The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
prep profiles Elite Runner Has Michigan Connections From 2008-10, Michigan's coaches Coach Hoke and we just talked for half placed a lot of emphasis on recruiting in an hour. He's a great guy. Talking to the state of Florida. Brady Hoke's coach- [running backs] Coach [Fred] Jackson ing staff changed the focus from south- was the best part of my visit." ern speed to midwestern muscle when Patrick made his trip to U-M over the they arrived in 2011, and with that summer as part of a Midwest tour that change in philosophy came a decline included stops at Michigan State, Ohio in signees from State and othFlorida. Now, those Jacques Patrick ers. During that they do choose to Timber Creek High School period, he stayed pursue are among Orlando, Fla. with his cousin the state's best. Terel Patrick, who Class: 2015 Class of 2014 Position: Running Back lives in southeast commitment Ma- Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 225 Michigan and is an son Cole, the No. 3 Rivals.com Rankings: assistant coach at offensive lineman None yet Martin Luther King and No. 12 overall High in Detroit. player in Florida, picked U‑M over offers One of Patrick's former players, 2012 from Florida, Florida State and Miami. running back Dennis Norfleet, suits up Class of 2015 wideout George Campbell in Ann Arbor, and "Coach T" has stressed had all those offers and more when he the positives of U-M to his cousin. That's pledged to Michigan, and should be good for the Wolverines, because Patone of the top-ranked Florida preps in rick has loads of talent. Florida, Alahis own class. He could also help lure bama and 50-plus other schools have another outstanding player from that offered him on the heels of a 2,032state to join him in Orlando (Fla.) Tim- yard, 29-touchdown sophomore camber Creek running back Jacques Patrick. paign. The 6-2, 225-pound Patrick took note "He's just got unbelievable potential," of Campbell's pledge to the Maize and Timber Creek coach Jim Buckridge Blue, and it only reinforced the positive said. "He's a big physical kid, and he's opinion of the Wolverines he'd built up. a downhill runner, but he also can run "If a school really impresses me and away from people. makes me feel comfortable, it's a possi"He's got the total package right now, bility they could pull me out of Florida," and I think everybody's trying to get he said. "It's not a guarantee that I stay their foot in the door with him." down there. Before I visited Ann Arbor, Thanks to a friendly face in Detroit, I said I wanted to see if it could live up Michigan's foot in the door could beto the hype, and it really did. come permanent. "Then I got a chance to sit down with — Tim Sullivan