Michigan football landed a critical piece to its 2017 class when 4-star receiver Tarik Black announced his commitment to the Wolverines on Wednesday.
The 6'3 ½", 206-pounder, who rates as the nation's No. 13 receiver and the No. 99 player overall in the 2017 cycle, selected Michigan over programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Stanford and UCLA, among others. Steve Lorenz of 247Sports reported the commitment:
Last month, Black detailed to Bleacher Report his feelings on where the Michigan program is headed under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
"Great coaching staff," Black said. "Great academics. I like what they are doing and how they are building that program back up to what it used to be and what it is supposed to be."
He becomes the second receiver pledge in the Wolverines class, filling what is a critical need considering starting receivers Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson are both seniors.
The depth chart features two other receivers who will be seniors in 2017, as illustrated by Ourlads.
Another bonus for Harbaugh and his staff is that Black will be on campus as an early enrollee in January.
So what can Wolverines fans expect from the U.S. Army All-American when he arrives on campus next month?
With his size, Black figures to be a matchup nightmare for Big Ten defensive backs on the outside. Where he could help early in his career is in the red zone.
According to MaxPreps, Black caught 24 touchdown passes over the first three years of his career at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut.
He also averaged 17.3 yards per catch during his prep career, which highlights his abilities as a big-play target.
Being that Harbaugh has traditionally used a pro-style offense, Black also took notice of how he could fit into what the Wolverines like to do in the passing game.
"I definitely like what they are doing with the offense," he said. "I can definitely see myself in that offense. I think it will definitely prepare me for the NFL being in a pro-style system."
As his highlight reel shows, Black has the ability to win one-on-one matchups against defensive backs on deep passes. He also has the athleticism to create big plays by making defenders miss in space.
Since he will be able to go through spring practice, he will get a jump on learning the offense and working on the finer details of playing receiver, such as route running, blocking and creating separation off the line of scrimmage.
Overall, landing a playmaker such as Black is a huge win for the Wolverines considering his ability and potential for growth at the next level.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand, and all recruiting information courtesy of Scout.com.
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