Victors Weekend Wins: A look back at recruits who committed to Michigan after the big OV event
Over 15 prospects, including five commits, are officially visiting Michigan for Victors Weekend, an annual summer recruiting event that hosts a litany of hopeful signees in Ann Arbor every June.
Over the past three recruiting cycles, Victors Weekend has produced nearly double-digit commits, and the Wolverines will work towards continuing that success.
The Wolverine examines the eight recruits who committed to Michigan during, before, or shortly following Victors Weekend and what’s happened in their careers since.
EDGE Devon Baxter, 2024
Commitment Date: June 19, 2023
Hometown: Brandywine, Maryland
School: Gwynn Park
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 235lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 243 Overall, No. 28 EDGE, No. 9 in Maryland
Other Notable Offers: Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Tennessee, Penn State, Syracuse, Maryland
Last Season Results: 55 Total Tackles, 13 Sacks, 9 Pass Breakups, 3 Fumble Recoveries
How We Got Here: Devon Baxter was a top priority for the former defensive staff, including defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, in the spring prior to the incoming freshman’s official visit. He committed the Monday after Victors Weekend and stayed locked in with the Wolverines. Baxter enrolled a few weeks ago.
LB Jeremiah Beasley, 2024
Commitment Date: June 28, 2023
Hometown: Belleville, Michigan
School: Belleville High
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 230lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 399 Overall, No. 35 Linebacker, No. 9 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Pitt
Last Season Results: 120 Total Tackles, 5 Sacks…86 Carries, 893 Yards, 14 Touchdowns
How We Got Here: Jeremiah Beasley was another uncommitted recruit who took his official visit to Michigan on Victors Weekend, later announcing his commitment less than two weeks after the event. Beasley was also the first 2024 signee to arrive in Ann Arbor, so he was able to participate in College Football Playoff preparations. Following spring camp, Beasley transferred to Missouri.
EDGE Enow Etta, 2023
Commitment Date: July 13, 2022
Hometown: Colleyville, Texas
School: Covenant Christian Academy
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 295lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 123 Overall, No. 15 Defensive Lineman, No. 22 in Texas
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Stanford, Utah, SMU, Cal, Alabama
Last Season Results: Appeared In 3 Games…1 Tackle vs. UNLV
How We Got Here: Enow Etta was an immediate must-land for Michigan once the program offered him in January of 2022. His commitment came around four weeks after Victors Weekend and occurred due to the efforts of former assistant Mike Elston. Etta took visits elsewhere in the fall but ultimately signed with the Wolverines. High school was the first time Etta ever played organized football, so he’s yet to reach his ceiling. The new coaching staff had Etta take reps along the interior during spring camp, and he’s becoming a contender to be one of the first guys off the bench for the 2024 campaign.
OL Amir Herring, 2023
Commitment Date: July 7, 2022
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
School: West Bloomfield High
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 300lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 311 Overall, No. 19 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 4 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Missouri, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State, Kansas, Boston College
Last Season Results: Appeared In 1 Game vs. Indiana
How We Got Here: Amir Herring joined his former West Bloomfield teammate, wide receiver Semaj Morgan, in Ann Arbor by committing to Michigan once his official visits concluded. The in-stater had two unofficials before Victors Weekend. He enrolled early and ended up seeing the field in the win over Indiana. However, Herring transferred after spring camp and is now at Kansas.
TE Deakon Tonielli, 2023
Commitment Date: July 7, 2022
Hometown: Oswego, Illinois
School: Oswego High
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 251lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 398 Overall, No. 23 Tight End, No. 6 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Illinois, Michigan State, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa State, West Virginia
Last Season Results: Did Not See Game Action
How We Got Here: Deakon Tonielli was the first tight end commit for Michigan assistant Grant Newsome. He was also the second of four 2023 prospects from Chicagoland to pick the reigning national champions. He shared the pledge on the Sunday of Victors Weekend. He redshirted last season but performed well in the spring game with a 35-yard reception. Tonielli and fellow 2023 tight end signee Zack Marshall should compete for the fourth spot on the depth chart.
RB CJ Stokes, 2022
Commitment Date: June 19, 2021
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
School: Hammond School
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 205lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 784 Overall, No. 58 Running Back, No. 9 in South Carolina
Other Notable Offers: Penn State, Vanderbilt, Missouri, South Carolina, Minnesota, Louisville
Last Season Results: Appeared In 2 Games…4 Carries, 8 Yards
How We Got Here: CJ Stokes took three summer official visits to Michigan, Missouri, and Vanderbilt. The Wolverines were last on the list, and on the final day of Victors Weekend, Stokes committed. His first year with U-M saw him compile 273 yards and 1 touchdown on 55 carries. But seeing limited action last season resulted in his transfer to Charlotte.
DL Alessandro Lorenzetti, 2022
Commitment Date: June 25, 2021
Hometown: Montreal, Québec, Canada
School: Loomis Chaffee Prep School (Connecticut)
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 301lbs
Industry Ranking: Unranked
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, FIU, UMass, Columbia
Last Season Results: Did Not See Game Action
How We Got Here: Alessandro Lorenzetti transferred to Loomis Chaffee as a junior, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his season was cancelled. But he got on the radar of colleges during the camp slate of 2021, and his experiences at Michigan wowed him to the point of committing. Converting to the defensive side of the ball from the offensive line, Lorenzetti hasn’t played in his first two years with the Wolverines and is currently fighting to crack the rotation this fall.
