FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, file photo, Rashan Gary, of Paramus, N.J., talks to members of the media in Atlanta, while on hand to receive the Bobby Dodd national high school lineman of the year award at the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. The defensive tackle from Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey and most-wanted recruit in the country is weighing whether to play for one of those Southern power programs such as Alabama and Clemson or head to Michigan to be part of the Wolverines' rebirth under Jim Harbaugh. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)John Amis/Associated Press

Rashan Gary to Michigan: Wolverines Land No. 1 Overall Recruit

Daniel KramerFeb 1, 2016

The nation's No. 1-ranked defensive tackle recruit , Rashan Gary, announced on Wednesday he will attend the University of Michigan.

Gary was deemed the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation by 247Sports' composite rankings.

Paul Myerberg of USA Today reported Gary is the first No. 1 overall recruit to sign with a team outside the SEC since Terrelle Pryor committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2008.

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On Monday, Gary's mother told Brian Dohn of Scout.com he had narrowed down his choices to either Michigan or Clemson. Gary eliminated Alabama and Auburn from his list of finalists that day.

"It was very close," Gary said Wednesday, per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN.com. "Those are schools that I love, and it was very hard to pick between them, but I felt like I did what was best for me."

He'll be a good fit at Michigan, where head coach Jim Harbaugh was pulling out all of the recruiting stops—such as bringing in former New York Yankee Derek Jeter and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for a “Signing of the Stars” event in partnership with the Players' Tribune on national signing day.

Harbaugh’s Wolverines should take another big leap from their 10-win season in 2015 and contend for the Big Ten title.