me, and they watch the way I play." Despite not having ideal size (6-4, 316) for the tackle position, Wills holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State and several others among the nation's top programs. Rivals.com rates him as a five-star talent, the top player in Kentucky, and the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 16 overall prospect nationally. "What has always been impressive about Wills is his combination of strength and footwork," Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Woody Wommack said. "He is rarely out of position, even when he is able to land a devastating initial punch that staggers a defensive end. "… Wills has long arms that, com- bined with his quick feet, should al- low him to stay at tackle in college." It's easy to see why schools are so excited about him. For one like Michigan, outside his home region, there's a process to get his excite- ment about them built to the same level. The Wol- verines' coach- ing staff is trying to get Wills to spend part of his summer in Ann Arbor to see what it's all about. " T h e y w a n t to get me down there in the sum- m e r, " h e s a i d . "That timeframe is when I told them that I'd probably be there. I've heard a bit about their campus before. "People talk about how big the stadium is and how nice campus is, so I hope it lives up to expectations." If it does, Michigan can be right back into the thick of his recruit- ment. For the time being, they're on the periphery. Though there's ground to make up, there's time to do it. "I'm not sure when I'm going to start narrowing it down yet, but I'm just trying to visit everywhere to find the best school for me," he said. "I just know that I'm going to go to the place that fits me best." — Tim Sullivan Five-Star Kentucky Tackle Stays In Touch With Michigan ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Lafayette H.S. Lexington, Ky. Class: 2017 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 316 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 1 player in Kentucky, and No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 16 overall prospect nationally Jedrick Wills