Michigan football: Wolverines flip underrated Colorado commit
By John Buhler
Ikechukwu Iwunnah flipped from the Colorado Buffaloes to the Michigan Wolverines on National Signing Day.
Karl Dorrell thought he had a three-star commitment from Ikechukwu Iwunnah for his Colorado Buffaloes. Instead, Iwunnah rips the hearts out of Colorado football fans by flipping to Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football program on National Signing Day.
Iwunnah, a three-star defensive tackle, initially committed to Colorado on Jan. 19, but less than a week later was offered by Michigan defensive line coach Shaun Nua. He let Michigan know their offer was too good to pass up, as he silently committed to the Wolverines on Friday. It has been made official on National Signing Day. The Wolverines are having a great Signing Day after flipping four-star Rayshaun Benny from rival Michigan State to start the flipping-spree.
“On Friday we all came together. I told them wanted to commit,” said Iwunnah to 247Sports. “My mom and my dad were right by side and knew what was going on. And I just said it. Day one this was because of opportunities, the opportunities of growing (at Michigan).”
“It was a big celebration, everybody was happy. I was happy (and) my parents were happy. Coach Nua knew I was coming to Michigan. He didn’t tell anyone, but he went he knew what was going on. So yeah, it was a whole big celebration.”
The Michigan defensive staff overhaul is paying dividends in recruitment
Enough cannot be said about how impactful the defensive coaching staff overall in Ann Arbor has been thus far. With Mike Macdonald coming over from the Baltimore Ravens to replace Don Brown, Michigan is quickly re-establishing a new identity head of Harbaugh’s seventh year. While the offense may sputter again, it is the emerging Wolverines defense that has us excited for 2021.
Getting Benny to flip from in-state rival Michigan State, followed up by Iwunnah flipping from the Buffs to the Wolverines cannot be overstated. Michigan is making it a point to get better in the trenches defensively. This is how they can attempt to close the gap with the other strong teams in Big Ten country. It will not happen overnight, but you have to applaud the work they are doing.
Iwunnah’s big-time commitment helps solidify a great National Signing Day for Michigan.
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