The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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64 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2023 COMMITMENT PROFILE BY ZACH LIBBY M ichigan scored a verbal com- mitment from 2024 South Park (Pa.) High linebacker Zach Ludwig in late November, three days after the win over Ohio State in Columbus. At the time, he was the fourth pledge in the Wolverines' recruiting class, which now has seven mem- bers in total. The only problem with Ludwig's fall announcement was that it went completely unnoticed until early February by all four ma- jor online recruiting services. Ludwig, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, keeps a low profile on social media, so his Instagram post months ago fell through the cracks until it was first reported on Feb. 6. While Michigan media and fans are still learning about Ludwig and his journey to becoming a U-M commit, there were a lot of initial questions as to how the Wolverines first spotted him as a prospect. "The answer is that [U-M director of strength and conditioning] Ben Her- bert is Zach's uncle," South Park head coach Marty Rieck said. "It's fortunate about Michigan finding him first be- cause those guys know what they're looking for. "From my perspective, with the level that Michigan is at right now, they're not playing games and are only going to bring in players who can truly help out the program. I see that 100 percent with Zach. He will be an asset." Rieck, who also is a longtime his- tory, civics and international relations teacher at the school, is now the mentor of the first Power Five recruit to come out of South Park High since 2006 when dual-threat quarterback Conner Dixon signed with Michigan State. Ludwig, whose only FBS tender so far has been from Michigan, was offered a scholarship last November, the same month in which he visited campus for the first time as a prospect. He had been around the football facilities before with his uncle, but never in a capacity as a recruit. That visit took place during the week leading up to the Ohio State game. Lud- wig experienced practices and prepara- tions for the rivalry game, while also getting extended personal time with the Michigan coaching staff. "Zach mentioned about the how the players and everyone, from top-to- bottom, are so welcoming there," Rieck said. "He spoke highly about the facili- ties and how the people treated him in a fair manner. "He said the environment and the people were electric. The mission and mindset that's part of the foun- dation there was evident. He wants to be a part of it and was asked to be a part of it. He's going to do every- thing to keep being a part of it." Head coach Jim Harbaugh and former linebackers coach George Helow both met with Ludwig re- garding defensive schemes, film study and the resources provided to players. Ludwig committed to U-M less than a week after he returned home to suburban Pittsburgh. "Coach Harbaugh took the time to build that program to where he wants it to be," Rieck said. "Even without knowing him personally, the play of the players speaks for itself. The determination of those guys, the standard of winning, the mor- als and the ethics speak for themselves, too. It's top notch there. "The people that Harbaugh has sur- rounded himself with are paying divi- dends. Michigan is one of those pro- grams who others want to emulate and rightfully so." Ludwig is viewed as a project signing for Michigan, but he will get the luxury of having Herbert by his side every day to help him meet the physical and men- tal rigors of playing in the Big Ten. Her- bert is widely regarded as one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country. "Zach does a great job of reading and reacting to plays, and knowing what's going on pre-snap," Rieck said. "But with his size and physical ability, could he mold into a defensive end maybe? "Wherever Michigan asks him to be, he would do it with a happy heart. He's coachable and would learn it quickly. His ability to read offenses from the be- ginning of last season to the end was a vast improvement. "He's one of those rare kids who has a true football sense. You can always teach kids, and kids can always improve, but it's rare for someone to have that true sense to find the ball and come downhill." ❏ Linebacker Zach Ludwig Stealthily Joined U-M's 2024 Class Ludwig, a 6-2, 205-pound linebacker from South Park (Pa.) High, was a quiet addition to the U-M class in November. His commitment went unreported until Feb. 6. PHOTO COURTESY ZACH LUDWIG PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: All evaluations of Ludwig are based on his six-minute highlight tape. He shows leadership and poise in making plays and helping others around him better by being positionally sound. He displays a team-first mentality and should immediately fit in with the culture instilled at Michigan. Areas of Improvement: Ludwig will need to continue getting better at shed- ding blocks, maintaining his balance, improving his lateral quickness and speed, and adding weight. This is the epitome of a project take for Michigan, but the Wolverines and Ludwig have the advantage of working with an outstanding strength and conditioning staff nationally. — Zach Libby