The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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COMMITMENT PROFILE "He pretty much told me straight up that he was going to go see a lot of guys throw, and that he was going to offer one. That's exactly what he did. He was completely straight up with me. "Monday [May 12] was the day: I sat down with Coach [Brady] Hoke and he expressed to me the inter- est that Coach Nussmeier had in me coming out of the throwing session, and then I felt like it was the right fit." It was a long process for Malzone, who grew up a Michigan fan — he's been attending games with his dad, Pat, since he was 4 years old — but had received only limited interest from the Maize and Blue under previ- ous offensive coordinator Al Borges. The 6-2, 205-pound signal-caller con- sidered other programs, and picked up offers from nearly the entire Mid- American Conference plus Pitts- burgh, Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. When Michigan came calling though, he found his perfect fit. Malzone is also the perfect fit for Michigan. He's ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 16 pro-style quarterback nationally by Rivals.com, but has the tools to achieve at an even higher level once he's focused on foot- ball year-round. His baseball career — he's a left fielder and third baseman at Brother Rice — will end in favor of the gridiron when he reaches college. Most importantly for a Michigan program that's trying to find its way back among the national elite after a few years below historical standards, he knows how to win. "Obviously from a measure- able standpoint, he has the things you want out of a pro-style passer," Brother Rice head coach Dave So- fran said. "He has the big arm, he's extremely accurate, then he has the right size and some ability to move the pocket with his feet. One thing that he really brought for us this year is that he does what it takes to win not just on the field but in practice, in the film room. He wanted to win every game, and with his skills and work ethic, he managed to help us do it. "Obviously, to win three state titles in a row you have to have players; it's more than the system. Those players do have to perform, and one of the things I'll say about Alex is most of his best performances were on the biggest stages. He played his best football sta- tistically and just in general. I think that says a lot about him in terms of being a competitive football player." Malzone completed 190 of 281 passes (67.6 percent) as a junior, toss- ing for 2.795 yards (9.9 yards per at- tempt) and 25 touchdowns, all while leading Brother Rice to its third straight Division 2 state title. While he split time at QB during his sopho- more season, he also led the Warriors in passing in the 2012 title game, com- pleting 10 of 12 passes for 179 yards and two scores. He's already proven himself comfortable on the big stage of the Detroit Lions' Ford Field, and it's only a matter of time before The Big House becomes the latest venue in which Malzone shows off his win- ning ways. — Tim Sullivan