The Wolverine

May 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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60 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2018   PREP PROFILES St. Louis St. John Vianney three- star wide receiver Kyren Williams was just sitting in class March 27 when he got a text from an Ann Ar- bor phone number. He opened up the message and almost couldn't be- lieve what he was reading. "I was in class and I saw a ran- dom number text me," Williams said. "I opened it and it was Coach [Jim] Harbaugh. He said he liked my film and wanted me to call him. I went to the office, called him and he offered me. "I was shocked in a good way. I was happy I got it and pretty relieved because I was waiting for a Michigan offer. I've always liked Michigan." Several schools — including Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Caro- lina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Purdue, Stanford and Wisconsin — are recruiting the 5-9, 191-pounder. Some schools like Williams as a running back, and others see him as a slot receiver. The Michigan staff didn't really specify, and Williams is fine with that because of how Harbaugh and his assistants have used players in the past. "They have always had great play- ers like Jabrill Peppers, who played an athlete position like me," Williams said. "They said whatever I feel com- fortable with, I will play. It's big. I like to have my options open so I can help the team out." Michigan seems to be in a good spot because of what Harbaugh has done in the past and because of what U-M offers on and off the field. "Jim Harbaugh is one of the best in the nation on and off the field," Wil- liams said. "I already know the stuff I want to know about Michigan, so I'm going to build relationships with coaches from now on. "I want a strong education and a strong coaching staff to build rela- tionships with. I want to know those guys always have my back. I also want great facilities and tradition." Michigan certainly seems to check Williams' boxes and the U-M staff would love to add a versatile athlete like him. As a junior, Williams was selected first-team Class 5 All-State by the Missouri Football Coaches Associa- tion after carrying the ball 119 times for 922 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also had 51 catches for 774 yards and 12 scores, and averaged 14 yards per return on special teams and returned a punt for a touchdown. — Brandon Brown An Offer From Wolverines Surprises St. Louis Standout ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ St. John Vianney H.S. St. Louis Class: 2019 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 5-9 • Wt.: 191 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 9 prospect in Missouri and No. 50 wide receiver nationally Kyren Williams Williams "I was shocked in a good way. I was happy I got it and pretty relieved because I was waiting for a Michigan offer. I've always liked Michigan." Mineral (Va.) Louisa County four- star defensive end Brandon Smith has become one of Michigan's top targets on that side of the ball. The 6-3, 218-pounder spent the day in Ann Arbor in early April, thoroughly enjoyed his visit and got a valuable look at what it means to be a student- athlete at U-M. "The visit went great," he said. "I got to see campus and the facilities for the first time. The alumni network they told me about stood out. I spent a lot of time with Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, Coach [Don] Brown and Coach [Al] Washington. I bonded the most with Coach Washington and Coach Brown. "We bonded by spending time watching film and talking about my role. They all expressed how I could make an immediate impact." Rivals lists Smith as a weakside defensive end, and the Wolverines already have two commitments at the position in four-star Stephen Her- ron and three-star Gabe Newburg. However, Michigan and the other schools recruiting Smith project him at another position. "Coach Brown wants me solely as a linebacker, mainly at the Viper and Sam positions," Smith explained. "Coach Brown likes what I can do at that position. I don't really have any teams looking at me as a defensive end — it's linebacker only." With an offer from Michigan in hand and a visit to Ann Arbor in the books, Rivals' No. 5 weakside defensive end and No. 53 overall prospect nationally is in the process of taking other visits and comparing them to U-M. "There are quite a few schools re- cruiting me hard," he said. "I visited Notre Dame before Michigan, and checked out Ohio State and Penn State after as well. "I want to continue to build rela- tionships with Coach Harbaugh and Coach Brown. I think I could pos- sibly be back for an official visit in the fall." Smith will continue to remain pa- tient in his recruitment, but would like to pull the trigger in the fall. Michigan is in a good spot with Smith and would love to add a player that recorded a team-high 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks as a junior. Smith was a first-team all-state selection after the productive season and has become one of the more cov- eted defenders in the country with a year of high school football left. — Brandon Brown Virginia Pass Rusher Has Emerged As A Top Target For Michigan ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Louisa County H.S. Mineral, Va. Class: 2019 Position: Defensive End Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 218 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 2 recruit in Virginia, and No. 5 weakside defensive end and No. 53 overall player nationally Brandon Smith Smith on the time he spent with U-M coaches on his visit "We bonded by spending time watching film and talking about my role. They all expressed how I could make an im- mediate impact."

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