The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
commitment profile J.J. McGrath Turns From Green To Blue And Pledges To Walk On By Tim Sullivan would be best for him. At that point, it simply came down Macomb (Mich.) Lutheran North kicker J.J. McGrath didn't grow up to where he fit in best and which a fan of Michigan. On the contrary, college would give him the best living just a few miles from East Lan- chance of succeeding, not only on the gridiron but also in sing in Holt, Mich., before the classroom. The comhe moved to the Detroit bination of athletics and suburbs, he had nothing top-notch academics at but disdain for the WolMichigan — the homeverines. state school — resulted "I grew up a big MSU in a choice to don the fan," McGrath admitted. winged helmet. "I grew up hating Ann "The idea is that if Arbor, and I grew up with you're going to walk a lot of negative comon somewhere, it's the ments about Ann Arbor. school that you're going "I went into the whole to want to be at, because recruiting process thinkyou're spending your ing Ann Arbor was a McGrath own money," McGrath skunk town, and there's nothing good about it. Ever since I said. "You can go spend your money went through the recruiting process, anywhere. I know the opportunity my mind took a step back. I grew up that Michigan gives me." While Michigan gives him opa little bit." McGrath grew up so much that portunity, McGrath provides U‑M he pledged his word to Michigan another big leg in its special teams as a preferred walk-on Jan. 18. The arsenal. Kickers have a reputation for one-time Spartan devotee will be a being the puniest kids on a football team, but nobody will ever accuse Wolverine. It wasn't an easy choice for Mc- McGrath of that. Standing 6-2, 220 Grath to make. He had scholarship pounds, he would look just as comoptions from Western Michigan and fortable taking the field at linebacker. Adding that weight as a senior Southern Mississippi, along with walk-on interest from LSU and Ala- helped him develop leg strength to bama. However, the coaching carou- boot field goals of 57, 54 and 52 yards sel at Western Michigan led to the of- during his senior year — nearly fer coming off the table, and McGrath equaling a state record of 59 yards knew that picking a walk-on option that has stood since 1994.