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Michigan added a versatile athlete to their 2020 class this week, preferred walk-on quarterback/receiver/defensive back Jake Thaw.
Excited to announce my commitment to the University of Michigan!! Thankful for my family, coaches, teammates, and all those who helped along the way #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/dhHePrvLPC
— Jake Thaw (@jthaw3) February 4, 2020
Thaw’s road to Ann Arbor is an interesting one. Thaw was committed to Stanford as a preferred walk-on, barring he was accepted into the university, but he didn’t get in. From there Thaw was scrambling to fill out applications and reach out to coaches. In what Thaw told Maize n Brew was a “freak coincidence”, he was filling out an application for Michigan when Wolverines running backs coach/special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh gave Thaw a call. Prior to Thaw answering Jay’s call, he had no contact with the Michigan coaching staff.
Harbaugh told Thaw he liked his skill-set. “He told me he liked my tape a lot and my ability to do a lot of different things, but most importantly that there was no rush to make a decision,” Thaw said. “I liked everything he had to say.”
Thaw noted that Harbaugh liked his film. “He liked my change of direction, ball skills, and explosiveness, but most of all my versatility,” Thaw said.
According to Thaw, Michigan plans to start him out as a slot receiver, but are interested in seeing him at safety as well. The 6-foot-tall athlete from Westport, CT believes he has a role in Michigan’s scheme. “They have a lot of great packages with all sorts of motion and bubbles that play to my strengths,” Thaw said. “I just love the offense’s ability to do a multitude of different things from different alignments.”
Thaw’s first visit to Michigan came two weeks ago, where he was able to meet with head coach Jim Harbaugh and others on the staff, as well as some players. “Coach was great — energetic, personable, and more importantly everything he said I truly believe. If he says something he means it,” Thaw said. “The visit was also as good as it could have been. All the guys on the team were good dudes and the facilities are far and away the best I’ve been around.”
How things fell into place for Thaw, being on the Michigan team, has him excited. “I can’t wait. I’m happy to be a Michigan football player, but I’m even more excited just to get going and get to work,” Thaw said.