Michigan Football 2011: DB Prospect Jarrod Wilson Commits to Wolverines

Jarrod Wilson, a 4-star safety out of Ohio, committed to the Michigan football program on Friday.  Rated as the 13th-best safety in the country, this is a big get for the Wolverines.  Over the past 20 years or so, you could debate that the safety position has been the weakest spot on Michigan's defense year after year.

In Wilson, Michigan is getting a safety with good size, as he stands 6'2" and weighs 190 pounds. However, by the time he arrives on campus, he could weigh well over 200 pounds.

Speculation is that, with Wilson now on board, Michigan will not pursue any more defensive backs and is done recruiting the position.  The Wolverines currently have two cornerbacks committed—Terry Richardson and Anthony Standifer—and two safeties.  Richardson is right out of Detroit and is rated as one of the 200 best players in the country.  Standifer is from Illinois, but is only rated as a 3-star CB.

Joining Wilson at safety in this class is Allen Gant, a 3-star player out of Ohio.  If you look at the four defensive backs they have committed, it is a solid group of players, but not necessarily a great group.  Seeing as how horrendous the defensive backs have played for Michigan the past three years, it would not have hurt to take another good corner or safety in this class.

Out of the trio of Courtney Avery, Troy Woolfolk and J.T. Floyd, two of the three will start at cornerback for Michigan this fall.  Which two is yet to be determined.  Beyond those three, there is simply no experience. 

Tony Anderson will be a senior this fall, but he hasn't played much in his career and isn't expected to contribute a whole lot this fall.  Terrence Talbott played some as a true freshman last year, but might be lucky if he sees the field as much as he did last season.

Michigan did, however, recruit some good cornerbacks in its 2011 class.  The best incoming freshman corner is Blake Countess.  He was a highly recruited 4-star out of Maryland, and could certainly see playing time this fall in nickel and dime packages.  Other incoming freshmen corners Michigan has high hopes for are Raymon Taylor, Greg Brown, Tamani Carter and Delonte Hollowell.

Sophomore Carvin Johnson looks to have one safety spot locked up, and if Jordan Kovacs doesn't win the other safety job, it'll go to another sophomore, Marvin Robinson.  Robinson was a highly recruited 4-star out of Florida who looks to have a bright future.  If he does win the job, Michigan's safeties will obviously be very young this year, but as they gain experience, they could actually provide a solid safety duo for years to come.

Robinson, Johnson and Kovacs will certainly be the main contributors at safety, but another player that will see some time at the position is Josh Furman.  He is a redshirt freshman that the coaches have been absolutely raving about during spring practice.  He looks to have a bright future ahead of him.  Another player that could possibly see playing time is Thomas Gordon.  As with all the other safeties, he is very young, being only a redshirt sophomore.

As you can see, Michigan is young at cornerback, and even younger at safety.  Hopefully, these young players will gain experience and be effective, which would allow a player such as Jarrod Wilson to develop and not be rushed into game action too soon.