Signee Spotlight: On300 EDGE Devon Baxter goes in-depth on signing with Michigan

On300 Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park EDGE Devon Baxter officially signed with Michigan on Wednesday.

The Wolverine’s EJ Holland caught up with Baxter about putting pen to paper and what it means to be a Wolverine. Watch the full Q&A in the video above.

The Skinny

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 235
Senior Stats: Recorded 45 total tackles, seven sacks, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Industry Ranking: No. 26 EDGE, No. 254 overall
Interesting Facts: Also played quarterback, wide receiver and tight end as a senior. Father, Durell, is his defensive line coach at Gwynn Park. Lettered in basketball. Eats 20 McNuggets after every game.

Recruitment

Michigan made Baxter a top priority in the spring and quickly became the team to beat. Baxter eventually committed to Michigan in June. He picked U-M over offers from Boston College, Maryland, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and others. Michigan staffer Dylan Roney served as his primary recruiter. Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and defensive line coach Mike Elston served as his secondary recruiters.

He Said It

“It was actually the commits that pushed me to commit. They have a great group of guys with a really strong bond. They talk to each other every day. They had that family feeling going. It was just a matter of me feeling them out. They told me they really wanted me and that we could be a national championship team. They have five offensive line commits. Why not compete against the best every day in practice? That will only help me become the best.”

They Said It

“It had to be the right place for him. I don’t have to go there for four years. You have to be comfortable with these coaches and believe they can get you to the level you want to get to. Devon is like me. He’s pragmatic. If Devon comes to me and says ‘I’m good with this’ then I’m pretty confident in him. He said ‘let’s sit down and make a list of all the pros and cons.’ I told him to do the pros first. He laid out everything. I told him to do the cons, and he wrote down distance. I told him to keep going, and he couldn’t write down anything else. I was like ‘do we still need to keep having this conversation?’ He looked at me and said ‘no.’ After that, I knew. I felt it was the best decision. They have the best history of production of the position he plays. Period.” Durell Baxter, Devon’s father

Scouting Report

“Devon Baxter is really interesting because he’s over 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds. He has a big frame and has the measurables. He’s a guy who has developmental upside so once Michigan gets him in the strength and conditioning program, he probably won’t start immediately but U-M has always taken these tall guys with big frames, tacked weight on them, and develop them into these imposing presences their second, third or fourth year. I think Devon fits that bill.” — On3 Rankings Director Charles Power