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Michigan Football: No. 1 recruit Rashan Gary commits to Wolverines

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 2, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Team Highlight player Rashan Gary won the defensive MVP trophy following the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game at Orlando Citrus Bowl. Team Highlight beat Team Armour 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Team Highlight player Rashan Gary won the defensive MVP trophy following the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game at Orlando Citrus Bowl. Team Highlight beat Team Armour 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The nation’s top recruit, Rashan Gary, announced on National Signing Day he will be playing his college football for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan football may be the biggest winner on National Signing Day after Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines were successful in holding off all other suitors and were able to get the commitment and signature from the nation’s top recruit, Rashan Gary (Paramus, N.J. Paramus Catholic)

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The consensus top recruit since his junior year, the 6-5, 293-pound Gary has been widely considered to be headed to Ann Arbor, but late in the recruiting process, it’s difficult to feel too confident about anything. Gary considered Alabama, Auburn and USC but when it came time to make his decision it was down to the Clemson Tigers who hosted him for an official visit on Jan. 29 and Michigan.

In the end, it was Michigan that won out and where he’ll be reunited with former high school teammate Jabrill Peppers and former high school coach Chris Partridge who is a part of the Michigan coaching staff.

Gary has everything you would want in a defensive tackle. He’s big and strong, but not a lumbering presence out there who can’t do anything outside of occupying blockers. He almost looks skinny without much body fat and could add 15-25 pounds of muscle in the next few years to get to the 315-pound range and be a dominant force along the defensive line.

His lighting quick first step and explosiveness allow him to get into the backfield to stop running backs in their tracks and to pressure the quarterback as a pass rusher. He’s ahead of the curve when it comes to using his hands to disengage offensive linemen should compete for a starting job as soon as he steps on campus.

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At the Under Armour All-American Game in January, Gary was unblockable and looked like a college All-American playing against the high school JV team. His commitment to Michigan means the Wolverines will have a top-five class Harbaugh, no matter how unorthodox he is as a recruiter, you can’t argue with the results.

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