Defensive end Jibreel Black drops Cincinnati, commits to Michigan

Even Cincinnati Wyoming football coach Bernie Barre had to joke with one of his assistants Monday that, given Jibreel Black’s history, Black’s weekend commitment to Michigan was of the “loose” variety.

Last summer, Black verbally committed to Indiana, where his brother Larry plays defensive tackle, then switched his pledge to Cincinnati during the Bearcats’ undefeated regular season.

When Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame last month, Black scheduled an official visit to Michigan State. He stayed committed to Cincinnati through that trip, but went to Michigan on Friday and told coaches Sunday he wanted to be a Wolverine.

“I texted him this morning and I told him you got to call UC (Cincinnati) and he told me that he’s already talked to UC,” Barre said. “He told them. He had a visit to Indiana next week and he canceled it. So he’s canceled his visit to Indiana and he’s told UC that he’s not coming, so I think it’s a pretty firm commitment.”

If so, that’s good news for a Michigan team still searching for help on the defensive side of the ball.

Black was Ohio’s Division 3 co-Defensive Player of the Year last year, logging 9 Â½ sacks as a pass-rushing defensive end and leading Wyoming to a 13-1 season that ended in the state semifinals.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Black projects as an end at Michigan, though some schools recruited him at tackle.

“He was great for us, I’ll tell you that,” Barre said. “He’s extremely quick, cat-like quickness I feel like, and he’ll get after the passer. He’s physical, strong, relentless, has got one of those motors that’s always going. I think they got a great player.”

Unlike recent linebacker commitments Jake Ryan and Davion Rogers, Michigan had been pursuing Black for some time.

Former linebackers coach Jay Hopson, now the defensive coordinator at Memphis, recruited Black during the season, but Black didn't waver on his Cincinnati commitment until after Kelly left.

He took an official visit under the Bearcats' new staff and impressed coaches with his personable nature, jumping to his feet to introduce himself to everyone who entered a recruiting hospitality suite at the downtown Westin.

Black returned from that visit firm in his commitment, but changed his mind after seeing the opportunities at Michigan on his trip to Ann Arbor.

"Jibreel told me that he was just blown away by the facilities both athletically and academically up at Michigan," Barre said. "He just thought it felt right, it was the right place for him, so he made the switch."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.