The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES tackle Henry Poggi isn't close to making a commitment, but it's not because he hasn't done his homework. The 6-3, 250-pounder had been on at Baltimore Gilman School defensive East Coast Defensive Tackle Has U-M On Early Short List Henry Poggi ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ least 11 unofficial recruiting visits be- fore March, and the list read like a who's who of college football: Michigan, Ten- nessee and Alabama twice each, and Ohio State and Auburn once each, as well as locals Virginia and Maryland. U-M could soon be the first school he's visited three times. "I would say that Michigan is definitely a place that I want to visit again," Poggi said in early March. "I hope I'll be able to visit out there, but there are a lot of other colleges that I haven't had a chance to visit that I'm trying to see. I will make visits to other schools again, but I'm just waiting to see how my schedule works. if and when he returns this spring. Re- gardless, it is clear Michigan has made an impression. Poggi was on campus in the summer and again in the fall for the Wolverines' big win over Purdue. Poggi's track schedule might dictate " thews (N.C.) Butler four-star linebacker Peter Kalambayi has offers from some of the nation's heaviest hitters. His re- cent stops on the visit trail, however, back up what he's told several early in his recruiting process — it's not just football he'll consider when it comes time to make a decision. Kalambayi admits his list of top Michigan, Ohio State, Florida … Mat- schools doesn't seem to stay the same for long given how many programs have entered the fray. Michigan, though, seems to have been a constant for him. "I actually talked to head coach Brady Hoke … I met him in person," he said. "It Gilman School Baltimore Position: Defensive Tackle Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 250 Ranking: Rivals.com's No. 43 player nationally He's met with defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who used to coach for his hometown Baltimore Ravens, and his friend, Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis of- fensive lineman and recent U-M pledge Kyle Bosch, is also working on him. "I like the facilities, really nice, but all schools have nice fa- cilities now. I liked the coaches. I really liked Ann Arbor as a town, but I also thought that the campus was nice. It was a real nice-looking campus. "Coach Mattison has talked about the " Poggi said. "They're Ravens. He also coached a guy who went to my high school who played with the Eagles, Victor Abiamiri — he coached him at Notre Dame. So there are a lot of connections with Coach Mattison. " for loss, 10 sacks and a forced fumble in helping Gilman win a MIAA A-Confer- ence championship. He held more than 20 offers before December, and the list continues to grow. Though he'll have plenty of options Poggi recorded 49 tackles, 11 tackles when it comes time to decide, there's one factor in particular that will elimi- nate several schools. "He wants to play for a big-time pro- gram," head coach Henry Russell re- ported at the end of the season. "He wants to go to a place where he can get a great education and a place he'll feel comfortable with his teammates and coaches. "Henry was awesome. He started both ways at tight end and defensive tackle. I don't know how he played as hard as he did. "He was really impressive and did a re- ally great job in the playoffs. He played every play running around and was ex- hausted by the end of the game, but it's a tribute to his character. His motor is ridiculous. " North Carolina Pass Rusher Considering Wolverines Peter Kalambayi ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Butler High School Matthews, N.C. Position: Outside Linebacker Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 225 Ranking: Rivals.com's No. 62 player nationally has been to Virginia and North Carolina a few times, as well. He plans on visit- ing Clemson soon for a spring practice, but has no plans for other visits yet. It's likely more will be set soon. Kalambayi visited Duke March 3 and was good. He came to our school after he was hired … he seems like a cool guy. I talk to my position coach [Mark Smith] and the recruiting coordinator [Jeff Hecklinski] often, and I've been up there. last summer and might return this year for his second visit. "I like The Big House a lot," he said. Kalambayi was at the Michigan camp " "It's a great school, too. That's what I'm looking for — a real mixture of aca- demics and football. " 74 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2012 Though he watched Michigan "every time they were on" last fall, others also caught his attention. "I watched a lot of Stanford every time they were on in this area," he said. school recruiting him is playing. Michigan fits the bill. The coaches are He just watches more intently when a " — Chris Balas playing against big guys"). A self-de- scribed pass rusher first — "I like com- ing off the edge, wants to play on an aggressive defense at the next level, having notched six sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year. "I still want to get my hands a little " he said — Kalambayi better," he said. "I dropped a few in- terceptions last year I should have caught. of time to improve. For now he's con- centrating on track, where he partici- pates in the 100 meters, the 4x100- meter relay and the shotput, having notched a personal best of 51-8 in the latter. That, of course, hasn't stopped the At only 16 years old, he'll have plenty " football recruiting. "Michigan, Stanford, North Carolina, "Of course I watched North Carolina, too, but they got a new coach. I always watch college football. recruiting him at his preferred outside linebacker position, and he's intrigued by the Big Ten style of play ("big guys Clemson, Virginia … a lot have been there, far he'll venture from his home state, remains to be seen. Whether he will or not, or just how " from Oregon recently, too. They of- fered me, and they are one of the only schools out West. I'd have no problem going far away from home. " he said. "I've been hearing a lot — Chris Balas