Michigan Wolverines beat out Georgia, Ohio State for 4-star RB

Following the departure of long-time head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan Wolverines have continued to achieve victories in 2024. Their winning streak began in early January with triumphs over Alabama and Washington in the College Football Playoff, securing the National Title for Ann Arbor for the first time since 1997. Despite Harbaugh’s move to LA to coach the Chargers, new head coach Sherrone Moore, a former offensive coordinator under Harbaugh, has admirably maintained the team’s success, surprising even some of his staunchest supporters.

As the Wolverines gear up for the 2024 season, they boast a top-twenty incoming freshmen class, as reported by 247Sports. Moreover, they have recently added a significant addition to their 2025 recruiting class in the form of four-star running back Donovan Johnson, who opted for Michigan over powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Georgia, Florida State, and LSU.

Reflecting on his decision, Johnson expressed, “I just couldn’t leave and not commit. It was my first time there, so I had to see how I felt, but I just got that feeling up there. The atmosphere, the people, the coaches, the team – it was all like a genuine family. That family atmosphere just made it feel right for me.”

Following an ACL injury in the spring of 2023 that caused him to miss his entire junior season, Johnson is determined to make a strong comeback this fall at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Beyond that, he looks forward to making his mark in The Big House on Saturdays.

Johnson attributed his commitment to Michigan’s exceptional coaching staff, family-oriented environment, player development, and overall atmosphere, stating, “Michigan has great coaches, it is family-oriented, they develop players and the whole atmosphere makes it where I want to be.”

While the entire offensive staff played a part in Johnson’s commitment over the weekend, running backs coach Tony Alford, who has been recruiting Johnson for multiple years, was particularly instrumental in securing the commitment of the 16th-ranked running back in the class of 2025.

Donovan Johnson’s Michigan recruitment was significantly influenced by a key figure—Tony Alford, who played an understated yet pivotal role in the process

In mid-March, Ohio State’s running backs coach, Tony Alford, broke the tradition by moving from Columbus to Ann Arbor to assume the same position with the Michigan Wolverines. At the time, Alford emphasized that he saw it as a great opportunity and suggested that it might have been the right time for both parties for him to make the move.

Unbeknownst to many, this relocation likely played a crucial role in Donovan Johnson’s eventual choice to join Michigan.

Reflecting on the impact of Alford’s move, Johnson remarked, “As soon as he went to Michigan, they recruited me harder. I have known Coach Alford since my freshman year and we have a real relationship. I can’t even put into words what our relationship is like. It is like he is already my coach. We can talk about everything and I love who he is as a person.”

As Johnson attested, the genuine sense of family he experienced at Michigan was instrumental in his decision, and it was Tony Alford’s presence that made that feeling a reality.