Michigan Locks in 5-Star Cass Tech WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Michigan won a big in-state and national recruiting battle on Thursday when five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones decided to play his college ball with the Wolverines.
Peoples-Jones had a senior season to remember with Cass Tech posting a perfect 14-0 record earning a state title while being ranked the No. 13 team in the nation by MaxPreps. The 6-2, 193 pound, playmaker pulled in 60 passes for 1,071 yards with 17 touchdowns upping his stat line from his junior year when he had 39 receptions for 1,012 yards and 14 scores. Cass Tech won the state title game against Catholic Central, 49-20.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl invitee had over 20 offers when he committed to Michigan. Among the many teams hoping to land Peoples-Jones included USC, Clemson, Texas A&M, Penn State, North Carolina, Miami, and Louisville. The Detroit area product took official visits to Nebraska, Ohio State, Florida, and Florida State saving Michigan for last arriving in Ann Arbor on Dec. 10.
Michigan fans found out about their last commit via Twitter Thursday night with the receiver writing, “Blessed to announce that I Am Officially Committed to The University Of Michigan! #GoBlue.”
The Wolverines 2017 recruiting class is now ranked No. 7 in the nation by 247Sports, No. 2 in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. Rivals likes the group a little bit better pushing the group up to No. 5 in the nation with one five-star recruit and 11 four-star talents.
Michigan Wolverines 2017 Verbal Commitment List (22)
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 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 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
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: USA Today High School Sports; No. 9 Donovan Peoples-Jones hauls in a pass.