Pos.: Defensive End/Linebacker
Ht./Wt.: 6-1, 217
School: Columbus H.S.
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Measurables
• Ran a laser-timed 4.59 40-yard dash.
• Completed the short shuttle run in 4.42 seconds and boasts a vertical leap of 32.5 inches.
Additional Stats
• Part of a Columbus team that finished 13-2 and lost in the state semifinals of Florida's largest division (8A) to eventual champ Pembroke Pines Flanagan and future teammates Devin Bush, Devin Gil and Josh Metellus.
• Defense held opponents to 8.4 points per game as a senior.
• Played at Miami Palmetto High for two years before transferring to Columbus.
Honors
• First-Team Associated Press All-State 8A as a senior
• Named to First-Team All-Dade County list by Miami Herald and ranked the No. 9 college prospect in the 2016 class by the outlet.
• Third-team All-Dade County defense by the Miami Herald as a junior.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Participated in the Rivals Camp Series Miami in Feb. 2015
• Participated in Nike's The Opening Regional in 2015. Earned a SPARQ rating (measuring overall athleticism) of 78.28, which ranked 64th of 226 participants
Recruitment
• Committed to Michigan Jan. 25, 2016, on the heels of his official visit to Ann Arbor.
• Was the first new recruit targeted by U-M defensive coordinator Don Brown when he took the Michigan job in mid-December.
• Other finalists were Auburn (Jan. 15 official visit) and Florida. Also held offers from Alabama, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, Syracuse and others.
• Committed to Miami (Fla.) as a junior, but decommitted Nov. 9, 2015.
2016 Projection
Uche has played almost exclusively with his hand in the dirt as a high schooler, but he doesn't have the size to be an every-down defensive end as a freshman. However, he'll be a hybrid outside linebacker at Michigan, and his size will be less of a detriment there (while his lateral athleticism should help him make the transition). He'll take a year to adjust both his physique and his game — and a redshirt is likely — but he should have opportunities to contribute as early as his sophomore season.
They Said It
Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy: “His game isn’t based on power. He uses that first step off of the edge and he’s damn good at it. He’s as quick as they come really. Michigan will put some weight on him, and he’s got a chance to be really special. I like his upside a lot.”
Miami Columbus head coach Chris Merritt: “He's a dynamic player who – given the role that coach is going to put him in – is going to be a very solid edge rusher. He’s going to be the guy that comes off the edge. That’s where he’s going to light people up. He's going to bring some excitement up there.”
