Michigan Recruiting News: Four-star DE Ron Johnson Jr. commits to Wolverines

Four-star defensive end Ron Johnson Jr. is the latest to commit to the Michigan Wolverines after he gave his verbal pledge to the staff on Thursday afternoon.

Jim Harbaugh’s first recruiting class with the Michigan Wolverines is shaping up to be one of the nation’s best after a flurry of commitments at the end of June, including today’s commitment from four-star defensive end Ronald Johnson Jr.

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Johnson (Camden, N.J. Camden) is the nation’s No. 215 overall recruit, No. 14 weak-side defensive end and the No. 8 recruit in the state of New Jersey, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He picked the Wolverines after taking an unofficial visit to the Ann Arbor campus and chose Michigan over offers from the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Notre Dame, among others.

The 6-4, 240-pound defensive end had 84 tackles and 10 sacks last year as a junior. He is the fifth-highest ranked recruit in Harbaugh’s class that now has commitments from 20 players and the first from a defensive end. In fact, Johnson is the highest-ranked defensive end to commit to Michigan since 2009, according to ESPN’s RecruitingNation blogger Tom VanHaaren.

Michigan moved up one spot in the 247Sports team rankings to No. 7 and have the No. 3 class in the Big Ten.

Harbaugh hasn’t even coached a game yet for Michigan but he’s already got more momentum on the recruiting trail than his predecessor, Brady Hoke, ever had during his illustrious tenure and former five-star recruit Jabrill Peppers has taken notice.

https://twitter.com/JabrillPeppers/status/614170884572450816

What’s next for Michigan on the recruiting trail?

Johnson’s high school teammate and four-star receiver Brad Hawkins could be the next to commit after he tweeted on Thursday that he plans to commit on Friday, less than a week after taking an unofficial visit to Michigan.

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