The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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COMMITMENT PROFILE More than two years ago — before he'd ever played a snap of varsity football in his life — a young pros- pect named Mikey Weber was the next big thing at Detroit Cass Tech. The 5-9, 190-pounder was slated to be the Technicians' starting running back, if only he could ever get over a nagging groin injury. "Mikey is special," Technicians defen- sive coordinator Jer- main Crowell said in 2012. "I can't wait; the whole team can't wait. When he was a fresh- man, he got hurt dur- ing the summer, and he wasn't able to play last year. " I d o n ' t k n o w what's going to happen with Mikey this fall. He's just a 10th grader, al- ready 193 pounds. He's got the best hands on the team, he can kick, can punt, can throw the ball. He's one of the fastest guys, if not the fastest kid, on the team. He's special." Weber went on to silence all doubts with 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns during his first season on the field. As a junior last fall, he added 1,659 yards and 24 scores on 124 carries (13.3 yards per rush), while also re- turning two kicks for touchdowns, catching a pass for a score and even throwing two TD passes. It wasn't long before scholarship attention arrived, with Syracuse and Illinois first to enter the mix shortly after the conclusion of his sopho- more year. Childhood favorite Michigan fol- lowed in February 2013 (with Michigan State, Ohio State and USC among the others who also entered the mix), and 18 months later he decided to end his recruitment and become a Wolver- ine Aug. 6. "I wanted to get it over with so I didn't have to think about it through football season and school, so I just made that hap- pen," he said. "It was a great oppor- tunity, and I grabbed it. "I thought about having my family be at the games, being able to come home easily, a lot of things that had nothing to do with football — being around my family, not missing out on things, being able to come home." Weber saw his Michigan recruit- ment go through several twists and turns. More than a year ago, another running back — Kentucky five-star Damien Harris — looked to be Mich- igan's lone player in the class at the position. Mike Weber Makes Family Decision For Michigan As a junior last fall, Weber rushed for 1,659 yards and 24 touchdowns on 124 carries (13.3 yards per attempt). PHOTO BY TIM SULLIVAN