The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE statistical output as a senior, com- pleting 64.9 percent of his throws for 2,998 yards with 38 touchdowns, but Brother Rice fell in the state quarterfinals of the Division 2 play- offs (the first loss for the Warriors in 812 days). Down the road in Ann Arbor, things didn't go any better. By the time Brother Rice was eliminated from the playoffs Nov. 15, Mich- igan had limped to a 5-5 record, and head coach Brady Hoke was squarely on the hot seat, along with his assistants. They closed the sea- son with defeats at the hands of Maryland and Ohio State, and Hoke was relieved of his coaching duties Dec. 1. The unknown didn't faze Mal- zone, however. He committed to a program, not a coach. He graduated from high school, and planned to enroll without even hearing who would be hired to replace Hoke. "There's always definitely a little bit of mystery, just depending on who they bring in, if that coach will like you, what he thinks of a cer- tain position and what he wants his quarterback to be," Malzone admit- ted, but added that he was always steadfast — and even doing his part to try to keep the class together. "It definitely says a lot about me, it shows my respect for the University of Michigan. "I know the recruiting world is pretty crazy nowadays with all the decommitments and recommit- ments, but when I committed back in May I wasn't planning on tak- ing other visits or talking to other coaches or schools. I've always stayed 100 percent committed, and that's what I've told every single