The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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52 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2023 MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK BY ZACH LIBBY A s of the Dec. 21-23 early signing pe- riod for the 2023 class, Michigan already has four commitments in hand from high school juniors in the 2024 recruiting class. It's the same number of verbal commits the Wolverines had from juniors a year ago at this time. Michigan has two pledges apiece on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in this class. Here are the early 2024 pledges, starting with the most recent to commit: TE HOGAN HANSEN Hansen, a 6-5, 200-pound tight end from Bellevue (Wash.) High near Se- attle, was a surprise commitment for Michigan when he shared his decision on Dec. 8. He chose to end the process this early because he knew that Ann Arbor was his calling for college, and he didn't find the need to prolong it further after taking two unofficial visits for the annual July BBQ at The Big House and for the Penn State game in October. Hansen cited his close connection with U-M tight ends coach Grant New- some and director of recruiting Albert Karschnia, the structured environment inside the Michigan football facilities and his family's love for the program as reasons why he picked the Wolverines. Newsome tabbed Hansen as a top 2024 tight end target, if not the highest, on the U-M board throughout the fall, and the latter reciprocated the interest. "Hogan is one of the most selfless and loyal individuals who I've ever met, even beyond football," said Lorenzo McKin- ney, the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bellevue Wolver- ines. "He just gives it his all on every play and every snap. "I couldn't be prouder of the kid. I can't say enough about Hogan." Hansen competes annually in 7-on-7 for Ford Sports Performance, based in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. The leaders have known Karschnia for years, and they even traveled together as a group to the Big House in the 2021 season for the Washington game. On3 rates Hansen as a three-star prospect, the No. 11 player in the state of Washington and the No. 27 tight end in the country. In the On3 Consensus, an equally-weighted average of the four major recruiting media services, Han- sen is rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 4 player in the state, and the No. 17 tight end and No. 280 overall player and nationally. IOL LUKE HAMILTON The 6-4½, 290-pound offensive lineman from Avon (Ohio) High in sub- urban Cleveland dropped his commit- ment publicly just one day after Michi- gan took down Ohio State in Columbus over Thanksgiving weekend. The four-star actually was in atten- dance in Ohio Stadium for "The Game" as a prospective Buckeyes recruit. Pre- viously, he took three visits to Michigan in the 2022 calendar year, including the Michigan State game Oct. 29 and the BBQ at The Big House in the summer. The Wolverines' co-offensive coor- dinator and offensive line coach Sher- rone Moore placed high priority on the interior road grader. Hamilton's father spent three decades coaching offensive linemen in high school, and the entire Hamilton family had strong impressions of Moore throughout the process. "When that clock ran out against Ohio State and I saw that score, I was super hyped, especially from watching how the offensive line played," Hamil- ton told The Wolverine. "I was ecstatic. Coach Moore was hyped when I asked if I could call him. "He said 'Of course. I'm not leaving until you do.' Once I told him, he told me how happy he was to build this for the long run." Per On3, Hamilton is the No. 8 ju- nior in the state of Ohio, and the No. 15 Hogan Hansen — a 6-5, 200-pounder from Bellevue (Wash.) High — is the No. 4 player in Washington, and the No. 17 tight end and No. 280 overall player nationally per the On3 Consensus. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND Luke Hamilton — a 6-4½, 290-pound, four- star interior offensive lineman from Avon (Ohio) High — committed to the Wolverines one day after Michigan's 45-23 win against the Buckeyes. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND Wolverines Get Early Start On 2024 Class