The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 45 Taft edge rusher Elias Rudolph to Miami this summer in a flip that many believe had to do with NIL. Three-star Ijams- ville (Md.) Oakdale edge Dominic Nichols isn't very highly ranked but has received NIL pitches from other suitors. Clemson and Florida State, for example, are still in contact. The M Power initiative could play a key role in keeping Nichols in the 2024 class through December's early signing period. "I like how it's coming up," Nichols said. "NIL is a big part. It's not neces- sarily the main thing, but it does play a big part in recruiting. Seeing that they have everything going for them with NIL is great. They talked about setting you up for life after football. That was a big part of the presentation." Michigan is making M Power its focal point on the recruiting trail. Harbaugh took the M Power presentation on the road as he asked for support in cities like New York and Chicago. He was also front and center for M Power presentations during on-campus official visits over the summer. Both recruits and their families got an in-depth look at the vision for M Power and how it can be a game-changing ele- ment in the new world of NIL. "We never looked at any school, in- cluding Michigan, from an NIL stand- point," said Chris Hammond, father of Michigan defensive line commit Ted Hammond. "We never brought up NIL or asked about NIL. "My kid is not in it for the money. My kid is in it for the experience, the edu- cation and possibly getting to the NFL. That's why he's going to Michigan. "The M Power presentation was the first time they ever discussed their NIL plan. The way they have figured out how to do NIL with charity work, internships and listening to speakers is impressive. They are invested in each kid. They also have profit sharing with shirt sales and things like that. "The presentation was so impressive that my wife said to me, 'If someone was on the fence about Michigan and saw this, there is no way they are on the fence any- more.' Michigan is the only school doing NIL the way it should be done." The problem is the right way isn't al- ways the most successful way. Despite the strong premise of M Power and its positive impact on several parents and commits, Michigan suffered a hor- rendous stretch in recruiting following its final summer official visit weekend. From losing five-star defensive line- man Justin Scott to Ohio State to On300 linebacker Aaron Chiles picking Florida in one of the biggest stunners of the cycle to Rudolph flipping to Miami, the hits haven't stopped coming. In fact, Michigan recently lost an- other key head-to-head recruiting bat- tle against Miami when top-100 Miami Chaminade-Madonna safety Zaquan Patterson decided to commit to his home- town program. And in mid-September, the Wolverines saw four-star commits Jacob Smith and Jerod Smith from Corbin (Ky.) High both flip to Kentucky. Distance likely played a big role in each of those recruitments, but the lack of up- front NIL money certainly didn't help. It seems that many recruits on the fence about Michigan are still on the fence, opt- ing to take NIL now as opposed to waiting for it and considering the off-the-field benefits of a program like M Power. And that means Michigan still has to find the right type of kids. While top-100 prospects will be tough to come by, Michigan can still win over several prospects in the On300 — just like Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park edge Devon Baxter, who quietly received NIL attention from a few unexpected pro- grams in the Big Ten. M Power, however, was enough to give the Baxter family confidence that the in- triguing pass rusher can get his piece of the pie in the near future as well as set himself up for wealth down the line. "I was very impressed with the M Power program," said Baxter's father, Durell. "You can see that they are re- ally working with the student-athletes. It's not having the student-athletes, to a degree, work for them, and there is no accountability for saying 'you might get this amount of money.' It's about how you hold onto it, how you invest it into money that makes money and the mentorship program. "It's setting up the boys whether they go to the NFL or not. Football is short. It gives the kids the tools needed for the rest of their lives. That's not to say other schools weren't offering guidance, but Michigan seems to have the best plan for it." That plan may end up working out. NIL could simply be a fad. After all, more than a handful of elite recruits have entered the transfer portal or have expressed discon- tent after signing their National Letters of Intent. Maybe Michigan is just weath- ering the storm and setting itself up for long-term success. On the flip side of the coin, maybe NIL is here to stay, spelling bad news for the Wolverines. College football, after all, is still about the Jimmy's and the Joe's. You have to recruit (and now perhaps pay) the best players nationally if you want to win national championships. ❏ ❱ Chris Hammond, father of Michigan defensive line commit Ted Hammond "The presentation was so impressive that my wife said to me, 'If someone was on the fence about Michigan and saw this, there is no way they are on the fence anymore.' Michigan is the only school doing NIL the way it should be done."