Five things we learned about Michigan recruiting following visits for spring practices
The Wolverine provides its biggest Michigan takeaways on the recruiting trail following spring practice visits.
Sticking to the plan
There was continuity at the held in head coach Sherrone Moore when Michigan saw the departure of multiple staff members from last season’s national championship. But an array of new faces that’ll lead Michigan in the 2024 season meant the loss of former primary recruiters for elite targets and those prospects using this spring to garner comfort and familiarity. The last several weeks were the window for visitors to determine if their fit on the Wolverines, which was believed under the old regime, would carry over into the program’s new era. The process was tedious, and the fruit of U-M’s labor may not have been experienced as soon as it beat Washington in Houston. Still, patience and persistence were the foundations of its most significant win on the trail of the offseason last weekend and elevated momentum moving forward.
One commit needed to change narrative
The doom and gloom reactions on recruiting because of the timeframe between commitments were flipped for optimism this week. It began the day of the spring game when expected visitors like four-star offensive lineman Avery Gach, who’s trending to Michigan, returned to The Big House. Then, on Monday, Top 100 EDGE Nate Marshall shut down his recruitment following his third visit to Michigan last weekend, choosing the reigning national champions over Miami, Alabama, and Auburn. Marshall is the No. 4 overall defensive lineman in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, and has given the Wolverines commits from Chicagoland in seven straight recruiting cycles. Following Marshall’s decision, it was learned that On300 running back Marquise Davis stopped by Ann Arbor for the third time this spring on Tuesday, and Gach has set a commitment date on May 3. The notion of one person or event making a difference is indeed true regarding recruiting. In this case, the difference is increased optimism heading into the late spring and summer.
Lou Esposito picks up the pieces after two turnovers
In the winter, Michigan lost former defensive line coach Mike Elston to the Chargers. His replacement was Greg Scruggs. The resignation of the latter resulted in Moore bringing in Lou Esposito. Immediately, Esposito was tasked to connect with top targets on the board in a short manner. Preexisting relationships with a majority weren’t the case for Esposito, so it was a matter contact done regularly and often. Aside from helping land a commitment from Marshall, who heard from the assistant multiple times leading up to the spring game, confirmed communication has been made to the likes of four-star Jaylen Williams, Top 100 Mariyon Dye, On300 Damien Shanklin, On300 Marco Jones, and others. Esposito arrived in Ann Arbor with a track record as a relationship builder during his tenure at Western Michigan and collecting ties in major hotbeds like The Windy City. Elston was championed for getting to know the player as an individual and not just for what they provide on the football field, and you’re starting to see that same personality-driven recruiting style from Esposito.
Like-minded coaches with like-minded goals
When Moore was handed the keys to the program, he talked about his recruiting objectives for Michigan and how he’ll take an aggressive approach to the responsibility. The elements in Moore’s control are being met with total effort, like showing face and being actively involved with recruits who visit campus or communication over the phone. To complete those objectives at a rate deemed necessary, Moore’s slew of assistants are as equally tenacious on the trail. Along with Esposito, assistants like offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell, running backs coach Tony Alford, defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan, offensive line coach Grant Newsome, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, tight ends coach Steve Casula, and wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy have been mentioned in-depth by recruits and their positive interactions with the group this spring. Defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, who hasn’t coached at the college level in over 20 years, has shown a mirrored energy as well. The same goes for the recruiting staff led by Sam Popper, Kayli Johnson, Jack Dunaway, and John Collins. All in all, Moore doesn’t have to pick up the slack by himself. His involvement is simply an added benefit.
Zero environment differences
It really shouldn’t be a surprise to know that the culture Harbaugh instilled throughout Michigan’s three-year run hasn’t changed by Moore in the four months of being in charge. It’s also not a surprise to hear that the grind-it-out style Moore implemented on the offensive line as an assistant coach en route to two Joe Moore Awards has spread to the entire team. Lastly, the family-first atmosphere recruits and their loved ones have obtained around Schembechler Hall this spring follows the same model Harbaugh put into place when he was in charge. Moore doesn’t just want the recruits to feel welcome around the facilities. He wants the families to understand that they also belong and are part of the program. In the end, it’s the little things that might get glossed over by some programs. However, for Michigan, its emphasis on aspects that go unnoticed by others led to three straight College Football Playoff appearances.
The post Five things we learned about Michigan recruiting following visits for spring practices appeared first on On3.
