The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2021 THE WOLVERINE 49 FOOTBALL RECRUITING "We were the best two players on the team," Kody said. "We always talked about taking football this far and dreamed about it. That's every- body's dream as a kid. For it to actu- ally happen is exciting. It happened before our eyes. Looking back on it, we said we couldn't wait do it. Now that it's here, it's crazy." Needless to say, Kody is doing his best to convince Walter to join him at Michigan. The two haven't played together since that lone season in the youth ranks, but that desire has remained constant over the years. "I tried to get him to come to my high school, but it didn't work out," Jones said. "I told him that we can still make it happen in college. He wants to play together. "I just tell him you know I'm go- ing to Michigan, you're high on their radar and everybody loves you there. What are you waiting on?" Kody wasn't the only doing some recruiting at the high school level. Walter spent some time at national powerhouse IMG Academy in Flor- ida before eventually moving back to Memphis last June. While in the Sun- shine State, Walter talked to Kody all the time about teaming up at IMG. Intrigued by the opportunity, Kody and his family flew out for a visit. "Kody liked it, but said he wanted to come back home," Keith said. "That stopped the chance of them playing — but it almost happened. I would love for it to happen at Michi- gan. It would be like family playing together. I would love it." As Keith mentioned, the high school situation didn't work out, but that doesn't mean college won't. Kody has been locked in with the Wolverines since he gave his verbal pledge and is now one of the leaders of the class. U-M has done everything possible to establish itself as a top contender. And so far, it's working. Walter re- cently named Michigan a top school, took a self-guided visit earlier this offseason and made an official visit on June 18 along with Kody for the Wolverine's Victors Weekend. And yes, Walter loves the idea of having Kody on his team again. "It would be pretty cool to play with him," Walter said. "I know he would lock it down on the back end. I can do it upfront. Anywhere we would be at, I feel like it would be a great opportunity for us. He tells me to come make the dream team again." Kody isn't the only one recruit- ing hard. Keith and Walter Sr. be- came great friends themselves after the youth league merger and have stayed in contact over the years. In fact, the two talk on basically a weekly basis and view each other as family. "Walter Sr. is a great guy, he has a great wife and they raise great kids," Keith said. "Me and Walter Sr. talk a lot. It's not just about football. It's day-to-day stuff. I'm cool with his whole family. He's cool with my family. If my kids were with him, he would take care of them like they were his own. If his kids were with me, I would take care of them like they were my own. "Kody has spent the night at Wal- ter's house. They actually went to the Tennessee Future Stars Game when they were in the eighth grade. It's just like family." Family is the centerpiece of a lot of calls between Keith and Walter Sr., but the elephant in the room always looms large. "Every time he calls me or we talk, he says, 'You know, Walter would sure look good in that blue,'" Walter Sr. said with a laugh. "He tells me we already know what the move is and to come on over. I don't know what's go- ing to happen, but every time we talk, if the conversation doesn't start with blue, it's going to end with blue." Keith doesn't deny it. His pursuit of Walter Sr. may be even more relentless than Kody's pursuit of Walter. With official visit season right around the corner and Walter narrowing down his lengthy offer list, Keith has gone full-court press on Walter Sr. As far as his pitch, well, that's pretty simple. "Come home," Keith said. "We're already going to be there, so they just have to come on home. It's family. Michigan has the tradition. The 'M' means a whole lot and not just with football. "I'm 46 years old now, and when I saw that helmet as a kid, I never forgot it. There are great SEC teams in the south, but Michigan is a tradi- tional school. The brand speaks for itself." Keith and Kody wouldn't be the only family members the Nolens could lean on if they were to side with Michigan. Walter Sr.'s wife, Yolunda, has Michigan alums in her family and her parents live in the Detroit area. While the dads have taken center stage in this piece, folks familiar with the recruiting process know winning over mom is imperative. And Yol- unda is fully on board with the idea of Walter picking the Wolverines. "It's a win for me if one of my boys chooses to go there. We have alumni in the family — a couple of aunts and cousins," she said. "We've been up there before. It's very diverse. The city is clean. I like the campus atmo- sphere. It would be a win for me." Walter Sr. is getting there, too. He just knows he'll have to buy a few more jackets if Walter does indeed team up with Kody in Ann Arbor. "We're from the South, and it gets cold down here, but that's a different type of cold," Nolen said. "Honestly, I love the coaching staff and just the whole vibe out there. I don't know about the weather. I would say that's the only drawback. "But I would love it if Walter and Kody played together in college. They would love it. I'm sure the city of Memphis would love it." A blue-blood program, Michigan is starved for wins. The Wolverines are coming off a less-than-ideal season and need program changers. Land- ing Kody made a statement early in the cycle. Pulling in Walter would send shockwaves through the college football world. As history tells us, when Kody and Walter team up, it's a recipe for suc- cess. And that's exactly what Michi- gan needs. ❏ Nolen on potentially joining Jones at U-M "It would be pretty cool to play with him. I know he would lock it down on the back end. I can do it upfront. Anywhere we would be at, I feel like it would be a great opportunity for us. He tells me to come make the dream team again."