New Michigan Man: S RJ Moten Commits to Michigan

Landing two-sport athletes and recruits with NFL family ties has been a norm for Jim Harbaugh since he arrived in Ann Arbor. And he just added another as the son of former Philadelphia Eagles LB Ron Moten and potential 1st round MLB draft pick, 2020 Delran (NJ) ATH RJ Moten has committed to Michigan.

Commitment

Scouting Report

Moten will be one of the best overall athletes on Michigan’s campus as soon as he moves into his dorm. Already a high-level centerfielder and first-round MLB draft pick (who will reportedly play baseball for Michigan as well), the four-star athlete is a legit prospect at both running back and safety. And though I think he could be a standout on offense, Michigan is targeting him to play centerfield on the football field.

The elite athlete is an instinctual, explosive playmaker that can close quickly and read quarterbacks well. He needs a little work in his backpedal and coverage skills but that will come with more time focused on the position. He’s a guy who should come in and compete for special teams time immediately and a starting spot in the secondary in his first couple years on campus, eventually being a stalwart in Don Brown’s defense. Moten will be one of the best players in this class when everything is said and done with.

Recruitment

Moten wasn’t a well-known name on the Michigan recruiting front until a little later in the process. He received his offer from the staff at the end of April, quickly shot up the staff’s wishlist, and named the Wolverine’s his leader ($). But offers from Penn State and Notre Dame in May slowed things down a bit.

The four-star athlete made his first visit to Ann Arbor in early June which solidified Michigan at the top of his list. The Crystal Balls poured in and all signs pointed to an eventual commitment to the Wolverines.

He announced a commitment date for late July, which just so happened to be the same day as his next visit to Ann Arbor, the 2019 BBQ at the Big House. So it was far from a surprise when Moten publicly announced his commitment to Michigan, joining what is looking like one of the best secondary hauls in the country.

  • Height: 6’0″
  • Weight: 200lbs
  • Hometown (School): Delran, NJ (Delran)
  • Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Princeton
  • Rankings: Rivals (3*) – 247Sports (4*, #93 overall) – ESPN (4*, #247 overall)
  • Composite Ranking: Four-star, #287 Overall, #26 Safety, #8 in New Jersey

Highlights

As for the Rest of the Class

Moten is the 22nd overall commitment, the second safety commit, and the third pledge out of New Jersey. But he likely won’t be the last safety in this class as S Makari Paige is set to announce his decision later this week and all signs point to it being Michigan. The other defensive backs left on the board include DB Malcolm Greene, CB Darion Green-Warren, CB Dontae Manning and CB Henry Gray.

Photo Credit: RJ Moten/Twitter

Garrett Fishaw