Michigan Lands Stud 5-Star IMG Academy 2017 LB Jordan Anthony

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Michigan pulled another top player out of IMG Academy securing five-star linebacker Jordan Anthony on Thursday pushing the Wolverines class to a completed 25 recruits.

Anthony was part of a loaded 2016 IMG Academy squad during his senior year helping the Ascenders to an 11-0 record finishing the year ranked as the No. 4 team in the country (MaxPreps). The 6-0, 220 pound, defender was third on the team with 79 total tackles, 42 solo, five tackles for a loss, and three passes defended with stats posted through 10 games.

The former Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD) standout was part of IMG’s success during his junior season contributing to his Florida squad’s 9-0 mark by carrying the rock 43 times for 241 yards with three scores. Anthony was the second leading rusher for the Ascenders behind Notre Dame signee Tony Jones.

Anthony had over 20 schools wanting him by the time he committed to the Wolverines gaining offers from teams like Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Auburn, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Iowa, and Kentucky. Michigan’s staff has been on Anthony since the off-season making several coaches’ visits to IMG to meet with Anthony. The Wolverines hosted their newest linebacker commit on Oct. 1 holding his interest past an official taken to Oklahoma on Dec. 3.

Michigan fans found out about Anthony’s commitment via a video posted on Twitter.

The month of December has been a great one for the Wolverines staff and their fan base. Six players have committed thus far; Ambry Thomas, Tarik Black, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Deron Irving-Bey, Cesar Ruiz, and Anthony. The last two commits, center Cesar Ruiz and Anthony, are both from IMG Academy.

Rivals rates Michigan’s 2017 class No. 5 in the nation with two five-star recruits, 12 four-star players, and 10 three-star talents. 247Sports sees the class as the fourth best in the country, No. 2 overall in the Big Ten.

Michigan Wolverines 2017 Verbal Commitment List (24)

SS J’Marick Woods, 6-3, 205, Florence HS, Florence, AL

SS Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Cass Tech, Detroit, MI

CB Benjamin Saint-Juste, 6-3, 185, Vieux, Montreal, Quebec

CB Ambry Thomas, 5-11.5, 174, Martin Luther King, Detroit, MI

LB Jordan Anthony, 6-0, 220, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

LB Ben Mason, 6-2.5, 247, Newtown HS, Sandy Hook, CT

LB Josh Ross, 6-2, 225, St. Mary’s HS, West Bloomfield, MI

DE Deron Irving-Bey, 6-5, 282, Southwestern Commencement, Flint, MI

DE Donovan Jeter, 6-5, 250, Beaver Falls HS, Beaver Falls, PA

DE Corey Malone-Hatcher, 6-3, 246, St. Joseph HS, Saint Joseph, MI

DE James Hudson, 6-5, 280, Central Catholic, Toledo, OH

DE Kwity Paye, 6-4, 226, Bishop Hendricken, Warwick, RI

DE Luiji Vilain, 6-4, 240, Episcopal HS, Alexandria, VA

DT/OL Phillip Paea, 6-4, 285, Berrien Springs HS, Berrien Springs, MI

OC Cesar Ruiz, 6-3, 315, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

OL Ja’Raymond Hall, 6-5, 282, Oak Park HS, Oak Park, MI

OL Kai-Leon Herbert, 6-5, 284, American Heritage, Fort Lauderdale, FL

OT Joel Honigford, 6-6, 278, Garaway HS, Sugarcreek, OH

OT Andrew Stueber, 6-6, 285, Darlen HS, Darlen, CT

QB Dylan McCaffrey, 6-5, 200, Valor Christian HS, Littleton, CO

RB O’Maury Samuels, 5-11, 190, Los Lunas HS, Los Lunas, NM

RB Kurt Taylor, 5-9, 200, Newton HS, Covington, GA

WR Tarik Black, 6-4, 208, Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT

WR Brad Hawkins, 6-1, 202, Suffield, Academy, Suffield, CT

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, 6-2, 193, Cass Tech, Detroit, MI

 

Photo credit: maxpreps.com; No. 4 Jordan Anthony breaks free for a long gain.

Photo credit: Anthony family; Jordan Anthony and family at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh (left).