The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 62 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2024 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Whenever defensive back signee Jer- emiah Lowe visited Michigan as a recruit, he didn't want to leave. When he did get back to Lexington, Ky., he thought about when he might be able to make it back to Ann Arbor next. Lowe will enroll to U-M this summer, excited to get to work with the Wolver- ines, and he'll officially be able to call it home. "When I'm up there, it just feels like home. No other place really had that feel- ing," Lowe said, reflecting on his com- mitment. Lowe announced for Michigan in Au- gust 2023, before the Wolverines went on their run to a 15-0 season and national championship. He pledged to U-M due in large part to his relationships with former co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale and coordinator Jesse Minter — both of whom moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers with head man Jim Harbaugh. But the Maize and Blue are slated to run the same defensive system under head coach Sherrone Moore and coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, which heavily features a nickel back. Lowe saw Mike Sainristil, now an NFL Draft prospect, become an All-American at the position last season. "I expect to go play nickel," Lowe said. "Every time I went to games, I watched Mike Sainristil. I'm learning what he's doing and his role on the team and on the defense." He was impressed with the Wolver- ines' defensive backfield as a unit, which helped U-M rank second nationally in pass defense. "They make plays, and even when they're making plays, you can see on the sideline, them still getting coached for the plays that they made or even the plays that they messed up on. That's what you like to see," Lowe pointed out. The 5-11, 170-pounder's strength is his movement as a defensive back, Freder- ick Douglass head coach Nathan McPeek said. "His hip fluidity and mobility are re- ally good," the coach stated. "He also has really good ball skills. Overall, he's just a great athlete." The next step for Lowe is to add weight and strength, and that process should re- ally come together once he hits campus this summer. "I know he'll get there once he enters a strength and nutritional program at the next level," his coach said. "Just work out, put on some weight and better myself for when I arrive, so I'm ready to come work," Lowe revealed of his priorities before joining the Wolverines. The 2024 class has mostly remained to- gether amid NCAA investigations into the program and many coaching staff changes since the end of the 2023 campaign. The bond was forged early on in the process, and the group has been welcoming. "The day I joined and committed, they welcomed me," Lowe said. "The first time meeting some of these guys, I just talked to them like I've known them my whole life. We've been a family since I've joined." His time is almost here, and he said Michigan fans should expect him to "make plays and leave the program better than we found it." ❑ Defensive Back Jeremiah Lowe Is Ready To Work 2024 Projection Lowe is likely at least a year away from making an impact as a college defensive back, even though he has the movement skills of what should be a quality player in me. His primary focus his freshman season will be to add size and strength, and from all accounts he's a reless worker. The Wolver- ines don't have many current players at the nickel back posi on, so there's a path to him earning me down the road. STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL INT 2023 25 1 1 2022 10 2.5 2 2021 32 2 4 HONORS • Named first-team all-state by the Courier Journal his senior season. • Helped his team post an 8-5 record with a Class 6A semifinal game appearance in 2023. • As a junior, Frederick Douglass went 15-0 and won the Kentucky 5A state championship. • Team finished as state runners-up in 2021 with a 13-2 mark and went 7-2 with a playoff ap- pearance his freshman year in 2020. RECRUITMENT • Commi ed to Michigan Aug. 10, 2023, a er receiving an offer June 9, 2022. • Also earned offers from Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, Boston College and others. • Former defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale was his primary recruiter. DID YOU KNOW? • Will enroll at U-M this summer. • Also played baseball, earning all-conference honors while starring in center field. • Son of Lezell and Monica Lowe. • Born Dec. 30, 2005. THEY SAID IT Frederick Douglass High School head coach Nathan McPeek: "I've known the family for a while because Jeremiah's older brother played for us, too. I've known his mom and dad for several years. They're a hard-working family. He's also a good kid and has a high GPA. His character is very high. He's someone who strives to be be er every day. "Jeremiah is an elite athlete with excellent ball skills. He has great speed and agility that will help him at Michigan." Lowe was a first-team all-state selection in Kentucky as a senior and is expected to play nickel back at Michigan. PHOTO COURTESY JEREMIAH LOWE JEREMIAH LOWE DEFENSIVE BACK 5-11 • 170 FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH LEXINGTON, KY. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 1,212 131 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 198 17 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 97 15 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 98 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 87 7 INDUSTRY