Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes three-star athlete Michael Barrett is officially a part of the Michigan football program.
Measurables
• At Nike’s The Opening in Atlanta, Ga., in March of 2017, Barrett ran a 4.67 40-yard dash and a 4.56 shuttle run. He recorded a power-ball throw of 37 feet, vertical jump of 34.4 inches and finished the event with an overall Nike+ Football rating of 94.47.
Statistics
• Barrett mostly played quarterback in his high school career. As a senior, Barrett was 111-of-174 passing (63.8 percent) for 1,705 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 129 times for 1,195 yards and 13 touchdowns.
• During his junior year, Barrett was 132-of-213 (62.0 percent) for 2,753 yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions. He ran the ball 168 times for 1,283 yards and 21 touchdowns.
• In his sophomore season, Barrett completed 12 of 24 passes (50.0 percent) for 182 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He carried the ball 30 times for 169 yards and four touchdowns. On defense his sophomore year, he recorded 44 tackles and three tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Honors
• First-team All-State by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in Georgia's Class 7A (largest in the state) his senior year.
• Class 7A Offensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
• Class 7A All-State honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal Constitution his junior season.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Attended Nike’s The Opening Camp in Atlanta on March 26, 2017.
Recruitment
• Committed to Michigan on Jan. 23, 2018 via Twitter.
• He picked Michigan over Georgia Tech, LSU, Nebraska and Florida State (no offer).
• He is Michigan's third signee from the state of Georgia, joining running back Christian Turner and cornerback Myles Sims.
• Head coach Jim Harbaugh and running backs coach Jay Harbaugh were heavily involved with Barrett's recruitment.
Notable
• Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith, Washington Redskins linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore, former NFL linebacker Randall Godfrey and former NFL defensive end Vincent Burns all went to Barrett's high school.
2018 Projection
Barrett has been told by the Michigan coaches that he'll be used like Jabrill Peppers on offense. That could mean he'll be taking snaps as a wildcat quarterback, taking handoffs from the backfield or from the wing, or even splitting out into the slot for tunnel and bubble screens. There's a chance he could return some kicks and punts, and he may even get a look on defense.
Because of his versatility he could potentially spend time in several position groups and behind a long list of players for a little while. It's hard to say if he'll find his way onto the field next year, but if he can carve out a specific role on offense he might not have much competition as a unique athlete.
They Said It
• Rivals.com South Analyst Chad Simmons: "Barrett is a football player first and foremost. He is a leader. He has that toughness. He is a kid that will work hard and do whatever it takes to help his team win."
• Lowndes High School quarterback coach Jim Henry: “Number one, he’s a winner. So, he’s going to bring that type of mentality and work ethic and attitude every day with him — and not only will he do that on the football field, he’ll do that in the classroom and in the community as well.”
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