The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516256
PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE On Feb. 2, 2023, at 8:15 p.m., defensive back Jacob Oden posted a graphic on so- cial media announcing his commitment to the University of Michigan, with the caption "hometown hero." The Detroit native took a look at plenty of other programs in and out of state, but he de- cided to stay in south- east Michigan with the Wolverines. "I can't wait to repre- sent my city, my state, everything," Oden said. "I can't wait to show ev- erybody what I can do. "I've been dream- ing about this. I've been watching guys go through that program, and now it's my oppor- tunity. It's a dream come true, that's all I can say. "It's family-oriented, and that's the biggest thing that made me feel comfortable and made it feel like home. Every- body welcomed me with open arms." Oden can play both nickel back and safety, with his versatility standing out and giving him the chance to reach the field early in his career. "I'm the type to fit well, because I can play man and I can play zone," Oden pointed out. "I'm an all-around ball player, and they teach versatility. Every- body plays everything. "You see [junior cornerback] Will [Johnson] in the nickel, [nickel back NFL Draft hopeful] Mike [Sainristil] at corner, our corners at safety — you see all of that. I feel like my versatility will help me play in that defense." Oden has a tight bond with Johnson through Sound Mind Sound Body, a youth football organization in the Detroit area. Both of their fathers help organize and lead camps that have featured numerous M i c h i ga n fo o t b a l l p l aye rs, i n c l u d i n g Johnson, Oden, senior running back Donovan Edwards, linebacker signee Jeremiah Beasley and others. "I've been with Sound Mind Sound Body my whole life, and getting to rep- resent them on the next level is a thing that they've trained and prepared me to do," Oden said. "I can't wait to get up there with those guys and get to work with them." He also shared what he tells younger prospects who have the chance to attend U-M. "Opportunities are unlimited here," he ex- plained. "At Michigan you have the biggest fan base, biggest brand, biggest everything, and the opportunity to play for your home state. It's great. You build con- nections that are crazy good." O d e n j o i n e d t h e Michigan program for pre-bowl and national championship game practices as an early enrollee back in December. He came to Ann Arbor fresh off Harper Woods (Mich.) High winning its first-ever Divi- sion 4 state championship with a 33-27 victory over Grand Rapids (Mich.) South Christian at Ford Field in Detroit, the home of the Lions. "I still sometimes can't believe it," Oden said. "It feels just like a dream. Ev- erything I imagined came true and hap- pened. I still can't believe it; it's crazy." Now, he's hard at work in Ann Arbor, with a team that just won the program's first national championship since 1997. He's ready to attempt to bring another title back to U-M in the coming years. " I ex p e c t to b e dominant, explosive and just make plays," Oden said. "I want to be on the field early, and I want to work hard and represent my program and my home well." ❑ Defensive Back Jacob Oden Is A 'Hometown Hero' Oden, a do-everything defensive back, helped lead Harper Woods (Mich.) High to its first-ever Division 4 state championship last fall. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY 2024 Projection Oden is one of just five safe es slated to be on the Michigan roster entering the 2024 season, so he has a legi mate shot at earning some snaps on defense and special teams. Oden could also play nickel back, another posi on where the Wolverines are thin and without much experience. Given that he's a coach's son and has a great understanding of the game, he could make an early impact. STATISTICS Year Tackles INT PBU 2023 56 4 14 2022 39 1 7 HONORS • Selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. • Named a PrepStar Top 300 All-American. • Tabbed all-state for Divisions 3-4 by the As- sociated Press his senior season. • Led Harper Woods High to its first state tle in program history in 2023, a Division 4 champi- onship a er pos ng an 11-3 record. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to the Wolverines Feb. 2, 2023. • Chose the Maize and Blue over fellow suitors Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, Ne- braska, Iowa, Auburn, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Kentucky and others. • Former co-defensive coordinator and de- fensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale was his primary recruiter. DID YOU KNOW? • Scored 2 touchdowns on defense as a senior. Also played wide receiver on offense. • Competed in track and field, par cipa ng in short sprints and relays, and the long jump and high jump. He ran an 11.47-second 100-meter dash in 2022. • Son of Rod and Latawn Oden. • His father is the assistant principal and head football coach at Harper Woods. Rod was a walk-on fullback for Michigan in the 1990s. • Born Sept. 26, 2006. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "Jacob is a younger prospect and is a coach's son. He's an ins nc ve safety and projects more as a strong safety. The guy can make plays on the back end. He has good size and length and is pre y physical." JACOB ODEN DEFENSIVE BACK 6-1 • 187 HARPER WOODS HIGH DETROIT RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 341 31 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 48 14 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 26 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 232 22 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 231 17 5 INDUSTRY