DeWeaver transfers to Wayne, decommits from Michigan

Messiah DeWeaver, a three-year starting quarterback at Trotwood-Madison High School, has transferred to Wayne and decommitted to the University of Michigan.

A highly recruitable junior, DeWeaver confirmed Wednesday he is enrolled at Wayne and intends to play for the Warriors as a senior. He said he withdrew from Trotwood after the second quarter there and started at Wayne after the new year.

He verbally committed to Michigan when Kettering native Brady Hoke was the Wolverines head coach. Hoke was fired in December and succeeded by former Michigan QB and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Just this week it was reported that Harbaugh visited the No. 1 QB in the Class of 2016, Jacob Eason of Washington, who is verbally committed to Georgia. He also met with the No. 2 QB, KJ Costello of Santa Margarita, Calif.

DeWeaver wouldn’t address leaving Trotwood. “I can’t really answer that,” he said. “I’m comfortable with the decision.”

DeWeaver said he’s been contacted by many programs, including Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke, Penn State, Louisville and most recently Florida.

“I talked it over with my family,” he said. “We thought it was in our best interests to reopen (the recruiting process) and look at other schools. There has been a lot of schools show interest that I want to see.”

DeWeaver isn’t the first high-profile player to transfer from Trotwood to Wayne. Defensive back Will Allen left Trotwood to play his senior season at Wayne in 1999, when the Warriors were the Division I state runner-ups. Allen was an All-American at OSU and a starter this season with the Steelers.

Wayne head football coach and athletic director Jay Minton said DeWeaver is ineligible until being cleared to play by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. DeWeaver might have to sit out the first five games of the regular season if he doesn’t meet one of seven criteria for transfer students who didn’t change residences. “We want to get that done sooner than later,” said Minton.

Wayne has had an outstanding streak of top-level QBs in recent seasons: graduating senior D’Mitrik Trice, Javon Harrison (former Cincinnati player) and Braxton Miller (Ohio State).

Minton said sophomore-to-be L’Christian Smith had been “penciled in” to be the Warriors QB next season. He was switched to receiver this past season and has a standing offer from Kentucky. Wayne (13-2) lost to Lakewood St. Edward in the D-I state championship in 2014.

DeWeaver took over as the Rams’ starting QB midway through his freshman season. He led Trotwood to state title game appearances in 2012 (D-II) and ’13 (D-III). Trotwood posted records of 12-2, 11-3 and 12-3 while DeWeaver was the starting QB.

According to the Greater Western Ohio Conference website, DeWeaver’s career totals are 302 completions in 568 attempts for 4,700 yards passing, 58 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He was first team All-Southwest District as a junior.

Trotwood head football coach Jeff Graham was unavailable for comment.

“He is a nice young man and we wish him well,” said Trotwood AD Guy Fogle.

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