Michigan has really emphasized South Florida recruiting under Jim Harbaugh.
Though not directly from high school, former St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) quarterbacks Jake Rudock and John O’Korn transferred to Michigan to patch up a depleted position. 2017 4-star tight end Nick Eubanks also hails from the area, and 2019 athlete commit George Johnson III lives just miles outside Miami.
The efforts continue with St. Thomas Aquinas wideout Mathew Akuchie, currently unranked on Rivals.
The 6-foot-2.5, 190-pound rising senior is working day and night to secure a written offer from the Wolverines, and traveled all the way to Ann Arbor for the July 28 Barbecue in the Big House.
“They like the way I run routes,” he said. “They just told me to keep working and that they’ll definitely keep watching me this season.”
He holds offers from Yale, Columbia, Lehigh and the University of Pikeville. With an eye towards education, he came away highly impressed with the university.
“I can really see myself,” he said, “at the University of Michigan.”
He also emphasized the appeal of the facilities, traditions and his time with graduate assistant Roy Roundtree.
While Michigan is currently battling the nation for elite wideouts such as Kyle Ford, Akuchie possesses the pedigree of one of the nation’s best high school programs in St. Thomas Aquinas.
The school produced both the Bosa brothers, former Miami Dolphin Hall-of-Famer Jason Taylor and several other elite prospects.
A commitment from Akuchie would keep the door open on the talent factory.
“I think if I do really well this season and I continue to show I’m interested in Michigan, then they will eventually offer,” Akuchie said to Evan Petzold at WolverineWire. “Plus, we play DeMatha Catholic in the first game of the year on ESPN, so hopefully the staff will get to watch on television.”
Akuchie has the chance to boost his recruiting profile, as his school frequently appears on national television.
Below are his junior highlights.