Matt Falcon had every reason to wait.
The Southfield four-star running back had only showed some of his potential last season – rushing for over 1,100 yards on just 70 touches in six games – so he could have slow-played his recruitment, waiting for more national offers as he performed in his senior year this fall.
But having grown up in Ypsilanti until he was 13 and playing for the Washtenaw Wolverines, he knew what he wanted. And that’s why he committed to U-M on Wednesday, the sixth player in the 2016 class.
“I had my heart set on Michigan, I’ve been a Wolverine my whole life, it was only right, it’s close to home and they’re doing big things up there so that’s something I want to be a part of,” Falcon said today.
Michigan’s previous coaching staff hadn’t shown much interest, he said, but the current staff embraced him, especially head coach Jim Harbaugh and running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.
“Coach Wheatley said he knew about me since I was in eighth grade,” Falcon said. “From track and football and word of mouth, so it was pretty cool to hear that.”
Their experience was a major factor in Falcon knowing he would be developed.
Matt Falcon Southfield (PART 1)
At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, he has similar traits to his future position coach.
“He was a big back and fast as well, so he kind of knows my strengths and my weaknesses, so I kind of trust him, seeing as he used to be a play just like me,” said Falcon, who said he’s been timed at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. “They like my speed and my size. They stressed to me they need a back that can get in between the tackles and break it off and won’t be caught from behind. That’s something they really stressed, the ground and pound game they’re going to be bringing.”
The comparison he heard the most was not Wheatley, but instead Tim Biakabutuka. While both were before his time – Falcon was born after they left school, Wheatley in 1994 and Biakabutuka in 1995 – he understands U-M’s future.
His own stock may be on the rise as well. Currently ranked as the nation’s No. 13 running back and a four-star recruit, being so limited last year but still rushing for nearly 15 yards per touch makes him a weapon who could gain a higher profile.
Though U-M gained a fullback in David Reese and a similar big back in Kingston Davis in the past few days, Falcon was undeterred.
Even though there was this flurry of commitments, it wasn’t a topic of conversation among the players at last Saturday’s spring game.
“It just happened like that,” he said. “It’s pretty crazy.”
Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.
Full list: Michigan’s recruits (with highlight videos)
Database: Big Ten graduation rates by sport or by school
