Mentor of top RB target Shekai Mills-Knight goes in-depth on Michigan visit

Shekai Mills-Knight is one of the most intriguing recruits in the country.

A late bloomer on the trail, Mills-Knight spent most of his life in Canada and has roots in Jamaica. In fact, his uncle, Glenn Mills, coached global track star and Jamaican living legend Usain Bolt. While Mills-Knight also competes in track, his passion is football.

With the help of mentor, Emmanuel Cazeau-Wagnac, Mills-Knight made the move from Quebec to Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School last year. In his first season with the program, Mills-Knight rushed for 1,018 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“I have a passion when it comes to scouting, evaluating talent and things like that,” Cazeau-Wagnac said. “When I first put my eyes on Shekai, I was like ‘yeah, he needs to be at a school he can properly develop at.’ We went through the process and ended up getting in contact with Baylor School. That was the best fit for what we were looking for.”

Fast forward to now, and Mills-Knight has exploded on the recruiting scene, notching offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee and a slew of other major programs.

Michigan jumped in the mix last month when new running backs coach Tony Alford stopped by Baylor School. Alford was able to quickly form a relationship with Mills-Knight and got him and Cazeau-Wagnac on campus for an unofficial visit this week.

“It was awesome,” Cazeau-Wagnac said. “Being that it was an unofficial visit, I was there for a day, and he was there with his father for a day and a half. We were able to spend some time with Tony Alford, Fred Jackson, Sherrone Moore and the academic people. They gave us a great tour. You could see why Michigan is a top-notch, elite program in the nation. We really enjoyed it.”

While Mills-Knight is a newer target, Alford is making him a top overall priority on the running back board this cycle.

“Coach Alford is one of the best if not the best in the business,” Cazeau-Wagnac said. “Every time I have a conversation with him, he’s really super detailed with his process and development. If you look at his track record and the impact he’s had on the guys that have gone to the pros, the proof is in the pudding. That’s part of the appeal for Shekai and every running back in the nation. Plus, he has Fred Jackson as an analyst. They make a really good team. Coach Alford top-notch.”

New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was also personally involved on the visit.

“He was really good,” Cazeau-Wagnac said. “His message was about Michigan still being Michigan. It’s going to keep being Michigan now that he’s replaced Jim Harbaugh. He sees Shekai as a Michigan type of kid. From the moment he saw his tape, he was like ‘woah, where is that guy coming from?’ Seeing him for the first time, he was impressed with him physically. Shekai recalled the game against Penn State, where he wore his emotions on his sleeve with a lot of genuineness. You can also see why he’s a player’s coach and why guys connect with him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a guy Shekai wants to play for. He’s really relatable. He really made us comfortable in his office. You felt the genuineness.”

As Cazeau-Wagnac alluded to, Michigan should be a destination school for top ball carriers around the nation. Not only does Alford have the resume, Michigan also has one of the best offensive lines in college football and is a run-first team.

Cazeau-Wagnac sees Mills-Knight, who is a big, physical back at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, as a perfect fit for what Michigan does offensively.

“It would be a seamless transition,” Cazeau-Wagnac said. “They have such a great efficiency in creating lanes with the offensive line. When you look at statistics like yards before contact and what the backs are creating at the second and third level, it fits into the type of back that Shekai wants to be — a Donovan Edwards-type back that’s 220-plus pounds. He can turn a three-yarder into a nine-yarder in an instant. That offense would create a lot of opportunities for his style of play.”

Mills-Knight also has the off-the-field traits that make him that Michigan-type of kid that Moore described.

“He’s a smiley kid,” Mills-Knight. “He’s quiet but energetic. He loves people. A lot of times I call him, and he’s at a baseball game cheering on fellow students. He still finds time to train and study and fill the requirements that come with being a top prospect. He wants to uplift people and is a leader. He loves to lead by example. Look at the way he pass protects and how he’s selfless. That’s Shekai for you.”

Mills-Knight, who has already taken an OV to Miami, will now visit Alabama (June 7-9), Auburn (June 10-12), Tennessee (June 13-16) and Ole Miss (June 21). He has no set decision timeline.

Mills-Knight is ranked as the No. 35 running back and No. 453 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

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