Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln Top247 2023 linebacker Raylen Wilson announced his commitment to Michigan on Wednesday during a live broadcast on CBS Sports HQ. The blue-chipper who holds over 30 offers chose the Wolverines over his other finalist Georgia.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Wilson is tabbed by the Top247 as the country’s No. 4 linebacker and No. 62 prospect. He is commit No. 4 early in the cycle for head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff.
Wilson has been to Ann Arbor once and was recruited by linebackers coach George Helow and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
“Coach Harbaugh is a great man,” Wilson said. “He’s really down to earth and real. Coach Helow and Coach Mac are who I talk to the most and my relationship with both of them has grown tremendously in my recruitment. When I went up to Michigan they made it feel like a second home and the way Coach Helow develops players at the linebacker position is also a big factor.”
Wilson certainly recognized the impact true freshman linebacker Junior Colson had this season in Ann Arbor in helping Michigan win a Big Ten title and advance to the college football playoff, and he has all the traits to me an immediate difference-maker down the road when his time comes.
As a junior Wilson used is elite speed at the position to rack up 139 tackles with 16 coming for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He can do a lot on the defensive side from stuffing the run, rushing the passer, playing in space and dropping in coverage. The hard hitter is also dynamic in the return game.
“I’ve been there once and the success they’ve had this year also plays a role in my decision,” Wilson said. “How they played this season shocked me and I want to be part of that winning mentality.”
Wilson is also committing early so he can help build his class up, one that ranks No. 9 at this point in the process.
“My relationship with the whole staff is top-tier, also they have a 94 percent graduation rate,” Wilson explained. “They have one of the top business schools in the US.
“The atmosphere, the staff and the things they could do for me after football.”
Wilson’s offer list also included Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M and USC. He joins a Michigan class that also includes Richmond (Va.) Benedictine four-star defensive lineman Joel Starlings, West Bloomfield (Mich.) High wide receiver Semaj Morgan and Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron kicker Adam Samaha. Michigan is making a push to finish with a Top10 class in 2022 sitting at No. 13 and they’re off and running to do the same in 2023.
