Editor’s Word: This text first appeared on Rivals.com, the chief in school soccer and basketball recruiting protection. Be the primary to know and observe your groups by signing up right here.
Michigan simply pulled off a giant in-state flip.
That’s as a result of newly-minted four-star defensive again Elijah Dotson introduced he was flipping from Pittsburgh to Michigan. The Belleville (Mich.) Excessive star had been dedicated to Pitt since Could. Issues picked up between him in Michigan in a giant approach not too long ago and he took an official go to for the matchup with Oregon.
WHAT DOTSON MEANS TO MICHIGAN
The perfect gamers within the state develop into ‘Michigan Males.’ That’s one thing that coach Sherrone Moore would like to make a tentpole of his tenure main this system. With Dotson within the fold, Michigan has commitments from a number of of the highest gamers within the state. He joins four-star defensive finish Bobby Kanka and four-star offensive lineman Avery Gach within the class.
The elite gamers within the state are largely staying residence and going to Ann Arbor. We’ll see what occurs with Dotson’s teammate, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, however the traits statewide have gotten clear. They favor Massive Blue. We’ll see if that holds true for Underwood ultimately.
There may be one other subplot right here that makes this flip sweeter for Massive Blue. Dotson was additionally pursued closely by rival Michigan State. The Spartans actually needed Dotson to be a cornerstone of the brand new program underneath coach Jonathan Smith.
As a substitute he’ll play for the Wolverines.
WHAT DOTSON BRINGS TO THE WOLVERINES
The Wolverines are getting a flexible playmaker that matches the Massive Ten fairly effectively. The brand new Michigan commit was far and wide in the course of the sport I noticed in individual. He racked up 17 tackles in the course of the sport. These tackles didn’t simply come from letting guys catch the ball and making the deal with.
Dotson did an ideal job of coming as much as assist in run help and confirmed his physicality. He performs greater than his dimension (6-2, 175) and it is easy to see why many groups have pushed exhausting to flip him. Dotson additionally has good instincts and performs with a chip on his shoulder. It’s the precise sort of perspective that’s needed in Ann Arbor in coach Sherrone Moore’s program.