Rivals250 DL Mario Eugenio Commits To Michigan
Michigan is on a roll on the recruiting trail.
Just 24 hours after landing Colston Loveland, the Wolverines reeled in a commitment from Rivals250 Tampa (Fla.) Gaiter defensive end Mario Eugenio.
Eugenio picked Michigan over offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa State, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, West Virginia and others.
For Eugenio, the decision to side with U-M came down to relationships.
"It's a day-to-day basis with Coach Oz (Ryan Osborne) and Coach (Shaun) Nua," Eugenio told RIvals.com. "We're always talking and they recruited me like this before I blew up. They didn't offer me just because other schools were offering.
"They didn't join the party late and they've been keeping up with me on everything and always texting me or calling. They really just show me that they care."
Eugenio made an official visit to Michigan for its Victors Weekend event on June 18. While Iowa State impressed him the weekend prior, Michigan blew him away on the trip and was able to seal the deal soon after.
Michigan is recruiting Eugenio as an edge rusher that could also play with his hand in the dirt at one of the end spots. Eugenio provides flexibility, and his projection will largely depend on how he develops once he gets on campus.
"When Mario Eugenio took reps at defensive end, the four-star won some reps and lost some reps and looked pedestrian at times," said Rivals.com Recruiting Director Adam Gorney after watching him live at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge this summer. "But when he moved inside and took reps against offensive guards, even at 238 pounds, the Tampa (Fla.) Gaither prospect was unstoppable.
"Eugenio is stronger than he looks (he took part in the Bench Press Competition at the Five-Star Challenge) and so offensive guards cannot just muscle him around inside. With his speed and burst, Eugenio might not always play inside but in certain packages it could be really useful."
Eugenio is the 14th member of Michigan's 2022 recruiting class and third in the Rivals250, joining in-state cornerback Will Johnson and Chicagoland wide receiver Tyler Morris.
At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Eugenio is ranked as the No. 14 weak-side defensive end and No. 245 overall prospect in the country, per Rivals.com.
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