The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES The name "Spielman" conjures up some uncomfortable memories for Michigan football fans. Massillon (Ohio) Washington linebacker Chris Spielman spurned Bo Schembechler in the 1983 recruiting process, and then went on to two All-America campaigns for ri- val Ohio State. S p i e l m a n ' s b r o t h e r, R i c k , is th e gen eral manager for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, and his a d o p t e d s o n , J.D., could do the opposite of Uncle Chris and play football for Michi- gan rather than childhood favor- ite Ohio State. U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh issued the 2016 athlete an offer in March, and he's willing to listen. "Harbaugh saw my tape, and he called my dad about it," Spielman said. "Ever since then, they've been recruiting me. … They said that for right now, they're going to keep me as an athlete, but he wanted me to come out for a one-day camp this summer, just to see what I do best and make their move from there. "I would like to make it out to the camp, but it would be really great if I could go out there before the camp and re-visit the campus." Spielman, who was a key contrib- utor as both a safety and running back/wide receiver for an Eden Prairie High School team that went undefeated and won a state cham- pionship last fall, has already vis- ited Michigan as a lacrosse recruit. He spurned Michigan once already, committing to the Buckeyes' la- crosse team over an offer from U-M, but football at- tention from the Scarlet and Gray looks unlikely, and Michigan is his top football choice — if that's the sport he picks in college. " W h e n I picked up the of- fer and the news started spreading out, I'd see Michigan fans tweet," the Associated Press second-team all-state selection said. "One guy said, 'He's making up for the dumb decision that his uncle made 30 years ago,' and my whole family laughed about it. "Hopefully, I can choose whether I'll play football or lacrosse [in col- lege] by this fall," he continued. "Let's see how the summer plays out, then if I like my options, hope- fully I can decide that in the fall. In choosing a school, I'd like to do that on a signing day, sometime in the winter or spring [for football or lacrosse]." U-M fans are hoping to see him right the path that his uncle set wrong. — Tim Sullivan Ohio State Legacy Is Looking At Michigan ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Eden Prairie High School Eden Prairie, Minn. Class: 2016 Position: Athlete Ht.: 5-8 • Wt.: 173 Rivals.com Rankings: Currently unrated J.D. Spielman