The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
MICHIGAN RECRUITING Michigan as long as there's a pro‑ style offense in the plans in Ann Arbor. Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber is far more shaky than Malzone when it comes to his Michi‑ gan pledge. The 5‑10, 205‑pounder plans to take all five of his official visits. Although he grew up a Michi‑ gan fan, Rivals.com's No. 11 running back and No. 104 overall player na‑ tionally doesn't want to eliminate any options. "I'm going to take all my visits, then contact the coaches and see what happens from there," he said. "I'm still committed to Michigan, though." Saginaw (Mich.) Heritage wide re‑ ceiver Brian Cole is in a similar boat, and the 6‑2, 190‑pounder has already hit the visit trail. The No. 5 athlete and No. 89 overall prospect nation‑ ally has taken official trips to Wis‑ consin and Purdue, and will close out with three additional visits. For‑ tunately for the Wolverines, U‑M is on that list. "We are going to go to Michigan sometime in between all of that [of‑ ficial visits to Nebraska and Ohio State), on an official," his father Brian Cole Sr. said. "It's going to be before January because Brian is going to be done with high school on the 19th of December." Avon (Conn.) Old Farms standout Chris Clark, the No. 2 tight end and No. 56 overall player in the country according to Rivals.com, is in a simi‑ lar boat. While the highest‑ranked prospect remaining in Michigan's class likes U‑M, he doesn't want to close any doors. "I really love Michigan, and that's where I want to play," he said. "But if something happens to Coach [Brady] Hoke or [tight ends] Coach [Dan] Ferrigno, I'd have to look at other schools for sure." Clark plans official visits to USC, Texas, North Carolina (to whom he was committed before switching to the Wolverines) and South Carolina. The fifth official visit remains open, giving U‑M a chance to reel him back in even in the event of a coaching change. While the offensive skill players other than Malzone may seem to be on the fence, there's no such ambigu‑ ity on the offensive line. Both Law‑ renceville (N.J.) Prep tackle Grant Newsome, a 6‑7, 280‑pounder who is ranked as the No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 199 overall prospect nation‑ ally, and Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep guard Jon Daniel Runyan, a 6‑4, 275‑pounder who is rated as the No. 39 offensive guard nationally, plan to play at Michigan regardless of the conclusion of the 2014 season. "I'm committed to play for the Uni‑ versity of Michigan, not the Univer‑ sity of Brady Hoke," Newsome said emphatically. "Whatever scenario you want, I'm fully committed." Runyan is the son of former U‑M All‑America offensive tackle Jon Ru‑ nyan Sr., and is slated to stick with dad's alma mater — especially since his early pledge dissuaded other schools from entering the mix. The lone defensive player remain‑