The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 45 ❱ FOOTBALL RECRUITING I was watching in person on TV was a wild experience." Akron is less than an hour west of Youngstown, so connections through- out Northeast Ohio are abundant for Clinkscale, who was instrumental in helping secure commitments from all eight commits in 2023 and 2024. Of the eight, four are native to Cin- cinnati, including two from the current class — Top 100 running back Jordan Marshall, who just received the Ohio Mr. Football Award, and three-star defensive lineman Ted Hammond, who attended the Big Ten Championship Game to see U-M shut out Iowa in Indianapolis on Dec. 2 — and two from 2023 — current freshman defensive back Cameron Cal- houn and classmate edge rusher Breeon Ishmail. Marshall tallied 2,008 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving and returns) and 21 total touchdowns as a senior. He returned to Michigan Stadium to rush the field with the U-M fans in his last game as a spectator for the next four years. "To be in the middle of it and see ev- eryone happy and smiling, it was a great environment, and I can't wait to put it to Ohio these next four years," Marshall said. Hammond has a 2025 teammate at powerhouse St. Xavier who also has an offer from U-M, and whose father, Eric Kattus, was the starting tight end in the '80s when head coach Jim Har- baugh played at U-M. Offensive line- man Tucker Kattus soaked in his first Michigan game as a prospective recruit and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. "I just loved how the players went at it," Kattus told The Wolverine. "Ever since my dad played at Michigan, he's talked about how these games went. Some of the stuff, he still remembers to this day. The atmosphere was cool be- cause all of the fans. Anytime I walked by their sections, they were saying, 'What's up Tucker? Commit here.' It was awesome. Before the game, there were a lot of people in the stadium ready to watch football and cheer on." Michigan's two other 2024 commits from Ohio — three-star offensive line- men Luke Hamilton and Ben Roebuck — were also in the middle of the mosh pit following the home finale win. Hamil- ton found offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, the acting head coach against Ohio State, in the locker room, and the team's sole play-caller told the senior what expectations were once he enrolls. "He told me, 'This is how it's going to be for the next four years,'" Hamilton told The Wolverine. With three straight under their belt, the Wolverines still aren't satisfied, hence Moore's statement, which could entice the key Ohio recruits next cycle. For those who've visited Ann Arbor multiple times, such as Top 100 Co- lumbus Marion-Franklin cornerback Dawayne Galloway, whom Clinkscale offered in late September, consistent winning could be a deciding factor in their recruitments. "Go Blue!" Galloway told The Wol- verine. "Love the fight. They came out with the energy. They wanted it more, and that's that." At a June camp, Galloway ran the fast- est 40-yard dash time amongst his po- sition group, leading to further contact with Clinkscale and an offer. Identifying elite players in every significant metro- plex in Ohio is a strong suit of Clink- scale, who also has U-M in the mix for On300 Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High athlete Marquise Davis. The runner-up to Marshall in the Ohio Mr. Football Award voting, Da- vis started both ways for the suburban Cleveland juggernaut, including run- ning back, finishing with more than 2,000 yards on the ground and more than 30 total touchdowns last season. He made his first-ever visit to Michigan for the Ohio State game and brought his head coach, Mac Stephens. "I think Michigan, as a campus, uni- versity and football program, it embod- ies excellence in all areas," Stephens told The Wolverine. "I don't think anyone anywhere in the country can deny that. It's a tough school to get into. But it's one of those institutions where if you get a degree from Michigan, it kind of sets you up for life. The campus itself seems to be pretty lively. When I take these kids to these schools, I always try to drive around campus and let them see up close what campus life is like. The diversity and everything that Michigan offers is impressive, to say the least." Of the highest-ranked 2025 Ohio prospects, per the On3 Industry Rank- ing, everyone in the top 10 holds a Michigan offer. Of the top 22, offers have been issued to 14, and they've all visited at least once. ❏ Shaker Heights (Ohio) High defensive back Trey McNutt is the No. 56 overall prospect and No. 7 cornerback in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He and his family have known U-M area recruiter and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale for years. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/ON3