The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY ZACH LIBBY While Zach Ludwig chose Michigan soon after visiting Ann Arbor to watch the team prepare for Ohio State during the 2022 season, it wasn't public knowl- edge until three months later in early February 2023. "My phone was blowing up, and a bunch of reporters were trying to talk to me," Ludwig said. "My Instagram and Twitter were blowing up. It was a cool moment." E v e n t h o u g h n o to r i e t y c a m e later for Ludwig, h e n e e d e d o n ly one unofficial visit to find his future home after soaking in practice, touring the facilities, and meeting the staff. "It feels amaz- ing," he said. "No more stress. I feel go o d a b o u t t h e road ahead of me, and I'm ready to roll. "On my visit, I saw the environ- m e n t — a l l t h e boys training, get- ting hyped up and ready to roll. That practice was straight to the point, and they knew what they needed to do and work on." Ludwig was the first true linebacker prospect in U-M's 2024 recruiting class, with former head coach Jim Harbaugh leading the way to securing the subur- ban Pittsburgh native's services. "Coach Harbaugh is a great guy and very down to earth," Ludwig said. "I love talking to him." Connections to the program were bountiful for Ludwig, whose uncle, Ben Herbert, was Michigan's director of strength and conditioning until he joined Harbaugh with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers in late January. Ludwig also withstood the turnover of two linebackers coaches during his recruitment. George Helow was on staff when he verbally committed, and then his replacement, Chris Partridge, was later released in November as part of the fallout involving an NCAA investigation into sign stealing. None of the changes that transpired on Michigan's staff affected how Lud- wig viewed the opportunity ahead for him at the next level. "I just knew that they were going to hire a solid coach," Ludwig said. "When I was with Coach Helow, he was solid. Then, Coach CP came in, and he was even better. I can't wait to see the next one who comes in." A f te r ve r b a l ly committing, Lud- w i g re t u r n e d to Michigan on four v i s i ts, i n c l u d i n g t h e P u rd u e a n d Ohio State games this past season. Ta k i n g m e n t a l notes on the de- fense, especially t h e l i n e b a c ke rs, g a v e L u d w i g a chance to pinpoint wh e re h e c o u l d impact the group based on his own attributes. In high school, Ludwig also helped out considerably o n s p e c i a l tea m s, i n c l u d i n g l o n g - snapper, which he hopes to handle at Michigan. "Coming in, I'm just trying to get on special teams and hopefully defense," Ludwig said. "I'm going to try my best to get quick and strong. I can hit, and I'll just deliver the boom whenever I can." ❑ Zach Ludwig Brings Versatility And Physicality To The Wolverines 2024 Projection Ludwig is a physical run-stuffer who enjoys causing havoc on the line of scrimmage. Needs improvement in pass coverage and sideline-to-sideline speed. More physical development also will be necessary for Ludwig, who projects as a redshirt in 2024. He could be a viable special teams contribu- tor for Michigan in the future, and poten ally on defense. STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Sacks 2023 53 3 1 Year Comp. A . Yds. TD 2023 45 99 744 6 Year Rush Yds TD 2023 77 364 2 HONORS • 2023 PrepStar All-Eastern Region selec on. • Class 3A Western Hills Conference All-Star, second-team defense in 2022. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan on Nov. 29, 2022, a er receiving offer earlier that month. • U-M was the only Division I program to offer Ludwig. • Recruited by former head coach Jim Har- baugh. DID YOU KNOW? • Ludwig will enroll in June. • Two-way starter at linebacker and quarter- back as a senior. • Helped the Eagles improve from 5-6 as a junior to 7-5 in 2023. • Also a varsity le erwinner as a third baseman for South Park's baseball team. • His uncle, Ben Herbert, is Michigan's former strength and condi oning coach. • Son of Bill and Megan Ludwig. • Born on Dec. 14, 2005. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "He's a mul faceted athlete. Played quarterback for his high school as a senior, but also plays as an off-ball inside line- backer, and that's where he projects. Having the experience of quarterback certainly helps. He's pre y physical with good size and frame. He's a pure inside linebacker who is not scared to lower his shoulder and deliver hits. He fits the Big Ten downhill-linebacker mold, and I think he'll get be er while he plays just linebacker full- me." ZACH LUDWIG LINEBACKER 6-2 • 210 SOUTH PARK HIGH SOUTH PARK, PA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 1,830 171 47 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 94 30 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 175 45 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 85 52 ✪ ✪ — — — INDUSTRY Ludwig started at linebacker and quarterback as a senior at South Park (Pa.) High, compiling 53 tackles and 1,108 yards of total offense and 8 touchdowns in 12 games last fall. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY