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Despite having three safeties and one cornerback signed as members of the 2020 class, Michigan is still hunting for more talent in the secondary.
Shortly after three-star safety Donovan Kaufman’s Dec. 6 state title victory for Archbishop Rummel, a Catholic school in Metairie, Louisana, the Wolverines jumped on his radar.
“It was great to hear from them because that is a school that I always talked about even though I didn’t know much about them,” Kaufman said. “I just always liked them for some reason.”
Even though the Wolverines haven’t offered, Kaufman – a Vanderbilt commit since June 25 – believes it will come after he takes a visit. He hopes to make the trip to Ann Arbor sometime in January to get a feel for the program before National Signing Day on Feb. 5.
And regardless of if Michigan offers, Kaufman said he needs to know the school fits what he’s looking for as a student-athlete at the collegiate level.
“It’s about how I feel, the atmosphere, the people, the community and the education,” he said.
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The 5-foot-9, 195-pound safety, who could also play cornerback for coach Jim Harbaugh, is ranked No. 413 in the nation, No. 35 at his position and No. 17 in his home state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Kaufman has offers from Vanderbilt, Florida State, Colorado, Houston, Army, Boston College and Memphis, along with 12 others.
Being committed to the Commodores while gauging interest from Michigan’s staff has been “definitely hard” due to the family feeling Kaufman has with Vanderbilt’s coaching staff and players.
“I mean, it’s a process, but I know that it’ll all work out, so I just pray on it,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman’s primary recruiter from Michigan has been safeties coach/special teams coordinator Chris Partridge, who was hired Thursday by Ole Miss to work under new head coach Lane Kiffin.
Partridge, 39, has been considered Michigan’s top recruiter since he joined Harbaugh’s staff in 2015.
Kaufman, who learned of the news just after 11 a.m. Thursday, said he’s unsure if his relationship with Michigan will change due to Partridge’s departure.
Along with planning to visit Michigan in January, Kaufman has an official visit to Florida State set for Jan. 17.
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