Top Michigan transfer target commits to Alabama
Though this week is rightfully focused on the upcoming Rose Bowl, Michigan, and Alabama are competing off the field as well.
The Tide took the first victory of the week when USC cornerback Domani Jackson sided with Alabama over Michigan. Jackson is a former five-star prospect who started every game for the Trojans this year and recorded 34 total tackles along with three passes defended. Jackson’s top three schools out of high school were USC, Michigan, and Alabama, so there were pre-existing ties on both sides.
This leaves a question mark on next year’s Michigan roster at the boundary corner spot. Will Johnson is the obvious star player who will lock down one of the starting spots, but the other is up for grabs. The other experienced defensive back, Ja’Den McBurrows, is expected to be the starting nickel, so it’s likely a young player will take over. Amorion Walker, Jyaire Hill, and DJ Waller are the prime candidates, but it’s possible that McBurrows will go to the boundary and Kody Jones slides to the slot. Either way, losing Jackson was a tough blow to the roster’s talent and depth next season.
Michigan has also been linked to UConn transfer Mumu Bin-Wahad, who could be the starter when week one of next season rolls around.
Interestingly, Jackson was sighted at Alabama’s practice before his commitment went public. NCAA teams are currently in a dead period which means that there cannot be contact between staff and recruits. The timing of Jackson’s appearance at practice and his commitment certainly seem to point to a recruiting violation, but the NCAA will (or at least, should) investigate on its own. After all, they have made it clear with their feverish pursuit of Michigan’s ‘burger gate’ that NCAA rules are of the utmost importance to the integrity of the sport.
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The Rose Bowl just means more to Mason Graham, for a few reasons
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Mason Graham is finishing his sophomore season at Michigan. The impressive underclassman has posted 55 total tackles, five and a half sacks, and nine tackles for loss so far in his career. Graham has been a part of two Ohio State victories and two playoff runs. Of course, this also means that he was on the losing end of last year’s heartbreaking game against TCU.
Graham thinks this year has a different feel, however. “We’re taking the stuff from last year and kinda just fine-tuning everything,” Graham said. “Knowing the expectation of what it’s like to be here and what it means to play in this game.”
Graham and his fellow teammates who were a part of last year’s loss (or even the year before that as well) are out for blood this time around. The fact that the opponent is Alabama just makes the fruit sweeter as well.
In addition to the heightened stakes, this game strikes home for Graham because, well, it is home. Graham played his high school football for Southern California powerhouse Servite High School, whose campus is located less than 45 minutes away from Rose Bowl Stadium.
“It feels good,” Graham noted. “Just a lot of family, friends reaching out. Just excited to see me play in this game.”
Though Graham is originally from the area, he was not an avid watcher of the game. “I watched this game a few times, but I wasn’t like too tuned into it.”
Graham should finally be fully healthy for the matchup as well. He suffered a hand injury early in the year and has been playing with a cast for much of the season, but that will change against Alabama.
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