After months of going without a commitment for the 2020 recruiting class, the Wolverines made a big splash yesterday as four-star 2020 Buckingham Browne & Nichols (MA) OL Zak Zinter committed to Michigan.
Commitment
Scouting Report
If you like old school style, ground and pound, domination, play entire the second whistle type of offensive lineman, Zinter is your kind of guy. Though he’s playing against a little lower level of competition on a weekly basis in Massachusetts, he absolutely dominates from the interior line. He has the size to play tackle but guard looks to be his future position, and one that he should excel at throughout his career. Has to make a few strides to make in his game but that’s something that Ed Warriner and the Michigan staff should be able to help him with to get him to become a multi-year starter in Ann Arbor his talents suggest.
Recruitment
Zinter has long been a name to know on the recruiting trail for Michigan thanks to Don Brown’s connections to the Northeast. He camped in Ann Arbor in June of 2018 at the Big Man camp, where things really took off between him and the coaching staff. He followed that up with a trip to the BBQ at the Big House in July 2018 and then for the Penn State showdown last fall.
But even with all of the interest, this was far from a slam dunk as Notre Dame was a big time threat, like with most Michigan-level lineman.
Though both sides felt good about their chances through the winter and spring, it was Michigan that pulled away at the end. Thanks to a visit from the coaching staff at the end of spring, that was all the four-star lineman needed to see to make his decision.
Zinter committed to Michigan in mid-May, giving the Wolverines coaching staff its highest rated commitment in the 2020 class so far.
- Height: 6’6”
- Weight: 300lbs
- Hometown (School): North Andover, MA (Buckingham Browne & Nichols)
- Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Auburn, Harvard, Miami, Michigan State
- Rankings: Rivals (4*, #147 overall) – 247Sports (4*, #329 overall) – ESPN (4*, #12 OG)
- Composite Ranking: Four-star, #217 Overall, #21 OT, #2 in Massachusetts
Highlights
As for the Rest of the Class
Zinter is the 7th overall commitment, the 2nd offensive lineman, and the first commit out of Massachusetts in this cycle. And he may not be the last of either category.
Michigan will obviously add plenty of other commitments to this class and offensive lineman in particular. They’re in good-to-great shape with the likes of OT Andrew Gentry, OL Michael Carmody, OL Olu Fashanu, and are still in the race for OG/DT Justin Rogers.
As for Massachusetts, OLB Kalel Mullings remains a top target for the staff while DE/TE Cam Large is another name to watch.
Photo Credit: NorthOfBoston.com
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