Michigan BagCows - Chocolate Milk seals the deal for DE recruit Aaron Lewis

Submitted by UMProud on October 30th, 2019 at 7:53 AM

Nifty story by Chris Melchiorre published at the Philadelphia Inquirer on Aaron Lewis's recruitment by Jim Harbaugh.  Some quotes below but worth a read.

"“I still remember my first visit — I had told him one of my favorite things in the world is chocolate milk. First thing I see sitting right there waiting for me [on his first visit] is this big thing of chocolate milk,” said Lewis, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound defensive end for Williamstown.

“That’s my guy,” Lewis said of his relationship with Harbaugh.

“He texts me before almost every game, he calls sometimes, he even talks to my mother,” Lewis said.

“That’s what you need,” Lewis added with a smile, “you want a coach who calls the mother. Because the mother wants to be involved, too — and she might get angry when she’s not.”

Lewis said his bond with Michigan became stronger after he had initially committed to West Virginia in April — just another one of a host of big-time schools recruiting him.

At that point, Michigan ramped up its courtship of Lewis — including inviting him to watch the Michigan-Ohio State game on the sideline at Ohio Stadium — and eventually won him over by June.

As strong as his relationship is with Harbaugh, Lewis said he wouldn’t be deterred even if the coach left.

He said he has strong ties with other coaches on staff and is especially excited to be a part of a recruiting class considered one of the strongest in the country."

Source:  Philadelphia Inquirer, Chris Melchiorre, 10/29/19

https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/new-jersey/football-recruiting-williamstown-aaron-lewis-michigan-jim-harbaugh-20191029.html

Champeen

October 30th, 2019 at 9:06 AM ^

I logged in just to post this exact thing.  I cannot stand the 'trust the coaches' line.  But in the case of DL/LB recruiting, Don Brown knows what the fuck he is doing.  I cannot count the times when a player commits to us and i am initially saying WHY?  WTF!  GRRR!

They know what the hell they are doing and this is one of the only/few areas where i 'Trust the Coaches'.

1VaBlue1

October 30th, 2019 at 12:36 PM ^

Ross saw the field last year ahead of McGrone, and earned his starting job in Fall camp.  The light has obviously come on for Cam, but when?  Ross' injury got Cam on the field, but maybe it was only another game before his play did?  You don't know either way, and neither do I.  But it's not a legit criticism to say McGrone was better all along - because you don't know.

uminks

October 30th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^

We always get burned going after 5 stars and ignoring the good 3 and 4 stars. In the end the 5 stars never commit to us and we end up burning our connections with the good 3 and 4 stars. This has happened so much with our program but these 5 stars just want to be on a team that they feel can make it to the playoffs and win a NC. Michigan is not there yet. So, I like getting the best players instead of chasing the 5 stars. Hopefully, the new money cannon will open up and we can buy us some 5 stars.

bluewings

October 30th, 2019 at 11:48 AM ^

Now that players can make money off their likeness we should bring in more 5 stars. We lost a few 5 stars to other school and it was head scratching. Ole Miss won’t be able to compete with how much more a players likeliness is worth at Michigan. Maybe more than any other school. 

1VaBlue1

October 30th, 2019 at 12:42 PM ^

So why is Michigan's 'fair share' less than Alabama's, or Clemson's, or OSU's, or USC's (etc) fair share?  Those teams consistently get more 5*'s than Michigan does.

Harbaugh has been getting a 5* each year, but they're pretty thin over the last 15 years compared to a host of other schools...

Red is Blue

October 30th, 2019 at 8:35 AM ^

Michigan ramped up its courtship of Lewis — including inviting him to watch the Michigan-Ohio State game on the sideline at Ohio Stadium

I didn't think you could have visitors for away games.