The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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48 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2017 BY BRANDON BROWN E very spring, college football pro- grams gear up for 15 practices, which usually culminate in a spring game that fans and media personalities overanalyze until "real" football rolls around in the fall. Michigan's spring game took place this year on April 15 and was technically practice No. 11 be- cause of the trip to Rome, where the last three practices were held. Even though it wasn't the last prac- tice of the spring, it was still treated as a live game with hard hitting, a few minor injuries and a game-winning field goal. The Brandon Peters-led Maize team edged out Wilton Spei- ght's squad 31-29, creating a lively game-like atmosphere in mid-April. Aside from being an appetizer for fans across the country, spring games serve as a huge recruiting event where prospects from all over can come and get a taste of what a game might be like, which often leads to return trips in the fall. The Michigan coaching staff and re- cruiting assistants played host to more than three dozen offered recruits, com- mitted prospects and potential offer- ees during the intrasquad scrimmage, and the unofficial visits could not have gone better across the board. PLEDGES ON HAND Michigan had just five commit- ments in the 2018 class at the time of the game, and four of them made their way to Ann Arbor to watch their future squad square off inside Michi- gan Stadium. U-M's most recent commit, Buford (Ga.) High three-star running back Christian Turner, was the only future Wolverine not in the house after visiting — and eventually committing — just five days before the spring game kicked off. Two other Wolverines from Geor- gia were in attendance and appeared to be having the time of their lives. Atlanta Westlake four-star corner- back Myles Sims and Leesburg Lee County four-star outside linebacker Otis Reese entered the stadium to- gether, and the commits were all smiles while fans yelled their names. Sims, the No. 8 cornerback and No. 51 overall prospect nationally, was seen dancing and posing for pictures while out on the field during pregame warm-ups and looked very comfort- able in his Jordan-branded Michigan jumpsuit. The 6-3, 173-pounder is U-M's highest rated commit thus far. Reese, the No. 13 outside linebacker and No. 215 overall prospect nation- ally, was also posing for pictures and spent a lot of time with Sims during the pregame festivities. Reese seemed very comfortable chatting it up with defensive coordinator Don Brown and, at 6-2, 195 pounds, should be a lethal weapon in Brown's scheme. Indianapolis Cathedral four-star guard Emil Ekiyor was also in at- tendance and was all smiles, as he usually is while inside The Big House. At 6-3, 339 pounds, Ekiyor is literally Michigan's biggest commit, and as the No. 4 offensive guard and No. 148 prospect overall nationally, he is figuratively a big-timer as well. He was able to chat up some younger prospects and also bonded well with his future teammates. The son of former Michigan All- American defensive lineman Chris Hutchinson, three-star weakside defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is already right at home in Ann Arbor. The 6-6, 248-pounder has been to U-M many times but did say that this time felt different as a commit. "The visit went very good," he said. "It felt like home, but it was quite a different experience from last year now that I am committed. The fans were so great to me, and the whole atmosphere was extremely welcom- ing. I can't wait until I get there and I'm putting on the maize and blue." Hutchinson continues to grow and develop into a big-time defen- sive lineman. As of mid-April, he was considered the No. 10 player in Michigan and the No. 17 weakside defensive end in the country, but he has a chance to climb those rankings during his senior campaign. POTENTIAL OFFEREES Along with prospects that have already committed to the Wolver- ines, there were several more players hoping to get that opportunity. More than a dozen prospects in attendance could eventually reel in a Michigan offer, and a few of them discussed their experience despite not being tendered a U-M scholarship. Avon (Ind.) High sophomore team- mates D.J. Bowles and Addison Bat- ton loved watching their former team- mate Brandon Peters lead his squad to victory during the spring game and believe they could someday get an op- portunity to strap on the winged hel- met as well. Bowles, a 6-3, 296-pound guard, and Batton, a 6-4, 285-pound tackle, were both recruited by Michi- gan tackles and tight ends coach Greg Frey during his tenure at Indiana and could not have had a better time watching U-M's spring game. "Overall, I thought the visit was outstanding," Bowles said. "I loved the atmosphere, and the fans were crazy. Out of all the visits I've been on, Michigan has delivered as the most exciting. I can't wait to follow up and watch this year's team." Batton had similar remarks. "The visit all around was great," he said. "The facilities were amazing and the coaches were awesome." FOOTBALL RECRUITING Michigan Spring Game Attracts Plenty Of Talent Four of the Wolverines' five 2018 pledges — including Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County Otis Reese, Rivals.com's No. 13 outside linebacker nationally — were on hand for Michigan's spring game April 15. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN