4-Star JaRaymond Hall on Commitment to Michigan: 'It Just Felt Right'

Michigan’s 2017 class received a huge boost over the weekend when 4-star offensive lineman JaRaymond Hall pledged to the Wolverines.

The 6’5”, 270-pounder is rated the No. 5 prospect in the state of Michigan and the No. 204 player overall in the 2017 cycle.

For Hall, the decision to stay in-state and play his college football less than 50 miles away from his hometown was an easy one.

“It just felt right. When I’m there, it feels like home,” Hall told Bleacher Report. “My parents liked it and so did I. So I just made the decision and got it out of the way.”

Hall chose Michigan over offers from Ole Miss, Penn State and Tennessee. Arizona, Michigan State and Nebraska were other schools showing interest.

He noted that he gave some consideration to playing on the West Coast, since he has a grandfather who lives in Arizona. 

However, Harbaugh has taken little time to rejuvenate the program in his first season as the head coach at his alma mater, which Hall said was one of the key factors in deciding to make his commitment.

“[Michigan] turned the season around and I feel like Coach Harbaugh and the staff are bringing the tradition back,” Hall said. “The education is really good there, too. Those two things were huge with me.”

Hall, who reports a GPA of “right around 3.0,” has tentative plans to major in criminal justice when he arrives in Ann Arbor.

His commitment is big for the Wolverines for another reason.

As Steve Lorenz of Wolverine247 detailed, Hall is one of nine in-state 2017 prospects whom Michigan identified early and offered—a group the Wolverines coaching staff has dubbed the “Pipeline Nine.”

Hall is the first one of that group to commit, and he has plans on making sure he’s not the last.

“I want to get all of the Pipeline Nine guys with me and just try to start something special,” Hall explained. “Also want to get my boy [2017 3-star athlete] Antjuan Simmons over there too. If we get everyone together, it could be a special class.”

Hall said he spoke with the staff, including lead recruiter and Wolverines running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley, shortly after his commitment.

“They were excited and they were just ready to work with me,” Hall described of the staff’s reaction.

He also noted that former Wolverines All-American and current Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan is a player he’s looked up to and studied closely over the years.

Wolverines fans are hoping he can follow in Lewan’s footsteps and develop into a fixture along the offensive line in the future.

“[Michigan is getting] somebody that is smart, works hard and is a really great athlete,” Hall said. “That’s what I plan to bring to Michigan.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani