TomVH: WR Jason Croom's Mother Talks About his Process
Georgia wide receiver Jason Croom (6'5", 215 lbs) is fresh off of receiving a Michigan offer just yesterday. The Wolverine staff had great timing because Croom's mom just happened to be in the state of Michigan. She got a chance to check out campus and meet the coaching staff today. Jason wasn't with her, but here's what she had to say.
TOM: You told me that you were visiting with the coaches, was that over the phone or did you go check everything out in person?
MRS. CROOM: I went over to campus and met everyone. We are originally from Detroit, and our older daughter got married up here yesterday so we are here. We just happened to be here when they made the offer. Jason didn't come because he was doing a 7 on 7 tournament. Since we were already up here we decided to check it out. I was able to talk to some of the coaches, we didn't get to meet Brady [Hoke] because he was in a meeting.
TOM: Do you think Jason will make it back up to see everything you just did?
MRS. CROOM: Yes, we will be back up in August for unofficial visit with Jason. We'll be up the last week of July to the first week in August to see Michigan and Michigan State with Jason. He won't be taking official visits probably until December.
TOM: Since you're originally from Detroit does that mean you all are Michigan fans?
MRS. CROOM: Yes, we are Michigan fans. We've only been away from Michigan for six years. Jason isn't as familiar with the program as we are though.
TOM: I know Jason said that he had a top three of Tennessee, Miami, and Mississippi State recently. Is that final, or where is he at?
MRS. CROOM: Those are just the three schools that he hears the most from. Those coaches have taken the time to get to know us as a family, that's all.
TOM: I know this is all early and happening fast, but does Michigan have a chance to get in that group?
MRS. CROOM: From a parent stand point this is home, from an academic stand point it's great, and distance wouldn't matter because he would be surrounded by family. It's convenient. One of the [Michigan] coaches actually grew up in the same neighborhood as me and we didn't know it. We had a good conversation, we knew a lot of the same people. The other coaches are all new to campus so they don't really know us yet.
TOM: It's tough to really gain a comfort level with someone in such short time, but what are you and Jason really looking for out of a program or coach?
MRS. CROOM: With him it's going to be a coach that he can truly relate to. It's someone that is going to deal with him being a direct person, somebody that's open, and can create plays around him. It's going to have to be a coach that's very creative. Most schools, including Michigan, are recruiting him as a Z receiver.
TOM: What other visits have you taken so far?
MRS. CROOM: We are actually on tour this week. Last weekend we visited Mississippi State and Alabama. My husband took him to Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, and we just got back from Miami and Tennessee. This won't be a snap decision. We have a lot of SEC schools, but things are starting to branch out so we'll look at everything. We have a spread sheet with pro's and con's of each school. We'll begin to narrow things down and go from there. It's definitely an honor to get a scholarship offer from a high institution like Michigan.
Definitely seems like we have a shot with him. From looking at his film I think we need to give him a lot of love when he gets on campus.. Thanks for the post!
Another recruit with a Michigan connection. This is uncanny. I wonder if Hoke gets anything but green lights when he drives, lol. The guy can't miss.
Is there a specific reason we waited until now to offer? Seems like he could be a good fit, hopefully getting in late in the game doesn't hurt us too badly.
Watching his film he is an excellent prospect. With him being from Michigan we have a shot. This offer may have to do with Stanford not coming up. Jason is even better physically in my eyes.
it sounds like his performance yesterday at it didnt affect him getting an offer.
Yet it was important enough to go to one to miss his sisters wedding?
Am i missing something here?
I think the wedding and 7 on 7 tournament were on different days.He made it to the wedding, just couldn't make it on the trip to michigan.
Impressive height. He'd be a welcome addition and have an immediate shot at playing time with the lack of big WR on the roster.
He reminds me a lot of a junior hemingway-esq. player. He looks like he can do work to B1G secondaries.. I must have!
Slightly off topic, but Jesus Christ that massive Game Changer arrow in his video was so fucking annoying. Anyone else miss just a normal yello arrow?
I was thinking offering late could possibly hurt us, but it sounds like Jason and his family are still a good while from making a decision. We should have a chance to get in his top group.
You do realize its June right?! November would be offering late
His video looks good. I agree with the arrow. Slightly annoying. I just saw that Trieu twitted that Burbridge had a monster day at the 7on7. Three TDs in three possesions.
that's a football mom talking. I also liked the level headed run down. Seems like a good family unit around this guy...I also like his height in the endzone along with the speed to get there.
I think Borges is looking for this speed on the outside as well as someone who can turn it upfield and go the distance to make his offense work. It would be nice to see some vertical spread to the offense. This film is impressive.
Michigan has a ton going for itself if the coaches can follow up and get a relationship going here. What kind of meeting could be so important as to miss this opportunity /s. I'm sure it was not an oversight.
Pure awesome, Tom. What do other fanbases do without your insight? I can't imagine a world without TomVH. Nor do I want to.
But there's one and only one all-time great Process:
J.B.; The Godfather of Soul, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Soul Brother Number One. (And, like Croom, the GFOS hailed from Georgia. Augusta, to be precise.)
Facebook stalking recruits, but I guess moms are open territory,
Thanks for this post.
That Tom had crossed any lines, was merely trying to state that I was more comfortable Facebook stalking females that oMg shirtoff 18 year olds.
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<br>I do think lines get crossed sometimes, but not tomvh. Some families have different contacts for this kind of stuff whether it's coaches, moms or brothers.
My guess is that you're leaving something unsaid.
If so, I can respect that.
TSS beat me to commenting on it, but I legit LOL'd when Mom says her son is being recruited as a Z receiver. Great football mom!
1) That you talked to a teenager's mom with the aforethought to publish the conversation.
2) That she talked to you, and was okay with you publishing this (assuming you told her in advance, but anything's possible these days).
Yikes. Thanks to Tripp Welborne for his post. It suggests to me that I'm not alone. Are there any limits? Any reflection?
" It's definitely an honor to get a scholarship offer from a high institution like Michigan."
Mother's know best.
Go Blue!
rivals says he's the #43 WR and unranked overall but his offer sheet would suggest that he's better than that. he has offers from LSU, Miami (YTM), Tennessee, Auburn and Arkansas
I'm guessing she talked to coach Jackson, since she said all the other coaches were knew. If a recruit's parent talks to coach Jackson, I can only imagine the amazing pitch he'd give.
He can be Braylon mixed with Terrell but faster
He's got the jump ball skils of Calvin Johnson, the speed of DeSean Jackson, the hands of Andre Johnson and the blocking of Hines Ward, except better!
I was actually gonna say that outside of the necessary receiver skill set (good hands, size, speed, route running), which he has, my favorite thing about his highlight real was that he include a few play of him blocking. I miss having receivers that would get down field and blow up DBs and LBs.
You miss having receivers that would block downfield? Do you even watch the games? We've had a starting receiver ('Tay Odoms) the last few years whose primary skill is blocking. You can complain about a lack of winning during the RR era, and you can attribute some of that to a lack of size, but poor downfield blocking by the receivers was never the problem.
Hoke & Co keep finding excellent prospects that we actually have a connection/shot with. I was wondering what Michigan would do if Burbridge doesnt qualify and Stanford goes to tsio, its relieveing to know there are other WR prospects that Michigan is going after. Croom's highlight film made me a fan, his acceleration and quickness really stood out for a tall receiver,
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