Michigan's recruiting flurry continues as 4-star TE Jake Butt becomes 7th commit of weekend
A historic day has stretched into a historic weekend.
Four-star Ohio tight end prospect Jake Butt decided on Sunday evening to become the 10th member of the Michigan football team's 2013 recruiting class, an announcement that comes on the heels of the Wolverines' six verbal commitments Saturday — a modern single-day record for the program.
"Officially a wolverine!!! #goblue," Butt tweeted.
The Pickerington, Ohio, native was on campus Saturday for a visit with about 10 other elite junior prospects. He visited ESPN's "College GameDay" set in the morning at Crisler Center, then took in the Wolverines' basketball game against Ohio State that night.
Five recruits committed in that span, and a sixth, Chris Fox, joined them from his home in Colorado. Butt, though, elected to return home to Ohio to mull over his decision with his parents.
It didn't take him long.
Butt's pledge is Michigan's seventh in a two-day span, one of the most impressive recruiting hauls in school history. It's not so uncommon at some power programs, where it's more common to hold junior day-type events. Texas is a classic example of this strategy.
However, this many commitments on a single weekend is mostly unheard of in the Big Ten, and has never been approached at Michigan since that data began being kept in 2003.
The Wolverines have 10 commitments for 2013. They have room for approximately 18 players in the class, which means they are more than half completed for this cycle with more than 11 months remaining until signing day.
The next-closest team in the Big Ten is Ohio State at four. Michigan State, the Wolverines' biggest rival for in-state talent, has two.
Last year at this time, Michigan had no commitments.
The Wolverines have been going after quality players, too, as nine of the 10 commits are ranked among Rivals' Top 200. Alabama's top-ranked 2012 class, for comparison, finished with 14.
Butt, a four-star tight end who is ranked by Rivals as the country's No. 96 prospect, fills one of Michigan's more pressing needs in this class. Detroit tight end prospect Khalid Hill also has committed for 2013, but projects to play more of a fullback-type role.
Butt held offers from seven Big Ten schools and much of the MAC, as well as national recruiters such as Stanford, Tennessee and UCLA.
He is a lifelong Ohio State fan, but did not hold an offer from the Buckeyes.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
D21
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
Hoke's latest recruits are already dannerproofed, urbanproofed and even sabanproofed with more to come. Hmm, at this rate, Michigan needs to field other teams in the SEC, Big 12, PAC12 to teach them what the Michigan Man is all about. GO BLUE!
81wolverine
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 1:36 p.m.
Butt is a big-time TE prospect at 6-6 and 230 or so. Excellent hands and height to snare passes down the middle of the field. I've been following recruiting for 3+ decades, and I've never seen a haul of such good players in a two day span like this. It seems to be a trend for a lot of players to commit earlier than they used to. The whole process starts earlier than it used. Kids are identified as early as their freshman season nowadays. You also see players develop physically much faster. I'm absolutely amazed to see 6-6 290 pound linemen as juniors. But I think Hoke is taking the best strategy. Try to lock in the best players early on so you don't have to scramble at the last minute to fill needs. I've seen Michigan do this in past years and often get some very marginal players. It can be a little risky in that you're committing to players based on sophomore/junior year play. Still, I don't see too many downsides of doing this.
umgoblue47
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 3:02 a.m.
great job coach HOKE, keep it up! the future looks very very good for MICHIGAN football and it's great to be a MICHIGAN WOLVERINE!!! GO BLUE!!!!!!
RudeJude
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 3:02 a.m.
10 four-star commits, and it's still February! Our offensive line is going to be a behemoth. With Shane Morris and an elite O-line, complete with TE, maybe Hoke can convince an elite wide receiver or two to join the Michigan ranks?
BigWolverine13
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:43 a.m.
He is indeed the incredible Hoke!
RudeJude
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
I thought I misread the title of the article. I'm shocked and excited. Michigan has almost 5% of the Top-200 already committed for 2013, and it's only February? Keep at it, Coach Hoke! I didn't think I could be much more optimistic after an 11-2 season topped with a win over Ohio and a BCS victory in the Sugar Bowl with a top-10 recruiting class. But it just got better! GO BLUE!!!
Sparky79
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:17 a.m.
Hope you haven't called it a night yet, Kyle. Peoria offensive lineman Logan Tuley-Tillman just committed, too!
D21
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
Hoke is out there as Santa Claus delivering gift wrapped schollies.
RudeJude
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:22 a.m.
Link? Did Christmas come early?! : D
Thomas
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
Hoke is killing it by any measure of the matter. If the 2012 class was top ten with only 4 4 star recruits, then this one is already twice that. From what I am gathering, there are already 9 4 star recruits in this class...out of 10. Morris will likely end up a 5, and so may a few others. Ridiculous! Wondering if there is deep concern in Columbus or E. Lansing this evening. Maybe not since nothing is official until they actually sign. Meyer has made it clear he will not respect any verbals and will still pursue recruits he likes. That's fine...game on! BTW, I coach basketball against Butt here in central Ohio. He even plays hoops with a bit of a nasty disposition! A tough kid... Tonight, it's very good to be Blue!
tigers182
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:35 p.m.
I'm a Spartan fan and do gotta give props to UM for some solid recruiting and wish we wouid invest a little more in recruiting. I still think anyone who thinks a recruiting class of 16 and 17 year old boys directly relates to future success is an idiot. I can sit here all day with examples. Regardless, UM will be back to what they were 5+ years ago, and I can't see MSU falling very far just because UM is recruiting well. Just my thought.
D21
Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Hoke and his staff will trounce Urban Blight most of the time as most of the recruits are seeing the true difference between them as in: GOOD>EVIL