Michigan Football flips and signs 2021 DT Ikechukwu Iwunnah

Michigan football flipped and signed defensive tackle Ikechukwu Iwunnah, giving the Wolverines three additions to their 2021 class up front.

When it rains, it pours and on national signing day, Michigan football is getting showered in defensive tackles.

Last week, Michigan football landed a commitment from George Rooks, a four-star defensive tackle that was a long-time target of the coaching staff.

That was one really good addition but then this week, there was hope that Michigan football was going to be able to flip Ikechukwu Iwunnah, who committed to Colorado on Jan. 19.

By last night, there was a growing sense of optimism that the flip would indeed happen and Wednesday morning, Michigan football announced Iwunnah, a 6-foot-4, 281-pound defensive tackle as part of its 2021 recruiting class.

Iwunnah isn’t ranked as highly as Rooks or Rayshaun Benny, another defensive tackle that flipped from Michigan State to Michigan on national signing day, but he’s got a lot of upside.

He’s a three-star prospect and is ranked outside the top 1,000. But he played things very low key during the recruiting process and the Wolverines couldn’t believe he hadn’t signed yet when they extended an offer to him Jan. 25.

Another thing to like about Iwunnah is that he’s a track athlete, so he’s got great explosiveness and athleticism. And with his size, he will give the Michigan football staff plenty to work with.

While the big defensive lineman announced his decision Wednesday, it sounds like he told the staff last Friday of his intentions and here’s what he told Josh Newkirk of The Michigan Insider:

"“On Friday we all came together. I told them wanted to commit. My mom and my dad was right by side and knew what was going on. And I just said it. Day one this was because opportunities, the opportunities of growing (at Michigan).”"

At the end of the day, there is a lot to like about Iwunnah but he’s still a raw prospect. He could get a chance to play somewhat early in his career depending on how he develops, simply because the Wolverines are sorely lacking in 300 pounder DTs.

The Wolverines have done well with lower ranked kids because of their strong evaluation skills and we’ll see if they landed another steal here in the defensive tackle from Garland, Texas.