Tag: victory vaka

2021 Michigan target sets decision date

One of the Wolverines’ top targets at defensive tackle announces what day he intends to make his final college choice.

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We now know when one of the Wolverines’ top targets in 2021 will make his choice. And it’s a bit of a ways off.

Michigan has been in hot pursuit of Westlake (CA) Village four-star defensive tackle Victory Vaka, who placed the maize and blue in his Top 5 last month — along with Florida, Oregon, Texas A&M and Florida State — but has maintained on Twitter that his recruitment remains ‘100% open.’

That said, the Wolverines and primary recruiter Shaun Nua will have to continue to remain in high pursuit for the 6-foot-3, 325-pound interior defensive lineman, but it won’t be until the probable heart of the season before they’ll know whether or not their efforts have paid off.

Vaka announced on Twitter on Wednesday that he would be making his final college decision on Sunday, November 15.

According to WolverinesWire’s own Evan Petzold, Vaka intends on taking an official visit to Ann Arbor on June 15, and has built a strong relationship with the aforementioned Nua, Michigan’s second-year defensive line coach.

“I love that guy,” Vaka told WolverinesWire. “I’m also in constant communication with coach Don Brown. Defensive tackle is a position of need, and I want to play early.”

Along with Oak Park (MI)’s Rayshaun Benny and Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic’s Tywone Malone, Vaka remains high on Michigan’s priority list at defensive tackle in the 2021 recruiting cycle.

4-star DT Victory Vaka sees himself at Michigan, loves Shaun Nua

Westlake Village (Calif.) Westlake 2021 4-star DT Victory Vaka has a top 5 of Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, Florida and Florida State.

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Victory Vaka is a top target for Michigan’s football team.

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound defensive tackle is a four-star prospect and scheduled to make his commitment Dec. 16. From now until then, he has plenty to figure out.

From Westlake Village (Calif.) Westlake, Vaka has trimmed his list to five schools – Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, Florida and Florida State.

The only reason the Wolverines made the top group is because of defensive line coach Shaun Nua.

“I love that guy,” Vaka told WolverinesWire. “I’m also in constant communication with coach Don Brown. Defensive tackle is a position of need, and I want to play early.”

Vaka has official visits scheduled for Florida (April 18), Michigan (June 19), Oregon (Sept. 11) and Texas A&M (Nov. 7).

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Since the 2019 season concluded, Michigan has found itself in need of depth on the defensive line. The Wolverines struggled in the run game and didn’t have many options outside of redshirt senior Carlo Kemp at the inside spots.

Entering his second year, Nua is in charge of finding new pieces.

Because of Nua’s leadership, Vaka sees himself wearing maize and blue.

“Just me being under coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach Nua would be a huge honor,” he said.

Spring practice cancellations because of coronavirus concerns have postponed the visits Vaka was planning to make during the spring, but he’s still slated to commit on early signing day.

Vaka is ranked No. 200 in the country, No. 13 at defensive tackle and No. 19 in California, according to the 247Sports composite.

Contact/Follow @WolverinesWire/ @EvanPetzold

Michigan makes top 5 for important 2021 target

The Wolverines made the final cut for the Southern California defensive tackle.

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The Wolverines are a little more thin than usual at defensive tackle, particularly when it comes to young talent.

Yes, there are two promising young players from the 2020 class in Christopher Hinton and Mazi Smith, but Michigan brought in none in 2018 nor in 2019. Thus, finding one or two in the 2021 class is of paramount importance.

The maize and blue are into it with a few prospects this cycle, with players like Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic’s Tywone Malone and Belleville (MI) product Damon Payne being chief among them. But another that’s been commonly linked as a potential target in Ann Arbor has just put Michigan in his final list.

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Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Westlake (CA) Village four-star DT Victory Vaka released his top 5, and the Wolverines made the cut.

Vaka is rated by 247Sports as the No. 200 prospect, regardless of position and the nation’s 13th-best defensive tackle in 2021.

But, of course, with Oregon, Florida State, Texas A&M and Florida also making his cut, the Wolverines will face stiff competition for his services.

Vaka previously released a top 5 of Michigan, LSU, Texas A&M, Utah and Arizona State back in Nov. 2019, but insisted that he remained open at that time.

Shaun Nua is his primary recruiter at Michigan.

10 Michigan football recruiting targets to watch in 2021

247Sports’ Steve Lorenz joined WolverinesWire and the Locked On Wolverines podcast to share who Michigan’s going after the hardest in 2021.

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As of yet, Michigan has just two commits in the 2021 class in offensive tackle Giovanni El-Hadi and quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

But, as we’ve seen, recruiting heats up in a hurry, and there are several prospects the Wolverines are in on.

On Wednesday, we welcomed 247Sports’ Steve Lorenz to the Locked On Wolverines podcast to discuss who are 10 recruits that Michigan fans should have their eye on, and while he gave us more than 10, as well as a thorough breakdown of where maize and blue targets fared in the newly-released 247Sports 2021 rankings that came out on Wednesday, he shared some excellent insight as to where things stand with several of the Wolverines’ top targets.

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In no particular order, we start with a long-coveted in-state product.

Rocco Spindler

2021 Clarkston (MI) OL/DE Rocco Spindler
Hometown Clarkston (MI)
Height 6-foot-4.5
Weight 295-pounds
Position  OL/DL
247Sports ranking 4-star, 47 overall

Lorenz’s take:

“Projects as an offensive lineman. Could also play the defensive line at the next level.

“Again, I expect Michigan to recruit him as an offensive lineman, but I think he’s also a guy, depending on how they feel with other offensive linemen, he could also play on the defensive side.

“I think Michigan’s battling, really kind of the typical type of schools in this situation — Notre Dame, Ohio State. I think Penn State, a little bit, but more Notre Dame and Ohio State. A guy that Michigan quarterback commitment J.J. McCarthy has worked really hard on, and the staff obviously has worked very hard as well.”

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