The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1040273
66 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2018 BY BRANDON BROWN T hrough the first six weeks of the 2018 season, Michigan hadn't hosted a top-notch opponent, and weekly recruiting visitor lists re- flected that. When No. 12-ranked Michigan hosted No. 15 Wisconsin, that all changed. More than 40 prospects converged on Ann Arbor, as did ESPN Game- Day and more than 111,000 fans, for U-M's first home night game of the 2018 season, and everyone in atten- dance watched Jim Harbaugh's Wol- verines spank the Badgers to the tune of 38-13 — and it wasn't that close. Michigan's defense kept Wiscon- sin running back Jonathan Taylor in check, holding the stud sopho- more to just 101 rushing yards and no touchdowns, and made life abso- lutely miserable for quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Defensive prospects in attendance got an up-close look at what a Don Brown defense can do. On the offensive side of the ball, junior quarterback Shea Patterson was very efficient throwing the ball and even ripped off an 81-yard run before being shoved out at the 5-yard line. Backup quarterback Dylan Mc- Caffrey saw limited action and had a 44-yard touchdown run of his own. Even true freshman QB Joe Milton saw his first action of the year and chipped in a 23-yard run as well. Prospects from across the country and spanning four classes sat in the stands on a beautiful fall night in Ann Arbor and watched Harbaugh's team execute in a big way. Marquee wins like that on a national stage are crucial in recruiting, and the visitors reacted well to the experience. Lexington (Ky.) Catholic 2020 four- star pro-style quarterback Beau Allen Allen is one of Michigan's top tar- gets at the quarterback position in the 2020 class, and he's obviously interested in the Wolverines as well, evidenced by his unofficial visit for the Wisconsin game. The 6-2, 188-pounder definitely felt the en- ergy inside Michigan Stadium. "I would say just the whole atmo- sphere and enthusiasm of the game and the whole game experience stood out to me," Allen said. "Get- ting to talk to the coaches before and after the game was great too." Allen, the No. 13 pro-style quar- terback in the country, is planning on scheduling a return trip to Ann Arbor once the season is over. He's also excited to keep bonding with the U-M coaches. Indianapolis Scecina Memorial 2020 three-star wide receiver David Baker Baker has an offer from Michigan so getting on campus for the Wiscon- sin game was a big deal to him. The 6-2, 190-pounder feels like a priority to Michigan because of how he's be- ing recruited and because of what he felt for the primetime game. "I really only talk to 'The Man' — Coach Harbaugh," Baker explained. "We just talked about how it was about time I got up there and how he was ready for the game, and how the players were ready. One of my favorite things about the visit was just getting into The Big House for a big game and feeling the atmosphere. My stance on Michigan has definitely changed in a positive way after the visit." Baker is considered the No. 2 player in the state of Indiana and seems like a very realistic option for U-M at the position. He paid close attention to sopho- more wide receivers Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones, and while they didn't stuff the stat sheet, he saw how they ran routes and made plays when called upon. Columbus (Ohio) Northland 2020 three-star wide receiver commit Kalil Branham As a Michigan pledge, returning to The Big House is especially enjoyable for Branham. The junior receiver has attended several games this fall, but none felt like the contest against the Badgers. "The Michigan fans are so welcom- ing," Branham said. "My brother and I gave out hugs all day long, and every- one seemed to know who we were." Branham also loved the nighttime atmosphere. "Those winged helmets come alive under the lights," he said. Branham, the No. 11 player in Ohio and the No. 66 wideout nationally for FOOTBALL RECRUITING Wisconsin Weekend Brings In Top Talent Four-star Beau Allen of Lexington (Ky.) Catholic, Rivals' No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the junior class, was an unofficial visitor for the Wisconsin game. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM