With official visit season underway, it was only a matter of time before Michigan football cashed in.
The Wolverines have gotten stellar reviews from various elite players, and while the prevailing thought is that any number of recruits could drop for the maize and blue, Michigan went to the well, reeling in a player at a position that’s thrived in recent years.
Enter Deakon Tonielli, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound tight end from Oswego (Ill.), rated a four-star according to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings. He visited Ann Arbor for ‘Victors Weekend’ on June 17, and apparently he’s seen all he’s needed to see, pledging to the Wolverines over Illinois, Purdue, MSU, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
BOOM! I just want to say thank you to every single person who has stood by my side throughout this journey. I am so grateful for @grant_newsome and his awesome support, as well as @CoachJim4UM for the opportunity to become a wolverine! #Committed #GoBlue 〽️💙💛 pic.twitter.com/x6KLpGcCEC
— Deakon Tonielli (@DeakonTonielli) June 19, 2022
247Sports’ Allen Trieu sees Tonielli as an eventual starter for a Power Five program:
Tall, longer prospect. Plays as an outside receiver as well as a slot in high school. Uses height, length and leaping ability well and shows a big catch radius. Good athlete with basketball and track and field in his background as well. Appears to have some top end speed, but can still improve burst and suddenness. Tracks the ball in the air well and can put himself in position to make plays on the ball without losing speed or balance. Will grow into a tight end in college but his experience being unattached offers a lot of possibilities. Shows some physicality but would need experience as an on the ball blocker if schools try to do that with him.
With Tonielli in the fold, Michigan football now has seven commitments in the 2023 recruiting class.
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