CMU flips Vassar WR Ricardo Macon Jr. from Michigan as walk-on commit
Vassar High School's Ricardo Macon Jr. was set to attend the University of Michigan as a member of the 2019 recruiting class.
The wide receiver, who was once ready to sign with Michigan Tech, went for a visit in Ann Arbor on Feb. 2. Just one day later, coach Jim Harbaugh offered him a walk-on spot on the football team.
Of course, Macon accepted.
However, Macon's plans have now shifted to Central Michigan, as the senior was recently tripped up by admissions issues when aiming securing his spot at Michigan. He was contacted by Harbaugh on May 1 and directed to play for Jim McElwain's program in Mount Pleasant.
Macon announced his commitment flip to CMU that same day, and he is slated to be a walk-on for the 2019 season.
"It means a lot," Macon said. "Harbaugh's a great guy, and I'm sure after my first year I'd be on an athletic scholarship. I was really thankful for that."
Since making the switch to CMU, Macon said he's spoken with McElwain but is primarily working with Director of Player Personnel Albert Karschnia to successfully enroll and begin classes.
During his time at previous camps and visits, he met two current Central Michigan freshmen – receivers Alec Muck (walk-on) and Darrell Wyatt.
"I met (Wyatt) at a visit at Northwood junior year," Macon said of the Martin Luther King High School product. "We played catch, and the dude seems like he's an amazing athlete."
Athletics in his blood
Macon's cousin, cornerback Jordan Brown, was just selected in the seventh round (No. 223 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown played for South Dakota State and went to Paradise Valley High School in Arizona.
Speaking on the continued athletic pipeline in his family, Macon said he's also cousins with CMU redshirt freshman defensive end LaQuan Johnson. His CMU ties go even further, as his cousins Brian Pruitt and Torrey Farris also played for the Chippewas.
Pruitt was a three-year running back from 1992-94, going for 1,964 yards and 22 touchdowns in his final campaign. He scored 34 touchdowns and accumulated 3,888 total yards during his college career. Farris played safety for one season.
Last but not least is Macon's uncle – Mark Macon, the No. 8 overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft.
Mark spent the 1993-96 and 1999 seasons with the Detroit Pistons during his 11-year professional career. He was the BYU head coach from 2009-12 and recently became an assistant coach under Aaron McKie at his alma mater, Temple.
"A lot of people in my family have played professional sports, and I'm just trying to be the next one," Macon said.
For the four months Macon was set to go to Michigan, the Wolverines were continuously sending him workouts to complete back home in Vassar. He believes that's put him ahead of the game despite his late commitment to the Chippewas.
"I'm going in with the same desire to put my head down and see where it takes me," he said. "I'm going to hype my teammates up, and I'll be that one guy. I'm not selfish. I want to see everyone be successful."
Vassar days
During his time at Vassar, a Class C program that's 20 miles east of Saginaw with an enrollment of 331 students, Macon was forced to take on the role of starting quarterback for his last three years. The Vulcans were 4-23 with the 6-foot, 211-pound athlete as the signal caller. They were 1-8 in 2018.
But quarterback isn't Macon's true position. It's actually wide receiver.
Macon was slotted to play running back, a position he's never tried before, at Michigan, but with his flip to CMU, he will play receiver – the position he dominated at as a freshman in 2015. Surprisingly enough, Vassar went to the playoffs that season.
"Switching to quarterback was tough because I never played it before," Macon said. "We just had to put our best athlete at quarterback. It was hard to read defenses at first. But now, reading defenses is easy."
He ran for more than 1,000 yards as a senior, compiling 14 of the team's 17 rushing touchdowns. He also completed 73-of-167 passes for 815 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Macon said his hands make him special as a receiver, noting he's more of a position guy rather than a speed-based athlete. He plans to strike fear into opponents with his abilities as a pass-catcher for CMU.
"I've tried to reach out to college coaches to play receiver, but they all want me at running back. Now that I get the opportunity, I have to take advantage of it."
Academics are important to Macon, and he plans to become a history teacher. His grandmother, Barbara Ann Smith, grew up during the 1940-50s in Alabama, so he was raised learning about segregation at that time in the United States. He said the public school system doesn't teach history on a deep enough level, and he wants to help make the change.
"I want to be a gateway for kids to help them be successful," Macon said.
