<
>

Michigan lands in-state quarterback

Michigan had a strong start to its 2015 class, but it was still searching for the right fit at quarterback.

Since quarterbacks tend to make their commitments early, new Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier needed to find the right guy quickly.

Nussmeier did just that on Monday by securing a commitment from in-state prospect Alex Malzone. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback was offered while on a visit to Ann Arbor and accepted almost immediately.

This commitment is exactly what fans were hoping Nussmeier would bring to Michigan since the quarterback position was looking shaky. Nussmeier was responsible for recruiting ESPN 300 quarterbacks David Cornwell and Cooper Bateman in his few seasons at Alabama, and he's been responsible for plenty of successful college quarterbacks in his tenure as a college coach.

Malzone now has the opportunity to continue that success and gives Nussmeier depth at the position in the future to go along with current Wolverines Shane Morris and Wilton Speight.

Nussmeier was hired in January, which gave him little time to evaluate prospects at a position that needed help. The 2015 quarterback class was loaded.

By the time Malzone had committed, eight of the top-10 pocket passers and five of the top-10 dual-threat quarterbacks had already committed to other schools.

Luckily for the Wolverines, Malzone was only an hour away from campus, which gave the staff plenty of opportunities to see him in person. Nussmeier was able to evaluate him and see him throw, which led to his offer.

While the staff had been looking at dual-threat quarterbacks in this class, Malzone is more of a pocket passer and isn’t likely to make many plays with his feet. He does have mobility, but his strengths lie in his arm and mental makeup.

He won’t make many mistakes, commands the offense well and prides himself on his accuracy and decision-making. Malzone’s high school team has won three straight state championships, and he is looking to make it a fourth this coming season.

The Wolverines waited quite a while to land a 2015 quarterback, but they finally have their man. Now that Malzone is on board, the staff can focus on other prospects to continue filling needs.

The 2015 class will be similar to the 2014 class in that it will be smaller in total numbers. Michigan already has six commitments, three of which are ESPN 300 prospects.

Much of the rest of the class could depend on how Michigan performs on the field this fall, but it is still shaping up to be another strong group for the Wolverines.