The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/558143
FOOTBALL RECRUITING from Orchard Lake St. Mary's), Jaylen Kelly-Powell (the No. 19 safety in the country from Detroit Cass Tech), and Allen Stritzinger (a running back/ athlete from Warren De La Salle) also making it to town. Dunaway looked at the gathering as an opportunity to play the part of a recruiter for the Maize and Blue. "Everyone that was visiting seemed really interested," he said. "I had my recruiting hat on a little bit for sure. I talked to all the kids that were there from 2017, the Pipeline Nine kids. I think Ja'Raymond Hall was probably the most interested guy overall. Allen Stritzinger is also really interested." Hall could be the Pipeline Nine member closest to pulling the trigger for Michigan. The 6-5, 255-pounder also got a recruiting pitch from a pair of 2016 Wolverines. "When we were in the meeting room, we all introduced ourselves, and they pretty much said why they committed and talked about why Michigan was the place for them," Hall said of Bredeson and Swenson. "I think the main thing that stuck out to me that they said was the family part. They really felt at home. That's why they picked Michigan, and you could see it." Hamler is diminutive at 5-9 and 152 pounds, but is an electric playmaker with the ball in his hands. He's made several past visits to campus, but this one gave him a different view than he's used to. "It was just a fun time with the coaches," he said. "The Barbecue was actually really fun. It made you feel like you were a kid again. There was a lot of fun stuff — they had a bounce house. "The best part was probably the scavenger hunt. We got to walk around the campus. It was like a cam- pus tour — we walked around cam- pus and got clues from the football staff. We had to answer questions. It was a real fun time." While Michigan is still seeking its second pledge in the 2017 class, the Pipeline Nine sticking together as a unit could be one of the best routes to building up an impressive group in 2017 to follow the 2016 standouts. Three-star tight end Carter Dunaway is the lone 2017 pledge so far, but he hopes his time in Ann Arbor helps bring more of the "Pipeline Nine" on board. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL