Wins on the big-game stage have been few and far between for the Big Ten when the SEC has been the opposition, but the conference did pick up a rather significant one on the recruiting trail Saturday.
With his choices reportedly down to Auburn, Michigan and Tennessee, Richmond, Va., high school running back Derrick Green announced this afternoon that he has verbally committed to play his collegiate football with the Wolverines. The reason for Green’s decision, which the back said was actually down to UM and UT, was a relatively straightforward one -- the coaching staff in Ann Arbor.
“It was the coaching staff there; it’s unbelievable,” the 6-0, 220-pound Green said according to Rivals.com said. “Coach(Brady) Hoke is a great coach, but he’s an even better person. It’s amazing for a head coach. There’s an awesome history behind Michigan and coach (Fred) Jackson has coached a lot of great backs and I’m hoping to be the next one. I’m planning to go to Michigan and learn a lot and take in what he is going to teach me.”
Another factor in Green’s decision? B1G weather, believe it or not.
“People always talk about how I should go play in the SEC and play in the heat, but I prefer playing in the cold weather,” he said. “With me being from New York, it was always cold so I prefer to play in the cold weather.”
A five-star recruit according to Rivals, Green is rated as the No. 1 back in the country by that recruiting service as well as the No. 8 player overall at any position. Scout.com also rates Green as the top RB in the Class of 2013, while 247Sports.com rates him as the No. 4 player at that position.
Other than consensus No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche, Green was the highest-rated player on the Rivals100 board who had not yet given a verbal commitment. That honor now falls to Auburn, Ala. linebacker Reuben Foster, who is No. 13 on that service’s board. There are now 13 on Rivals’ big board who have yet to commit with National Signing Day nine days away.
Green’s commitment continues an impressive recruiting haul for Michigan. On the strength of 27 verbals, UM is ranked No. 1 (Scout), No. 4 (247Sports) and No. 6 (Rivals) by the three major recruiting services.
(Photo credit: U.S. Army)