The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/111015
football recruiting issue earned a scholarship offer from a powerful program like Michigan. One look at what ���JD��� can do on the field, however, answers every question you might have. That���s always been the case, according to his youth football coach with the Roseville Broncos, Kurt Latour. ���Ever since the first time I saw him play, I knew he was capable of this,��� Latour said. ���It was easy to coach the team with Jourdan on it. We just ran ���Jourdan left, Jourdan right��� on every series.��� Despite his size, Lewis has racked up All-America honors, playing for the West squad in the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl and for Team USA in the International Bowl after the conclusion of his senior year. Despite his talent, there was truly only one school that he dreamed of playing for. ���I think the most important thing that everybody knows by now ��� is that JD always wanted to go to Michigan as a little kid,��� Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher said. As soon as Lewis earned a Michigan scholarship offer in early February 2012, it was only a matter of time before he pledged to the Wolverines. ���I kind of wanted to commit immediately, to be honest with you,��� Lewis admitted. ���But my mom and I talked about it, and she wanted me to just hold on for a minute.��� That ���minute��� lasted barely two weeks. Lewis committed Feb. 18, 2012 ��� one of six future Wolverines to pull the trigger that day, including high school teammate David Dawson ��� and stayed steadfast to the Wolver- ines ever since. What many Michigan fans may not realize is how firm he was in that commitment. While Toledo was the only school to offer prior to his Michigan pledge, several other heavy hitters tried to get involved. With his dream commitment already made, Lewis rebuffed all comers. ���I think one story really says a lot in his commitment to Michigan,��� Wilcher said. ���To me, it was really tested when we were in Alabama at the seven-on-seven. He showed out down there. [Alabama coach] Nick Saban was going crazy. Nick Saban went crazy over this kid. ���He just went, ���I���ve got to have him,��� and JD said, ���No, I���m going to Michigan.��� He didn���t bat an eyelash. Saban said, ���Can I at least talk to you for a minute?��� And JD said, ���Naw, I���m going to Michigan.��� I had to make him go at least go speak to Coach Saban.��� Turning down interest from Alabama, the program that has won three of the past four BCS national championships, says plenty about just how much Lewis had always dreamed of playing for Michigan. Having the opportunity to do so says just as much about his talent on the field. ���All JD has ever done since he���s been here is make plays,��� Cass Tech defensive coordinator Jermain Crowell said. ���You look at the state championship game, the catch up over somebody���s shoulder [an 89-yard touchdown pass on Cass Tech���s first offensive play].��� While Lewis is expected to play