The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES Aquinas junior wide receiver Corey Hol- mes hasn't spent too much time on re- cruiting, preferring to focus his efforts on a team that made it through the first round of the state playoffs in late November. Several college programs have managed to make Holmes their focus, however, staying in touch with him after a summer in which he started taking visits. Michigan and Notre Dame were two Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Junior Sunshine State Receiver Picking Up More Offers Corey Holmes St. Thomas Aquinas High Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 172 40-Yard Dash: 4.56 on that list and are among the pro- grams that he hears from the most. Alabama and South Carolina have done their part to forge a relationship with the talented 6-1, 172-pounder. Holmes camped at Michigan this summer, impressing receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski with his speed, route running and ability to get off the line of scrimmage against press coverage. The receiver was just as impressed by what he experienced in Ann Arbor. "I actually was a very big fan of Michi- them, but I just grew up a Michigan fan. I really liked watching them play on TV, and the players that came out of Michigan, I was big fans of them, too. Not just the Denard Robinsons or re- " cent Wolverines, either. "Over the years I just always liked to watch the receivers mostly," he said. "Guys like Steve Breaston, Braylon Ed- wards, Jason Avant, all those guys. Florida, Florida State and Wisconsin " gan growing up," he said. "As a kid, I turned on a Michigan game one time. I really don't know what it was about are among Holmes' other big offers, while Notre Dame has also emerged as a legitimate threat. Holmes said he was more focused than any time in his life while at the Michigan camp, noting recognition — and an offer — from U-M was exactly what he wanted to obtain. The Irish, however, seem to have made up ground if the Wolverines did, in fact, lead at one point. Holmes was in South Bend to see the Irish beat Michi- gan, 13-6. "It was second to none, "It was awesome. I knew coming in there I was going to experience one of the best college atmospheres, and indeed it was the best. It was awesome being in the stadium for a big rivalry between Michigan and Notre Dame. As was the offer he received, he " Holmes said. " added. "It was something I actually hadn't even been expecting, so that made it even more amazing," he said. "It made the whole experience just that much better knowing that now I've got an offer from Notre Dame. It was very special." Holmes will focus more on recruiting once his season ends. "I really want to get through my junior year before I really start thinking about making a decision, then when I really get down to narrow- ing schools down and things like that. — Chris Balas fensive tackle Andy Bauer this spring, the potentially elite junior having put the Wolverines among his top schools after an outstanding visit. Then, out of the blue, Bauer pledged to Missouri — his father Craig's alma mater — to end his recruitment April 7 just as it was get- ting interesting. In November, he decided to open Michigan was in good position for of- things back up. "Andy committed when he was a soph- omore and just got caught up into it and the emotions of his visit up there to Mis- souri, just taking a step back to try to figure out what the best plan of action is for him academically and football-wise. "Missouri will still be in his final group, " " Craig Bauer said Nov. 9. "Now he's 2014 Offensive Tackle Back On The Market Dame and Michigan. All three have received visits. "He's going to try to shore up his list Andy Bauer at the end of the season and figure out which other schools to visit. He's really pretty tight with [LSU 2013 commit] Ethan Pocic, and they talk about LSU all the time. Oregon is about to offer — they're just trying to get Chip Kelly to give the final okay on that one. ally for 2014, helped lead St. Louis De Smet High School to an 8-3 overall re- cord and a berth in the third round of the state playoffs. He said after a spring visit that Michigan would likely be in his final group of schools. Though U-M presently appears to trail Bauer, a likely top-250 player nation- " and he might still decide to go there. He's just researching and looking at his option. He could still very much end up at Mizzou. He just wants to research. Bauer was slated to visit Alabama for its game with Auburn Nov. 24 and travel to LSU for a pre-bowl practice. The list of other schools that could still receive serious consideration includes Midwest powers Ohio State, Notre Alabama, LSU and Missouri, and it's not clear where the Michigan coaches stand in terms of going after Bauer again, get- ting the offer on his trip was a dream come true. "I was ecstatic. Michigan — that's a ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ De Smet High School St. Louis Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 304 Bench Max: 315 pounds talking about other commits they've re- ceived and other guys they're recruiting, and saying, 'When we get all you guys on the same team, it could be special. "It's such a prestigious school. Just to ' be able to go there and play football and to get such a great education, you're get- ting the best of both worlds. a potential leg up. The Big House and coaches, too, were selling points. "Those coaches are unbelievable, just great guys," Craig Bauer said. "They sat Bauer wants to be a doctor, giving U-M " great school," Bauer said at the time. "They have great tradition. They were just telling me that they need guys like me to continue to be great and to win a national championship. They were " he said. "It'll be after " down and talked with him for a long time about how he can achieve there academically, and how to make the aca- demic and the football parts co-exist together. decision. Bauer currently has no timetable for a — Chris Balas " DECEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 65