Bio Blast: Meet three-star Michigan linebacker signee Markel Dabney

Three-star Richmond (Va.) Huguenot linebacker Markel Dabney officially signed with Michigan on Wednesday.

Here is everything you need to know about the talented prospect.

The Skinny

Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
Industry Ranking: No. 62 linebacker, No. 732 overall
Interesting Facts: Committed to Michigan while on a cruise ship returning from The Bahamas. Also started at wide receiver and running back during his high school career. Has a 3.8 GPA. Will enroll early at Michigan.

Recruitment

Dabney committed to SMU over Michigan while the Wolverines self-imposed a contact ban in the spring. As soon as that came to an end, Michigan pushed hard for Dabney, got him on campus for a visit and flipped his commitment in late June. Michigan linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary led the way in his recruitment.

He Said It

“Not everybody can say they have the opportunity to play for the Michigan Wolverines. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The only people I know from Richmond that have gone to Michigan are Shamari (Earls) and David Terrell, and he’s a Huguenot alum. The fit was similar to SMU. I’ll be playing inside the box, outside the box and on the edge. I can’t want to play under Coach Wink (Martindale).”

They Said It

“He can play every position. He sacrifices for the team. He does everything he can to help us win. Last year, he went off on both sides of the field. We know he’s going to college for defense, but he’s going to play running back for us, too. He has versatility. He can play in and out of the box. He knows the entire defense. He makes sure everyone gets lined up. He’s almost like the quarterback of the defense. He can play defensive end, middle linebacker, strong safety and he could even play corner if he wanted to. At the end of the day, he allows us to be very versatile in our scheme. He’s what you call a Swiss Army Knife.” — Huguenot head coach Charles Scott

Scouting Report

“Dabney is more of an athlete than a true linebacker at this point in his development, but that’s completely fine. Dabney is listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, but is probably a bit closer to 220. He plays with tremendous speed, can run sideline-to-sideline and is very comfortable in coverage. All of those traits should allow him to excel in Michigan’s scheme. Dabney is the heart and soul of the vaunted Huguenot defense, playing both a traditional linebacker role and nickel. Dabney is a natural leader, a team captain and helps his teammates make pre-snap adjustments. I’ve had Dabney graded as a four-star — higher than all the services — for the majority of the cycle and believe he’s the best linebacker in Michigan’s class this cycle.” — The Wolverine’s EJ Holland