The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/465847
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE It's not like Newsome didn't have other options either. As a four-star recruit with great athleticism who stands 6-7 and weighs 280 pounds, Newsome pulled in offers from all over the country. Alabama, Geor- gia, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Wisconsin were just a few of the programs that courted the No. 191 overall player in the nation, but Newsome stuck with the Wolverines. O'Dea repeated one word over and over when describing how Newsome was able to block out all of the nega- tive noise and stay true to his word. "Solid," O'Dea said again and again. "I think it's that word, solid. Grant is a solid kid and has a solid support system. His reasoning was always solid throughout, even before Hoke was fired and certainly after. He always felt like Michigan was just the place for him when he went and visited. "He checked out a lot of places and got a feel at Michigan that no- where else could match. It was never just about Coach [Darrell] Funk and Coach Hoke, even though he was very happy with them. He definitely liked Coach Funk a lot, but it wasn't just him. "He really liked the guys in the locker room, and he loved the way that the players went about their business. He was drawn to the way they presented the school and the way that the school came across to him as far as what he was looking for academically. "I don't want to talk bad about anyone who went back on his com- mitment, but Grant did it all the right way. He was committed and stayed solid in his commitment because of the original reasons he picked Michi- gan." Newsome himself explained his thought process in a very similar way. Despite losing the coaches he committed to and having many other attractive opportunities, Newsome felt Michigan provided everything he was looking for in a school. "Obviously, the former coaching staff was a huge part of the reason I committed," Newsome said. "I have a lot of respect and a lot of apprecia- tion for Coach Hoke and his entire staff, and what they did for me. At the same time, probably 90 percent of the reason I committed to the Univer- sity of Michigan was still there. The athletic priorities, the athletic history, the academics … I was very fortunate that a lot of what I saw in Michigan was still there." Head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff definitely played a part in mak- ing Newsome realize that his final decision was the right one. He hasn't had the time to build what he built with Hoke and his staff, but the foun- dation is there and it's as strong as ever. "I talked to Coach Harbaugh the day he was hired," Newsome ex- plained. "He came out to see me in late January. I met Coach [and offensive coordinator and O-line coach Tim] Drevno in person twice. I met with Coach [and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks/wide re- ceivers coach Jedd] Fisch in person,