The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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54 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2017 COMMITMENT PROFILE Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central three-star offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield originally committed to P.J. Fleck and Minnesota in mid- February, but after visiting Michigan and picking up an offer in late March the 6-5, 250-pounder decided to re- open his recruitment and look at the bigger picture. On May 23, Mayfield announced that the bigger picture would be as a Wolverine. "I knew Michigan was the school for me when I visited for their spring game," he said. "It was unreal — the whole thing just kind of blew me away. That's when I knew I wanted to go there." Catholic Central head coach Todd Kolster has known Mayfield for a very long time and knew that the de- cision to reopen his recruitment was tough for him. "Jalen is a very, very loyal kid," Kolster stated. "It hurt for him to tell Minnesota that he was going to open up his recruitment. That was a very hard thing for him to do. He really liked Coach Fleck and the other guys on the staff. He liked Minnesota a lot, but his commitment was a little impulsive. "It was his first big visit with his family, and it was a great experience. The staff up there treated him very well, and he felt great about the deci- sion at the time." Once the Wolverines came call- ing, though, it was too much for the No. 19 player in Michigan to ignore, according to his father Brian. The elder Mayfield was with Jalen ev- ery step of the way and felt his son would be in the Maize and Blue once that offer materialized. "He's been a Michigan fan and a Michigan kid since he was little, and when he got that offer it changed the game for him," Brian Mayfield ex- plained. "He was pretty much ready right away. He was waiting on that offer. It was a dream offer for him, and Michigan is a dream place to be. "He loves [Greg] Frey and [Tim] Drevno and Jim [Harbaugh], of course. It's just awesome." Those relationships with the coaches at Michigan were the big- gest factors in Mayfield picking U-M. "I have a great relationship with Coach Frey," Mayfield said. "We text about cool stuff, like the NBA Finals. We talk almost three or four times a week, and we just have great conver- sations. He's a great guy, and I can't wait to play for him. "I'm also looking forward to be- ing with Coach Harbaugh and Coach Drevno, and really getting to know them. I can't wait to get there." Mayfield's athleticism has been on display in multiple sports for a long time. He's been a two-way starter for Catholic Central since his freshman year, shining at offensive tackle and defensive end, and was a big reason why the Cougars won a Division 4 state championship last year. He also averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game on the basketball court last season. Mayfield was a first-team Associ- ated Press Division 3-4 all-state se- lection last fall and will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next January in San Antonio. — Brandon Brown FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Jalen Mayfield is undersized for an offensive tackle at 6-5 and 250 pounds, but he has near elite athleticism. He shines on the basketball court as well as the gridiron. He demonstrates excellent footwork and agility when he's protecting his quarterback. He's also extremely flexible and speedy for an of- fensive line prospect, helping make up for his lack of bulk and brute strength. Areas Of Improvement: Mayfield definitely needs to get stronger. Once he has a chance to focus on only football, he should have no problem adding weight and muscle. He doesn't have a huge, frame so getting up to 300 to 310 pounds might be his ceiling, but if he can maintain his athleticism and add the necessary strength for the position he could end up being a very, very good tackle. Michigan Player Comparison: Despite being listed as a defensive end as a recruit, Patrick Omameh is a decent comparison for Mayfield. Slightly longer and maybe a touch less athletic, Omameh was just 236 pounds at 6-4 during his senior year of high school. Three years into his Michigan career, he was at 305 pounds and playing offensive tackle. Now in the NFL, Omameh shows what could be in store for Mayfield should he bulk up enough to play the position at a high level in the Big Ten. — Analysis from TheWolverine.com Rivals.com rates the 6-5, 250-pound Mayfield as the No. 19 prospect in the state of Michigan. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN Michigan Flips In-State Lineman Jalen Mayfield From The Gophers Mayfield on his Michigan visit in the spring "It was unreal — the whole thing just kind of blew me away. That's when I knew I wanted to go there."