Football signs 18 high school seniors on National Signing Day
The Central Michigan University football team received a letter of intent from 18 high school seniors on Wednesday. (Central Michigan Life File Photo)
With prospective college football players verbally committing to schools months before they can sign official letters of intent, the real National Signing Day drama surrounds those who players who decommitt.
Central Michigan University is the only college football team in Division I without a head coach, prompting one verbal commit, Alexx Zielinski (linebacker from Brighton), to sign with Miami (Ohio) instead of the Chippewas.
After former head coach Dan Enos resigned on Jan. 22, Ann Arbor defensive back Tyrone Miller withdrew his commitment to CMU and committed to the University of Kansas on Sunday.
Zielinski, whose twitter bio still says “Central Michigan football commit 2015,” became frustrated as CMU still didn’t have a head coach as signing day approached.
On Monday, the 6-6, 220-pound tight end tweeted “Very disappointed that there's no news or head coach at this point...signing day is Wednesday!!”
At 7:53 a.m., Brighton native tweeted a thank you to Central Michigan, but said “I can’t commit to an unknown when there are other knowns out there,” and committed to Miami University an hour later.
Miami and Western Michigan have the highest recruiting rankings in the Mid-American Conference, according to 247sports.com. The Broncos have 27 commits, including Tom Flacco, the brother of Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Chippewas managed to reigned in 18 letters of intent on Wednesday morning, including five offensive linemen.
Outside linebacker Rayshawn Wilson is the only verbal commit that has not signed yet. Wilson who reportedly offered by Wyoming last week. Wilson is CMU's highest-rated recruit according to Chippewa Insider.
Here are the 18 players who signed letters of intent Wednesday to play CMU football:
Da’Quaun Jamison
Defensive back
6-0, 180 pounds
Leesburg, Ga.
Coach Archie Collins: “Da’Quaun is a very good athlete with great ball instincts. He has great change in direction and does a great job as far as tackling in space.”
Jamil Sabbagh
Wide receiver
5-10, 198 pounds
Dearborn, Mich.
Coach Mose Rison: “Jamil is going to be an explosive football player and he’ll have the opportunity to do several things, especially in the kicking game as a punt returned and kick returner.”
Steve Eipper
Offensive line
6-4, 267 pounds
Greenville, Mich.
Coach Butch Barry: “Steve is a really good athlete. Long-armed kid. He’s got really good flexibility and balance. Will likely be a right tackle.”
Deshawn Baker-Williams
Offensive line
6-4, 291 pounds
Westland, Mich.
Coach Butch Barry: “Deshawn has got great power. He’s going to be a good left guard or right guard for us. Does a good job with his hands and with drive blocks.”
Damon Terry
Wide receiver
5-11, 187 pounds
Lansing, Mich.
Coach Mose Rison: “Damon is a tremendous player with good size who we think can be a very explosive wide receiver with an opportunity to have an impact early in his career.”
Jake Johnson
Quarterback
6-2, 195 pounds
DeWitt, Mich.
Coach Morris Watts: “Jake has great pocket poise; he seems to know when to take off, when to stay in there and he’s quick enough and a good enough runner that he can give you problems with his feet.”
Mike Danna
Defensive line
6-2, 223 pounds
Detroit, Mich.
Coach George Ricumstrict: “Mike is very long, very athletic. Had a very good (senior) year rushing the passer. Fits the mold of the kids that we have brought in over the past couple of years at defensive end.”
Derek Smith
Offensive line
6-5, 260 pounds
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Coach Butch Barry: “Derek is very long. He’ll be a tackle type kid, maybe a left tackle type. Great feet, great balance and also very physical.”
Austin Ervin
Tight end
6-5, 233 pounds
St. Johns, Mich.
Coach Sherrone Moore: “Austin is very athletic, good bender. Took advantage of the opportunities he got in high school in a run-first offense.”
Romello Ross
Running back
5-10, 185 pounds
Detroit, Mich.
Coach Gino Guidugli: “Romello can change direction, drop his weight, accelerate out of cuts. He shows tremendous ball skills out of the backfield. He has a great passion for the game.”
Logan Slaughter
Offensive line
6-3, 285 pounds
Mendon, Mich.
Coach Butch Barry: “Logan will likely be a center, because he’s a really smart kid. He’s over a 4.0 GPA and for that position you always want a smart guy. He’s a very tough kid and he’s got really good power.”
Dakota Kupp
Quarterback
6-1, 200 pounds
Waterford, Mich.
Coach Morris Watts: “Dakota’s got good size. He’s got a good drop and his pocket presence is good. He’s tough. You’re not going to bring him down with just an arm tackle.”
Bobby Banks
Athlete/running back
5-11, 186 pounds
Detroit, Mich.
Coach Joe Tumpkin: “Bobby’s a great football player. He’s versatile having played some running back, receiver and defensive back. He’s a tremendous athlete who will upgrade our team.”
Louis Grigoletti
Offensive line
6-3, 295 pounds
Brookfield, Ill.
Coach Butch Barry: “Louis is a great finisher. He’ll be a guard or a center depending on what fits him. We look for good things out of him. He’s very physical.”
Brandon Childress
Wide receiver/quarterback
6-3, 200 pounds
Baldwin, Mich.
Coach Mose Rison: “Brandon is an outstanding person, student and football player. Great athlete who is very versatile; playing both quarterback and wide receiver in high school. Very high ceiling.”
Carlos Clark
Linebacker
6-0, 210 pounds
Belleville, Mich.
Coach Kyle Nystrom: “Carlos is a very aggressive, instinctive linebacker. He’s got good suddenness. He’s got good lower-body power. Great contact player.”
Shahid Bellamy
Defensive line
6-1, 289 pounds
Detroit, Mich.
Coach George Ricumstrict: “Shahid is very, very powerful. Really explosive on tape, very disruptive. Fits the mold of the inside kid that we’re looking for.”
Michael Oliver
Linebacker
5-11, 234 pounds
Detroit, Mich.
Coach Kyle Nystrom: “He’s a prototypical mike linebacker. He’s got a big lower body, he’s a good hitter, he’s got good suddenness, he’s a leader and that’s what really attracted me to him the most.”
