TomVH: An Interview with Erik Magnuson
California OT prospect Erik Magnuson has recently seen his recruitment take off with offers from Arizona, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA among others. The La Costa Canyon High offensive lineman's stature lives up to his last name standing at 6-foot-6, and 275-pounds. Here's a look at his film and what he had to say about Michigan.
TOM: For anyone that hasn't seen you play can you describe yourself and your game?
ERIK: I'm quick, athletic, big, and aggressive. I just love to compete no matter who my opponent is.
TOM: Since you're from California how interested are you in Michigan, and how much do you know about Michigan?
ERIK: I'm really interested. I've never been there, but I know the coaches from before and I love them.
TOM: You knew them from when they were at San Diego State?
ERIK: Yeah, I know them from there. I feel like Coach Funk is a great coach and really knows a lot about the offensive line. I know him the best, and talk to him a lot. Coach Hoke is just the man. He took me in when I was a sophomore and just really treated me well. He was always true with me and never fed me any BS.
TOM: Again to go back to the California thing, is distance going to be an issue for you?
ERIK: I'm not sure yet, because I've only visited west coast schools, but I don't really think so. I know my family will still come to games no matter where I go. Also, I've spent a lot of time in Canada so I know what cold weather is all about. The weather doesn't affect me at all; I prefer it actually.
TOM: Does that mean that you're going to try to get out to Michigan any time soon?
ERIK: I'm not really sure about any time soon because I'm really busy with AAU basketball and football training and camps. It's hard to find time, but I'm for sure going to use one of my official visits to Michigan.
TOM: To use an official that means you have to wait until the season starts. Are you planning on waiting until signing day to make your decision, or do you want to get it done sooner?
ERIK: I haven't decided yet if I want to wait until signing day, but I'm definitely going to wait until I'm comfortable and 100% sure. I just have to weigh out all my options and do what is best for me in the end.
TOM: With that being said, and I know it's early, but do you have a top list yet?
ERIK: My list of top five changes about every week with new offers coming and what not, but Michigan is always in it. Right now it's Oregon, USC, Michigan, Miami, and Oklahoma.
TOM: When you go to evaluate these schools to make your final decision what are you looking for?
ERIK: A winning program where I feel like I will have a good chance to get a lot of playing time. And like I said I want someone that I feel comfortable with, it's going to be a lot of how I feel.
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
AAU basketball player for being a big OL... good stuff.
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^
Must have a very high level of athleticism
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
He loves the coaches so im sure Funk will stay in contact and Erik will be a Wolverine. Hoke will have a top 10 class.
wait a minute...you aren't BKFinest in disguise are you? I hope so, because I only trust his judgement.
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
great kid, still waiting on a hello post.. the wait is killing me! Love the guys hoke is going after though and I would like a california pipeline so I like everything I'm seeing on the recruiting front. Great work tom
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
The wait is killing me too, but the excellent work from TomVH is making that wait less worrisome.
Kyle Bennett? as in the?
Seems like a really down to earth kid. Big, room to grow and plays hoops, which is always a positive footwork wise with a big guy.
I am really starting to have a great feeling about this coaching staff after hearing nothing but praise from recruits in these interviews.
GO BLUE
I'm not going out of my way to ask them about it either. They always bring it up on their own, which is probably the more significant part.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 PM ^
Well if lives up to the BG avatar I'd be glad to have him.
Magnus is actually Brandon Graham right?
Yes.
there are so many awesome names in this recruting class
I live about 5 miles away from La Costa Canyon high school and one thing I can tell you is that Hoke and Co. spent almost tons of their time cultivating relationships with San Diego "pipeline" programs. From Day 1, he wanted to get the local kids that were late bloomers and bring them into SDSU since the Aztecs couldn't compete with USC and Oregon for the 5 star recruits in San Diego. Now Hoke has a national program at Michigan, you can bet he is going to use those relationships to get quality football players from this area to come out to Michigan.
San Diego is to Hoke as South Florida is to Rich Rod.
Great Up date Tom
Tom, how long do you think the "California Pipeline" continues to flow as time passes and Hoke and Co. is less and less physically present in that state? They appear to be pulling some CA kids into the mix this year (and last) but do you expect it to continue much longer? I assume that the pipeline narrows eventually . . . Are Hoke and Co. even all that worried, being focused on tapping the midwest talent now?
It's hard to say because distance is usually a factor with the Cali kids. If he can pull 1-2 high end kids a year then that's successful. The relationships that he has out there is more substantial with the high school coaching staffs. It doesn't matter that he's left the state, because those coaches know who he is and what he's about.
I don't think they're worried about California now being at Michigan. They'll do just fine with the midwest, pulling a few kids from Texas, California, and maybe a southerner.
in the air. UM football is beginning its rebirth into a perennial power. I have no doubt, because I have faith in all that is good. And all that is good is Wolverine competitiveness, vigor, and excellence. I'm glad this staff agrees.
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Amazing athlete. His pass blocking needs work, and he could stay a little lower on his run blocks, but his first step and strength are so superior that it didn't matter.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^
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