Michigan Football: 4-Star Safety Commits to Wolverines and Other Recruiting News

While the experts at ESPN were busy discussing LeBron James’ infamous press conference, The Decision, Akron (OH) Buchtel safety Jarrod Wilson had a critical choice to make about his future in football.

Friday afternoon, Wilson, who is a 4-star safety and the No. 13 prospect at the position according to Rivals.com, announced this afternoon he is taking his talents to Ann Arbor to play for the University of Michigan.

The 6'2'', 190-pound Wilson chose the Wolverines over the Penn State Nittany Lions and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

“When I got there (Michigan), right away I had that gut feeling. Then, as I started to walk around the campus I just fell in love with it,” Wilson told TheWolverine.com. “It was just the family atmosphere down there. It felt like home to me, to be truthful.”

Wilson is projected to play free safety for Michigan, and his verbal commitment means 3-star safety Jeremy Clark will grayshirt in 2012 to salvage an extra scholarship for this year’s recruiting class. 

Clark will not be on scholarship with the Wolverines until 2013 and he will count toward next year’s recruiting class.

With his announcement this afternoon, Wilson became the eighth player from the state of Ohio and the 18th prospect to give the Wolverines a verbal commitment for their 2012 recruiting class.

Wilson’s commitment likely rules out Michigan adding another defensive back for next year. 

Anthony Standifer (Crete, IL), Terry Richardson (Detroit, MI) and Allen Gant (Sylvania, OH) have all given the Wolverines verbal agreements to play in their secondary in 2012.

Wilson has also decided to graduate high school early and become an early enrollee for the Wolverines in January. 

In other Michigan recruiting news, 4-star offensive tackle Kyle Kalis told Josh Helmholdt, an administrator for The Fort on TheWolverine.com, he is considering another visit to Ann Arbor with his family this weekend. 

Kalis reportedly enjoyed his visit to Michigan two weeks ago after de-committing from Ohio State.

Jordan Diamond (Chicago, IL), who is the No. 209 overall prospect and a 4-star offensive tackle according to Rivals.com, told TheWolverine.com he will not make a decision until the fall.

“I’m going to still take it into the fall,” Diamond said. “I’m not in a rush to make any decision.”

Diamond also told the website that the number of offensive lineman Michigan receive commitments from will not hurt the Wolverines when he makes his decision.

“That doesn’t change anything about Michigan,” Diamond said. “I’m just there to compete and hopefully they don’t fill up on me because Michigan is one of my top schools. Hopefully they save a scholarship for me...but I don’t have any problems going in and competing with anybody...I don’t care how many people they sign.”

The Wolverines are also looking to add at least one wide receiver for their 2012 class, and they hope it will be Jordan Payton from Westlake Village, California. 

The Oaks Christian High School standout is a 4-star prospect and No. 96 overall rated player, according to Rivals.com.

Payton told InsidetheGators.com Wednesday that Michigan, Florida, Cal, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Oklahoma would be receiving visits form him in the fall.

“Michigan is kind of different. For some reason I grew up liking them,” Payton said. “I have always wanted to go visit them just to see what it was that  made me like them at such a young age. So that visit will be more about just seeing the campus.”

Payton will be tough to steer away from Florida and their new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who coached Oaks Christian graduate Jimmy Clausen at Notre Dame. 

“Me and Jimmy are real close and of course he played for Coach Weis so he is always telling me about how great of a coach he is and how good of an offense he has,” Payton said.

Finally, 4-star defensive tackle Danny O’Brien (Flint, MI) told Rivals.com recruiting analyst Adam Gorney that Michigan will be among his final six teams. 

“Michigan and Tennessee have bee there from the beginning,” O’Brien said. “They were the first two schools to recruit me and then the first two schools to offer me.”

O’Brien has gotten close to Michigan’s new defensive coaches Greg Mattison and Jerry Montgomery, which is a big reason the Wolverines are high on his list of suitors.

“I’ve developed a pretty good relationship with some coaches on that staff including coach (Greg) Mattison and coach (Jerry) Montgomery,” O’Brien said. “And they’re pulling a really good recruiting class right now so that definitely sticks out in my mind.”

O’Brien will finalize his top six teams soon, cut one from the list, then take official visits to the remaining schools and commit at the end of his senior season.

The Flint Powers Catholic star is the No. 17 defensive tackle and No. 222 overall prospect, according to Rivals.com.

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