The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 63 COMMITMENT PROFILE BY ZACH LIBBY M ichigan picked up its first in-state commitment Feb. 2 from Harper Woods (Mich.) High defensive back Ja- cob Oden, who had dropped a top list of his favorite schools less than two months earlier. He originally planned on wrapping up his official visits before making a deci- sion, but the Michigan legacy recruit and frequent visitor to campus didn't need to wait on making his college choice. "It means the world," Oden told On3. "Michigan is my childhood dream school. The first-ever football team I played for was named the Wolverines. It just means the most. It's a family tradi- tion, and I have to keep it going." His father, Rod Oden, was a walk-on fullback for U-M in the '90s, and several other family members are also Michigan alums. Rated the No. 22 safety and No. 247 prospect nationally by On3, Oden is ranked even higher in the On3 Consen- sus. In that equally weighted average of the four major recruiting services, Oden checks in as the No. 5 overall ris- ing senior in the state of Michigan, the No. 14 ranked safety and No. 183 overall prospect nationally. In addition to the Wolverines, Oden was also considering Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State, Tennessee and Colo- rado, among a long list of other scholar- ship offers. However, two visits to Ann Arbor on back-to-back weeks in Janu- ary sealed the deal for Oden. Michigan hosted Oden the first time in January alongside Cleveland Glenville High's Bryce West, the On3 Consensus' No. 3 cornerback nationally, in what became a personalized opportunity for each prospect to sit down extensively with co-defensive coordinator and de- fensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. The coach set up the visit purposely so that Oden and West were able to spend time together on campus and to let it be known that the pair were the top targets at cornerback for the two-time defending Big Ten champions. "We are the top two prospects for Michigan, period," Oden said. "Play- ing together has always been our thing. We've always talked about going to the same college, so that would be great. It definitely meant a lot knowing that Michigan wanted both of us to get up there as individuals." In late January, Oden competed in the annual showcase Battle Miami 7v7 Tournament with the Detroit-based Sound Mind Sound Body program. After returning home, he and his family returned to the U-M facilities the very next day. He went on to an- nounce his commitment a little more than a week later. Oden's relationship with Clink- scale extends back to when he was a small child. His father, Rod, the cur- rent head coach of Harper Woods High, has known Clinkscale for 20 years. The two are close friends and confidants. The elder Oden described Clinkscale as an uncle figure to Jacob and said he is pleased to be passing his four-star son to Clinkscale next year. "Working and learning underneath Clink is going to be a heck of a resource, and he will be a mentor for Jacob," Oden Sr. said. "I'm comfortable with Clink providing that guidance and instruction in my absence. I have blind faith in him steering my son in the right direction." Oden is now the fourth On3 four-star player to commit to the Wolverines' 2024 recruiting class and the fifth ac- cording to the On3 Consensus. The oth- ers are Avon (Ohio) High interior offen- sive lineman Luke Hamilton, Bellevue (Wash.) High tight end Hogan Hansen, Cincinnati St. Xavier defensive lineman Ted Hammond and Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis. "Michigan is a great school and a great program," Oden said. "They've done everything right with me so far. They just have a great coaching staff." ❏ In-State Safety Jacob Oden Follows Heart And Family Tradition To U-M Hailing from Harper Woods (Mich.) High, Oden is ranked as the No. 5 overall rising senior in the state and the No. 14 safety and No. 183 player nationally, according to the On3 Consensus. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3.COM PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: Currently at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Oden will likely come out of his first offseason working with Michigan's strength and conditioning program at or near 200 pounds. He is projected to be slotted in at either cornerback or nickel, but he plays a utility role for Harper Woods in the secondary, meaning he could move over to safety at the next level. Adding more weight and muscle will allow Oden to exhibit his willing tackling and aggressiveness in the run game. It also will enable him to continue winning one-on-one battles against similarly framed wide receivers and bigger tight ends in space. Areas of Improvement: He's one of the best centerfielders in the state of Michigan, but more active reflexes in his change of direction will help him to become a trusted secondary talent in the deep thirds, especially on corner, post and vertical routes. Player Comparison: If Oden is inserted into a full-time nickel option for the Wolverines, he could fill the shoes of Mike Sainristil, who thrived in that role last year and will be back as a graduate captain this season. The physicality that Oden brings to his high school program in coverage and as a run-stopper will be ideal when Michigan looks for the next man up to replace Sainristil in 2024. — Zach Libby