ESPN Pegs This Michigan Player As A ‘Breakout Star’

ESPN’s Travis Haney believes Michigan freshman Rashan Gary will be one of the biggest breakout players in 2016. The DE out of New Jersey cracks the top ten at No. 9:

One coach told Insider when the 6-4, 290-pound Gary signed with Michigan in February that he would “have the same impact that Leonard Fournette had, just as a defensive lineman.”

Like Fournette, Gary was ESPN’s No. 1 overall prospect in his respective recruiting class.

Rashan Gary (No. 3), the No. 1 recruit in the 2016 class, will see the field right away at Michigan.
Hyperbole? Reality? It’s probably more the latter.

Gary’s position coach Greg Mattison, the veteran who took his first defensive line job in 1977, says maturity is key. And Gary has it, as various coaches noted during their recruitment of the New Jersey product.

“There are a lot of freshman who could [physically] play early, but they’re just not mature enough,” Mattison told reporters at Michigan’s media day. “He seems to be ready.”

With talent such as Chris Wormley, Ryan Glasgow and Taco Charlton around him, the Wolverines should be able to plug in Gary and let him go.