The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2024 BY ZACH LIBBY M ichigan hit another home run with its coaching staff, bringing in Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford to command the same position and serve as run game coordinator. The news follows Mike Hart's depar- ture from the reigning national cham- pions after three seasons as an assistant for his alma mater. Head coach Sherrone Moore swiftly stole a developer and re- cruiter from the Buckeyes. "We were both very upset when I broke the news that I wasn't going to Ohio State. God has a plan, and his plan was for Coach Alford to be my coach," said Michigan running back signee Jor- dan Marshall. "I'm so thankful Coach Moore got the best guys possible for the job. Now, we both have something to prove. Go Blue." Upon hearing that Hart would not be on the Michigan staff anymore, Mar- shall was disappointed. Still, the No. 4 tailback in the On3 Industry Ranking, out of Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, had a close relationship with Alford when he was undergoing the recruit- ing process. Before he ultimately picked Michigan, Marshall had Ohio State as a finalist, and it was because of his con- nection with Alford. "I'm super excited to be coached by him," Marshall said. "Coach Alford and I have such a special bond." Michigan doesn't have a running back commit in the 2025 class yet, and Al- ford will be tasked with landing a blue- chip prospect. His history as a recruiter is strong, with prior success featuring Buckeye standouts J.K. Dobbins (the No. 36 player and No. 5 running back nationally in the class of 2017 accord- ing to the On3 Industry Ranking) and TreVeyon Henderson (the No. 1 running back and No. 5 prospect in the country in the class of 2021). In this cycle, Alford's focus has in- cluded in-state recruits, like On300 Cleveland Heights High's Marquise Da- vis, the No. 7 running back in the land and the No. 5 recruit in Ohio, per On3. "I think it was a good switch," Davis said. "I support it. We're pretty close. I've known him since my freshman year." Under the former U-M staff, Davis had grown close with defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale and gotten to know Hart more personally during his first-ever visit to Michigan in late No- vember for the game against Ohio State. He plans on returning to Ann Arbor this offseason. "Very soon. This spring," Davis said. "I have to look at some dates." Davis is one of several 2025 running backs with Ohio State offers who has a relationship with Alford. Along with the Cleveland native, the Buckeyes have the lead on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for three-star Fulshear (Texas) Katy Jordan's Chad Gasper, who picked up a Michigan offer in January 2023 and visited the following June. "I think it's a great move," said Gas- per, the nation's No. 47 ball carrier in the class of 2015 according to the On3 Industry Ranking. "Michigan is getting a great coach but an even greater man and mentor." Another priority 2025 target at run- ning back whom Alford was going af- ter heavily at Ohio State is Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei's Jordon Davison, the No. 6 overall running back nationally, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. "It's a great hire to me," Davison told The Wolverine. "Coach Alford and I have a great relationship. I'm happy for him." Davison's mentor is Steven Briscoe, who's originally from Southeast Michi- gan before resettling in the Bay Area. When Davison visited Michigan for the second time back in April 2022, he was joined by Briscoe, who's intrigued by the Alford addition. "As a fan, I'm excited," Briscoe said. "That was a big move by Michigan. Being a Michigan fan and being from Michigan, it's a great feeling. But it's all about the boys and what the best deci- sion for them is." Another offer Alford issued from OSU during the January contact period was to Dinwiddie (Va.) County's Harry Dal- ton, the No. 8 running back in the 2025 class, per On3. "That was mind-blowing to hear, but Go Blue," Dalton told The Wolverine. Alford also offered four-star Houston Atascocita running back Tory Blaylock, who received a Buckeye offer 14 months ago and has made two unofficial visits to Columbus. ❱ MICHIGAN RECRUITING NOTEBOOK Running Back Recruits React To Tony Alford Hire Running back Jordan Marshall built a close bond with new U-M run game coordinator Tony Alford while he was coaching at Ohio State. The two will now get to work together at Michigan when Marshall, a 2024 signee, arrives on campus this summer. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY