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Apple Valley's Jayden Denegal signs letter of intent with Michigan Wolverines

jose quintero, victorville daily press
·2 min read
Apple Valley's Jayden Max Denegal signed his national letter of intent to join the University of Michigan's football program at his home on Wednesday morning.
Apple Valley's Jayden Max Denegal signed his national letter of intent to join the University of Michigan's football program at his home on Wednesday morning.

With a few clicks and an electronic signature, Apple Valley quarterback Jayden Max Denegal made good on his commitment to joining the University of Michigan football program early Wednesday morning.

The 6-foot-4 and 215-pound Denegal, a three-star prospect, finalized the university in Ann Arbor, Mich. as his destination by signing his national letter of intent to join the Wolverines.

Apple Valley quarterback Jayden Denegal looks to pass the ball against Silverado during the first half at Hawk Stadium on Sept. 17, 2021.
Apple Valley quarterback Jayden Denegal looks to pass the ball against Silverado during the first half at Hawk Stadium on Sept. 17, 2021.

Denegal became the Apple Valley program’s second-consecutive quarterback to receive a full-ride NCAA Division 1 scholarship. Jeff Widener went to Northern Arizona University after graduating in 2019.

Denegal followed Widener’s graduation at quarterback and led the Sun Devils to a Mojave River League title in the abbreviated 2021 season last spring.

Denegal missed the Sun Devils’ historic postseason run to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 title game after suffering a season-ending injury against Oak Hills.

He ended his season playing in nine games and throwing for 1,545 yards and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for 281 yards and eight more scores.

Apple Valley’s Jayden Denegal scrambles with the ball against Victor Valley during the Bell Game at Netwon T. Bass Stadium on Sept. 10, 2021.
Apple Valley’s Jayden Denegal scrambles with the ball against Victor Valley during the Bell Game at Netwon T. Bass Stadium on Sept. 10, 2021.

Denegal joins Michigan, adding a second quarterback to the 2022 recruiting class in Alex Orji from Virginia Tech after head coach Jim Harbaugh leads the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title in 17 years and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Harbaugh became the first Michigan coach to win the AP Coach of the Year Award and the first from the Big Ten since Penn State's Joe Paterno in 2005.

Harbaugh recently visited Denegal’s home, and the two posed for a photo that the quarterback posted online.

No. 2 Michigan (12-1) is the first team to make the playoff after being unranked in the preseason. The Wolverines, who were 2-4 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, didn’t crack the AP Top 25 until after their second game, a 31-10 win over Washington on Sept. 11.

The Wolverines got on a roll after their only loss, 37-33, at Michigan State on Oct. 30. They closed with a 42-27 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State and put a 42-3 beatdown on Iowa in the Big Ten championship game.

Michigan faces No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in its first College Football Playoff appearance on Dec. 31 at the Orange Bowl. The winner will play for the national championship on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Prep Football: Apple Valley's Jayden Denegal is officially a Michigan Wolverine