Michigan Football: 10 recruits Wolverines need to add in 2022
By Alex Hinton
QB Nate Johnson (Fresno, CA/ Clovis)
While the Wolverines still need a standout QB to emerge on the field, they find themselves in an enviable position from a recruiting perspective. Last cycle, the Wolverines struck gold and landed a commitment from 5-star JJ McCarthy.
In the 2023 class, they may have the best QB in the country right in their backyard in Detroit King’s Dante Moore. It was always going to be difficult to get another five-star level prospect to follow McCarthy. Johnson is the kind of high-upside developmental prospect that you take in between possibly two 5-star QB commitments.
The first thing that stands out about Nate Johnson is the 4.4 speed he brings to the QB position.
Michigan fans need no introduction to the electrifying ability that Denard Robinson brought to the field. While Lamar Jackson has gone on to win NFL MVP, keep in mind that he was a 3-star prospect coming out of HS just like Johnson.
The question about Johnson is whether he throws the ball well enough to stick at QB. Well in Ann Arbor, Johnson would have time to develop as a passer. If it doesn’t work out at QB, he has the athleticism to move to a skill position and be a productive college player. While Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy are both mobile, Johnson would give the Wolverines a level of athlete that they currently do not have at the QB position. Johnson takes his official visit to Michigan on June 11th.
WR Darrius Clemons (Portland, OR/Westview HS)
Michigan has brought in some talented WR prospects in recent cycles. However, the position still needs to be restocked particularly after Xavier Worthy departed from the 2021 class before arriving on campus.
Darius Clemons is the type of player that can be a QB’s best friend. He is advanced at this stage as a route runner and he knows how to create separation. He has the ability to adjust to passes in the air and he has the catch radius to bail out errant throws. At 6’3 205 lbs, Clemons can be an elite vertical threat because he can win with speed (4.37) and by making tough contested catches. He would complement what the Wolverines already have committed at WR with Tyler Morris and TayShawn Trent.
The Wolverines are receiving stiff competition from Oregon and Penn State, who each have crystal ball predictions for Clemons. He will take his official visit on June 18th where the Wolverines will have the chance to vault themselves to the pole position in this race.