The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING Holding The Class Together M nation to date. The group was ranked No. 2 by Rivals.com as of Aug. 14, with only USC ahead of the Wolver- ines. There is an entire 2012 football season (and a couple months of post- season) until National Signing Day, giving the Wolverines the potential to add even more talented pieces to the incoming class. On the other hand, that time is ichigan has amassed one of the top 2013 recruiting classes in the BY TIM SULLIVAN his family — and Michigan's coach- ing staff — Fox cleared up the entire situation. Not only did he pass on a visit to Colorado, but he even drove 18 hours across the country to at- tend the Barbecue at The Big House July 29 in Ann Arbor. "I didn't really know about it, and However, after talking it over with I'm his parent," said Fox's father, Charlie. "As soon as I found out, we talked it over with Coach Funk — we had a long discussion — and I know Chris isn't planning to do anything that could make him lose his spot." While it's possible for Michigan's also Michigan's worst enemy. Other coaching staffs across the country know who they have to beat for each of the Wolverines' 23 current commitments. Early pledges to the Wolverines could, at times, have a wandering eye thanks to a "grass is greener on the other side of the fence" mentality. Brady Hoke and his assistant coaches have instituted a policy that ensures their currently committed players are more likely to stay in the fold. Players who give their word to the Wolverines are not permitted to visit other schools' campuses — ei- ther officially or unofficially — and still keep their place in Michigan's class. Although that may give some prospects hesitancy to commit in the first place, those who do pull the trig- ger make sure they are ready to give up on their other opportunities be- fore they do so. "Initially, it would discourage kids THE POLICY Detroit Cass Tech four-star offensive line- man David Dawson opted not to test U-M's no visits policy, securing his place in the Wolverines' highly rated 2013 class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM policy. Detroit Cass Tech four-star of- fensive lineman David Dawson, for example, has at times hinted that he would like to visit LSU and Florida. At the risk of potentially costing him- self a place in Ann Arbor, he recon- sidered and is now as solid as he can be for Michigan. "I didn't care about [external] con- from committing," Rivals.com Mid- west recruiting analyst Josh Helm- holdt said. "The coaches might have a better chance of getting a kid to commit if they're willing to acquiesce on taking visits, but it doesn't appear to have hurt them in that regard. "It does appear to have helped them. A lot of teams get 20 commit- ments before the end of summer, but lose four to six guys before signing day. That didn't happen for Michigan in 2012, and I think this year will give better perspective long term if it's a big help in building a top class." It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Michigan. Some players in the 2013 class have come close to testing that troversy really," Dawson said shortly after his reaffirmed pledge to U-M. "I cleared it up on my end: I called Coach Hoke. It was just all the people on Twitter. But it's cool, I ain't trippin'." Dawson's future companion on the policy to backfire in some instances, it's better than the alternative. Play- ers have to be certain that they're willing to lose their chance at a Mich- igan scholarship before going on a visit. Without setting foot on another campus, the likelihood of decommit- ting is far decreased. Michigan's recruiting class is stick- ing together. Another — and perhaps more important — characteristic is the tight bond between the prospects who have committed to Michigan. While cohesiveness among commit- ted players is not unique to the Wol- verines' class, the degree to which An uncommon rule is one way THE CAMARADERIE offensive line, Parker (Colo.) Pon- derosa four-star Chris Fox, was an- other risk, though he didn't come as close to actually scheduling a trip. Fox briefly entertained the idea of visiting Colorado, and while that is bad enough in itself, he also didn't plan to tell the Michigan coaches beforehand. Such a maneuver cost 2012 tight end Pharaoh Brown his opportunity at Michigan (he took a secretive official visit to Oregon), and Fox's Wolverine commitment could have suffered the same fate. Four-star quarterback Shane Morris, who committed to the Wolverines in May 2011, has played a vital role for U-M's 2013 class, by recruiting and building relationships. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM SEPTEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 75