The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/641955
2016 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Spanellis' recruiting story was the most interesting of the bunch. While Bredeson and Onwenu each picked Michigan early in the process (less than two weeks apart from each other in June 2015), Spanellis didn't even earn an offer from the Maize and Blue until mid-December, less than two months before National Signing Day. Instead, he picked up a number of early offers from the likes of Michi- gan State, Virginia Tech and Arkansas but made a very early commitment to Virginia. The academic reputation in Charlot- tesville was very appealing to him, but the product on the field for the Cava- liers spiraled down to a 4-8 finish in 2015, resulting in a coaching change. When Michigan came calling, the stability in Ann Arbor gave the Maize and Blue a major leg up. The comfort at his Baltimore Gilman program ex- tended to Michigan. Head coach Biff Poggi sent his son, Henry, off to be a Wolverine in the 2013 class, and Span- ellis' linemate, Hamilton, was slated to join as well. Those connections led him to make the flip just two weeks before National Signing Day. "Michigan is a great place and the tradition there is unbelievable — it goes without saying," he said. "The people there were all very nice. All of the coaches were very receptive to my family and me. "Obviously, I have a really strong connection with my coaching staff and they like a lot about Michigan. My parents were really comfortable there and felt like it was the place for me, and I came to the same conclusion." Even though Michigan would later lose Hamilton, Spanellis had no in- tention of wavering on his Michigan commitment. The vision offensive line coach Tim Drevno has for him is a role that the three-star is very comfortable with — even if it will require learning a whole new position. "Coach Drevno definitely wants me to start at guard and maybe even cen- ter," Spanellis explained. "They think I could move around to a couple of spots depending on how I develop. I played tackle in high school, so I didn't have to pull very much. "When I get to Michigan, I'm look- ing forward to learning that. I think I'll be able to do that, but I just need to learn it and get better at it." Though Bredeson and even Spanel- lis have the physical makeup to spend some time playing the tackle position, the long-term future for all three of- fensive line signees is on the interior. Given that 2015 signee Grant New- some played as a true freshman, there is plenty of need to continue to pur- sue — and land — talented offensive tackle prospects going forward. Some of the depth will be augmented by preferred walk-ons — tackle Anthony Kay of West Bloomfield (Mich.) High will join the Wolverines' roster as a non-scholarship player — but elite tackles are going to be a priority in Ann Arbor for the next several recruit- ing classes. Given the success Harbaugh and Drevno have had recruiting — and de- veloping — the players they want thus far, there's no doubting they'll succeed in reeling in some top bookends. ❏