The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK 'When you send Micah here, we're go- ing to take care of him.' In that conver- sation, I felt like he meant it, and that was important." Ka'apana, who is working toward be- coming eligible for early enrollment, will bring a team-first attitude to the Wolverines. "What fans should expect is Micah doing anything, going anywhere and playing any position he's needed to play," George said. "He's a running back and not the biggest guy out there. But if you need someone to block, he's going to give up his body to make that block so a teammate can break free." At 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Ka'apana is ranked as the No. 30 overall running back nationally and the No. 1 player in Nevada by On3. — Zach Libby BREAKING DOWN MICHIGAN LB COMMIT ZACH LUDWIG Three-star South Park (Pa.) High star Zach Ludwig was the first true line- backer in the 2024 recruiting class to commit to Michigan. It'll soon be a whole year since Lud- wig announced his pledge. According to South Park head coach Brian Abbey, once Ludwig graduates, he'll be remem- bered as one of the best in team history. "He's a standout human being all the way around," Abbey told The Wolver- ine "He represents our community very well. He represents our football team as a leader. "He's our leader offensively and de- fensively. He's just a solid role model for everyone around him. He makes ev- eryone a better person. We're blessed to have him. "He's come a long way in being a voice, and he takes pride in leading by example. The voice comes on and the guys follow him. They know to follow him." Ludwig is a two-way starter for the Eagles, showcasing his leadership as the middle linebacker in a 3-4 front and also at quarterback. He also long snaps. Defensively, Ludwig is an old-school linebacker. "He has a knack for the ball and is always around it," Abbey said. "He has lateral speed and is able to chase things down. He plays offense the same way. He plays quarterback like he plays line- backer. He always gives us that 100 per- cent effort every time. "It goes without saying that he pulls us together more often than not. If a game gets out of hand, it's still hard to get him off the field. You have to have a little conversation with him like, 'Hey, we need to keep moving forward.'" Ludwig committed to Michigan right after he and his family visited campus the week of the 2022 Ohio State game. Head coach Jim Harbaugh personally offered Ludwig and accepted his pledge. "We're all so proud in terms of what he's accomplished," Abbey said. "Not only as an athlete but a student as well. The younger kids are definitely able to follow his lead. His work ethic in the summer, bringing those young kids along and watching him do his thing, has definitely helped us." Abbey is confident that the system Michigan runs on defense matches what Ludwig brings to the table. "I know with the unselfish play Mich- igan has, that he will fit right into that approach," Abbey said. "The way he's trended since his freshman year here and keeps growing, the sky is the limit. I'm sure he's going to get to that pro- gram and put the work in. I can't wait to see what they're able to do with him from a growth standpoint." As the nephew of Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, Ludwig has constructed close relation- ships with Harbaugh and lineback- ers coach Chris Partridge. The entire coaching staff has earned the admira- tion of Abbey. "I definitely have nothing but respect for that group and what they've been able to do there on a consistent basis," Abbey said. "To be in the top five con- sistently, it's a solid program. We're happy that Zach is able to be a part of that." At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Ludwig is ranked as the No. 93 overall linebacker in the country and No. 32 player in Pennsylvania, according to On3. — Zach Libby 2024 MICHIGAN COMMITMENTS Player Rating Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Jadyn Davis HHHH QB 6-0 190 Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day) Jordan Marshall HHHH RB 5-10 200 Cincinnati (Archbishop Moeller) Micah Ka'apana HHH RB 5-11 195 Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) I'Marion Stewart HHH WR 5-10 180 Chicago (Kenwood) Channing Goodwin HHH WR 6-1 175 Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day) Brady Prieskorn HHHH TE 6-5 225 Rochester, Mich. (Adams) Hogan Hansen HHHH TE 6-3 230 Bellevue, Wash. (Bellevue) Andrew Sprague HHHH OT 6-8 295 Kansas City, Mo. (Rockhurst) Blake Frazier HHHH OT 6-5 270 Austin, Texas (Vandegrift) Ben Roebuck HHH OT 6-7 340 Lakewood, Ohio (St. Edward) Jake Guarnera HHH IOL 6-4 283 Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Ponte Vedra) Luke Hamilton HHH IOL 6-4 290 Avon, Ohio (Avon) Manuel Beigel HHH IOL 6-5 282 Wallingford, Conn. (Choate Rosemary Hall) Ted Hammond HHH DL 6-4 265 Cincinnati (St. Xavier) Dominic Nichols HHH DL 6-5 255 Ijamsville, Md. (Oakdale) Owen Wafle HHH DL 6-2 267 Princeton, N.J. (Hun School) Devon Baxter HHHH EDGE 6-5 235 Brandywine, Md. (Gwynn Park) Mason Curtis HHHH LB 6-4 190 Nashville, Tenn. (Ensworth) Jaden Smith HHHH LB 6-2 195 Charlotte, N.C. (West Charlotte) Cole Sullivan HHHH LB 6-3 230 Pittsburgh (Central Catholic) Jeremiah Beasley HHHH LB 6-0 210 Belleville, Mich. (Belleville) Zach Ludwig HHH LB 6-2 205 South Park, Pa. (South Park) Jacob Oden HHHH S 6-0 185 Harper Woods, Mich. (Harper Woods) Jeremiah Lowe HHH CB 5-11 170 Lexington, Ky. (Frederick Douglass) Jo'Ziah Edmond HHH ATH 6-1 185 Nappanee, Ind. (Northwood) 2025 MICHIGAN COMMITMENTS Player Rating Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School) Chris Ewald HHHH CB 5-11 161 Miami (Chaminade-Madonna Prep) Bobby Kanka HHH DL 6-4 263 Howell, Mich. (Howell)